License plate lookups can provide valuable information about vehicles and their owners, but many people wonder, “Is license plate lookup legal?” This guide explores the legalities surrounding license plate lookups, including federal and state privacy laws for license plates, and the permissible uses for these services.
Before we dive deeper, feel free to try our license plate lookup if you’re searching for potential cars. This way, you can do a background check before handing over your money. Now, let’s jump in and discuss the legal implications of license plates.
Is License Plate Lookup Legal? What Federal and State Laws Have to Say
A legal license plate lookup is generally permissible in most states, but privacy laws for license plates vary, with certain restrictions on how and when information can be accessed. Federal and state laws regulate the use of license plate data, balancing privacy concerns with public access to vehicle information for legitimate purposes.
Driver’s Privacy Protection Act (DPPA)
Enacted in 1994, the Driver’s Privacy Protection Act (DPPA) is a federal law that protects the personal information contained in motor vehicle records, including:
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- Name
- Address
- Phone number
- Social Security number
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Under the DPPA, access to this information is restricted to specific purposes such as:
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- Law enforcement
- Insurance investigations
- Employment verification for driving-related jobs
- Court proceedings
- Towing and impound services
- Research activities with proper anonymization
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Violations of the DPPA can result in civil penalties, fines, and potential criminal charges.
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) allows individuals to request access to federal agency records. However, FOIA is limited in scope when it comes to license plate lookups due to privacy protections under the DPPA. Any requests for motor vehicle records are subject to the DPPA’s restrictions.
State Privacy Laws for License Plates
Many states have additional laws that complement the DPPA or impose stricter guidelines on accessing motor vehicle records. Examples include:
| Alabama | Alabama Open Records Law (§ 36-12-40, Code of Alabama): Every citizen has a right to inspect and take a copy of any public writing of this state, except as otherwise expressly provided by statute. |
| Alaska | Alaska Statutes Section 28.10.505: Restricts the release of personal information in motor vehicle records, granting access only under specific legal or governmental conditions. |
| Arizona | Arizona Revised Statutes Title 28, Chapter 2, Article 5: Restricts access to vehicle registration and driver information, allowing release only for authorized uses, including court proceedings and law enforcement. |
| California | California Vehicle Code Section 1808: Limits access to DMV records and requires proper authorization for disclosure. |
| Colorado | Colorado Revised Statutes Section 24-72-204: Limits access to motor vehicle records, granting disclosure only for specified purposes like government investigations, legal actions, or insurance claims. |
| Connecticut | Connecticut General Statutes Section 14-10: Imposes restrictions on disclosing personal information from DMV records, permitting access only for legal uses or government-related actions. |
| Delaware | Delaware Code Title 21 Section 305: Restricts access to vehicle registration and driver information, with disclosure granted only for specific authorized purposes such as legal actions, law enforcement, and insurance matters. |
| Florida | Florida Statutes Section 119.0712: Restricts the release of personal information contained in motor vehicle records and provides exemptions only for certain government agencies, legal professionals, and specific private entities. |
| Georgia | Georgia Code Section 40-2-130: Protects personal information in vehicle registration and driver records, allowing access only for official and legal purposes. |
| Hawaii | Hawaii’s Uniform Information Practices Act (UIPA): Ensures the confidentiality of motor vehicle records, limiting access to law enforcement, legal proceedings, and other authorized purposes. |
| Idaho | Idaho Statutes Section 49-203A: Restricts access to personal information in motor vehicle records, allowing disclosure only for specific legal or governmental purposes, including law enforcement and certain investigations. |
| Illinois | Illinois Vehicle Code Section 2-123: Regulates the disclosure of vehicle registration and driver information, allowing access only for designated uses such as research, legal proceedings, and law enforcement. |
| Indiana | Indiana Code Section 9-14-3.5-10: Governs the access and use of motor vehicle records, imposing strict penalties for unauthorized disclosures and ensuring compliance with the DPPA. |
| Iowa | Iowa Code Section 321.11: Limits access to personal information in vehicle registration and driver records, allowing disclosure only for lawful purposes like insurance claims and law enforcement. |
| Kansas | Kansas Statutes Annotated Section 74-2012: Protects personal information in motor vehicle records, allowing access only for lawful and official purposes. |
| Kentucky | Kentucky Revised Statutes Section 186.018: Protects personal information in motor vehicle records, granting access only under specific circumstances such as insurance claims, law enforcement, and government investigations. |
| Maine | Title 29-A, Section 251 & 256 of Maine Revised Statutes: Protects personal information in motor vehicle records, allowing release only for official uses, such as court orders or law enforcement investigations. |
| Massachusetts | Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 90, Section 30: Protects motor vehicle records by limiting disclosure to legitimate purposes such as legal and administrative proceedings. |
| Michigan | Michigan Vehicle Code Section 257.208: Prohibits the release of personal information except for official uses like court orders, law enforcement investigations, or insurance-related inquiries. |
| Minnesota | Minnesota Statutes Section 168.346: Regulates disclosure of vehicle and driver information, requiring express authorization or valid legal justification. |
| Missouri | Missouri Revised Statutes Section 32.091: Prohibits unauthorized use of personal data from DMV records, with access allowed only for specified legal and governmental needs. |
| Montana | Montana Code Annotated Section 61-11-507: Limits access to motor vehicle records to specific authorized purposes, including legal proceedings and government investigations. |
| Nebraska | Nebraska Revised Statute 60-2907: Regulates the disclosure of vehicle registration and driver information, restricting access to authorized parties like law enforcement and insurance companies. |
| Nevada | Nevada Revised Statutes Section 481.063: Governs the release of personal information from DMV records, with access granted only for narrowly defined purposes like government investigations and insurance claims. |
| New Jersey | New Jersey’s Open Public Records Act (OPRA): Protects personal information in motor vehicle records, permitting access only for specific purposes such as court orders, legal proceedings, or government investigations. |
