DMV Records

It is a good idea to check your DMV records before you change insurance companies so you can be prepared for any negative information you may have forgotten�or not know about. Insurance companies usually request DMV records that go back three years, but some require longer records to look for older violations and convictions.

You should check your driving record before applying for a new job, even if the job is not driving-related. Some companies include a clause on the application that allows them to pull your driving record if you put your driver�s license number on the application. Potential employers might request DMV records to make sure you have not been convicted of a vehicular crime.

The Nevada Department of Transportation has put together a portal page where you can access DMV links for all 50 states and Washington, D.C.

Searching DMV records can be a time-consuming and confusing process because you are required to supply proof of identity and other documents to the DMV. Save yourself time and frustration by contacting a private company to perform the search. A records search company knows all the required paperwork for your state and covers all relevant databases at once, delivering detailed reports in a timelier manner.

Driving Records

To easily locate the DMV page for your particular state, visit your state�s DMV government website. There you will find information on how to access or request your driving records, fees, and turnaround times.

Accessing Driving Records by State

Each state has its own procedures for requesting driving records. In general, only the license holder may request a copy of his or her driving record, and the request must be accompanied by proof of identity. 

Others may access driving records if they have a signed form from the license holder stating permission for another person to request this private information. Law enforcement and government agencies may request driving records as well. Auto insurance and life insurance companies may access driving records but the information contained in them is usually restricted to the past three years.

Contents of a Driving Record

In addition to identification data, driving records will contain the following information:

• Convictions

• Violations

• Collisions

• Suspensions, revocations, and disqualifications

Most information leaves your driving record after a certain period of time (3, 5, or 10 years, depending on the information). However, certain negative information is kept on your driving record forever. These items include:

• Alcohol related convictions

• Vehicular assault and vehicular homicide convictions

• Deferred prosecutions

Make requesting your driving records easy by contacting a private search company. A records search company covers all relevant databases at once and delivers detailed reports regarding driving records you�re interested in. You'll save significant time by letting professionals perform a driving records search for you.

License Plate Search, Search by License Plate

Though it might seem like the first place you would go, don't bother to call your local DMV if you are looking for information on a particular license plate search. DMV employees are not allowed to reveal private registration information without a court order. While the DMV issues license plates, they carefully guard personal information to protect vehicle owner privacy.

Should you happen to be good friends with someone at the police department, you may be able to call in a favor and ask for a license plate search. Like DMV employees, the police are not allowed to reveal private information except for official purposes�so asking a police officer to search by license plate may lead you to a dead end.

Save yourself time and frustration by contacting a private sources search company to produce a license plate number report for you. A records search company covers all relevant databases where license plate number information is stored and will deliver detailed reports to you quickly for a small fee.

A people search by license plate may contain the following information (reports will vary because not all information may apply to the license plate search):

• Owner's first and last name

• Owner's address

• VIN number

• Registration dates and expiration dates

• Make and model of the vehicle registered to the license plate number

• Lien holder information

If you are buying a used car, check the license plate number to make sure it matches the vehicle. In some states, license plates stay with the vehicle when it changes owners, and in others owners keep the license plates.  Plate switching is a common tactic for car thieves and is highly illegal. 

VIN Check, Car VIN Check

Checking the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) of any used car you are thinking of buying is an absolute must. A car VIN check will tell you whether the car has been in an accident or if there are manufacturer recalls on the make and model of the vehicle. 

Accident reports are important to used car purchasers because you'll want to assess whether repairs were done properly and what the estimated damages were at the time of the accident. If you know a used car was involved in an accident, you can show it to your mechanic much more easily. Hail damage claims against the vehicle would also show up on a complete VIN check.

A VIN check will let you know the vehicle mileage at the time of the last title transfer. If someone tampered with the odometer of the vehicle, this would be easily detected through a VIN check.

If vehicles change hands multiple times, the original use of the vehicle may not have been shared with subsequent owners. While a car VIN check will not tell you the names of previous owners, it will let you know if the car was used by the police at some point. This could be important if you are buying the used car at a state sponsored auction.

Asking for a VIN check costs money in most cases, and an unscrupulous research company may not gather a complete history on the vehicle. Save yourself time and frustration by contacting a private sources search company. A records search company covers all relevant databases at once and delivers detailed reports regarding the VIN check you are interested in.

VIN Number

A VIN number check uses a car's 17-digit vehicle identification number to search for hidden problems with the vehicle. If you are considering buying a used car, running a VIN number check is very important. Ask your dealer to check the VIN, or check it yourself if you are buying from a private party.

Information in VIN Number Checks

VIN number checks search the entire reported history of the car looking for accidents, insurance claims, and ownership transfers. The odometer reading is reported each time a vehicle changes owners, so if there has been odometer tampering it will show up on a VIN number report.

There is no national database containing information about VIN numbers, so you will need to visit your state's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) website to find out how to run a VIN check in your state.

Finding VIN Number Information

The current owner of the car may not be aware of past problems, or may simply be withholding information from you so you will buy the car. VIN number reports check all state DMVs, so if the car was originally licensed in another state there will still be information available on its history.

Before buying a used car, make sure you have all the information you need on its past history. By contacting a private sources search, you save time and money. A records search company covers all relevant state databases at once and delivers detailed reports regarding your VIN number and vehicle.