| New Mexico | New Mexico Statutes Section 66-2-7.1: Governs the disclosure of personal information in motor vehicle records, restricting access to law enforcement and authorized legal uses. |
| New York | New York Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 202: Provides only specific information in DMV records, permitting customized disclosure for specific purposes such as law enforcement and insurance claims. |
| North Carolina | North Carolina General Statutes Section 20-43.1: Limits disclosure of vehicle registration and driver data, allowing access only for court orders, legal actions, or government purposes. |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma Open Records Act: Governs the access to personal information in government records, allowing release only for lawful purposes like insurance claims, legal proceedings, or law enforcement actions. |
| Oregon | Oregon Revised Statutes Section 802.175-183: Regulates access to DMV records, allowing disclosure only under specific conditions aligned with the DPPA. |
| Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania Vehicle Code Section 6114: Imposes strict regulations on sharing personal information, with penalties for unauthorized disclosures. |
| South Carolina | South Carolina Code of Laws § 30-2-10: Regulates the sharing of vehicle registration and driver data, ensuring compliance with DPPA guidelines and imposing penalties for misuse. |
| South Dakota | S.D. Codified Laws §§ 32-5-144 to 32-5-147: Restricts the disclosure of personal information contained in DMV records, only allowing release for authorized purposes, including law enforcement and court orders. |
| Tennessee | Tennessee Code Annotated Section 55-25-104: Imposes restrictions on the release of motor vehicle information, aligning with the DPPA while allowing exemptions for specific professional and governmental uses. |
| Texas | Texas Transportation Code Ann. § 730.001: Mirrors the DPPA but imposes additional penalties for unauthorized access to personal information. |
| Utah | Utah Code Annotated Section 41-1a-116: Imposes restrictions on accessing personal information from vehicle records, permitting access for specific lawful purposes, including insurance investigations and law enforcement. |
| Virginia | Virginia Code § 46.2-208: Prohibits the release of personal information from DMV records except under specific circumstances, such as by court order or for government-related investigations. |
| Washington State | Washington State RCW 46.12.630: Limits disclosure of vehicle owner information and requires express consent for most uses outside of law enforcement or legal purposes. |
| Washington DC | Washington DC: The release of vehicle records is regulated under the DPPA (Driver’s Privacy Protection Act), with personal information from DMV records being available only for specific uses such as law enforcement, legal proceedings, and certain government purposes. |
| West Virginia | West Virginia Code § 17A-2A-4: Protects personal information in vehicle registration records, limiting disclosure to government entities, insurance agencies, or legal purposes. |
| Wisconsin | Wisconsin Statutes Section 85.103: Regulates the sharing of personal information from government records, allowing access only under strict conditions aligned with federal and state laws. |
It’s important to check local laws before conducting a lookup to ensure compliance.
Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)
While primarily focused on credit reporting, the Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) may apply if motor vehicle records are used in background checks for employment or credit-related purposes. It mandates:
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- Consent from the individual
- Disclosure of the purpose
- Accurate reporting
Violations of the FCRA can result in significant fines and legal action.
Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA)
The Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA) governs electronic data and communications. If license plate data is gathered through automated license plate readers (ALPRs), this law may apply. It regulates how digital data is stored, accessed, and shared.
Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA)
The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) may also apply if license plate information is used by financial institutions, such as in vehicle financing or insurance underwriting. This law mandates:
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- Privacy notices to consumers
- Safeguards for sensitive data
- Restrictions on sharing personal information
Permissible Uses for License Plate Lookup Services
To perform a legal license plate lookup, the purpose must fall under the “permissible uses” defined by the DPPA or state laws. Common permissible uses include:
1. Law Enforcement and Legal Proceedings
Police officers, attorneys, and investigators often use license plate lookups to:
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- Solve crimes
- Locate individuals for legal actions
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2. Insurance Claims
Insurance companies may conduct lookups to:
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- Verify vehicle ownership
- Investigate fraud or accidents
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3. Employment Background Checks
Employers hiring for driving-related roles can verify driving records through license plate lookups.
4. Personal Transactions
Individuals buying or selling vehicles may legally verify:
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- Vehicle ownership
- History of the vehicle
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5. Consumer Protection and Safety
Consumers may use lookups to:
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- Check for outstanding recalls
- Ensure the vehicle has not been in a serious accident
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6. Automotive Dealerships and Auction Houses
Dealerships and auction houses often use lookups to:
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- Verify vehicle details before selling or auctioning
- Check vehicle history for potential resale value
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It is crucial to ensure that the legal license plate lookup is performed in accordance with applicable privacy laws to avoid legal repercussions.
Privacy Concerns and Protections
Is license plate lookup legal? In most cases, yes, but it depends on the jurisdiction and the intended use. While license plate lookups can be useful, they also raise privacy concerns. The DPPA ensures that personal data remains protected unless accessed for legitimate reasons. Misuse of license plate data can result in:
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- Fines
- Legal action
- Revocation of access privileges
Remember, license plate lookups are 100% legal when done for permissible purposes under the DPPA and state laws. Understanding the rules ensures you stay compliant and avoid any unwanted penalties.
License plate number is missing or unavailable? No sweat – take the reins and VIN check instead!