Free Maine License Plate Search

Free License Plate Search in Maine Before Buying a Used Car

Run a license plate search or VIN check to get a complete vehicle history report. Vehicle history is an important source of information when buying a used car. With free Maine license plate lookup, you can search and verify vehicle information to make a smart choice. You’ll get access to government documents and insurance records that will give you a leg up during negotiations on price. And you’ll be able to rest assured that you know exactly what you’re buying.

FAQs About Maine License Plates

How many vehicles are registered in Maine?
Over 356,000 automobiles were registered in 2020 in the state of Maine where a population of 1.34 million reside.

Where can I register my vehicle and apply for a license plate in Maine?

The Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) under the Department of the Secretary of State issues license plates in the state.

How many license plates are required in Maine?
Front and rear plates are required for most classes of vehicles, while only rear plates are required for motorcycles and trailers.

What are the features of the Maine license plate?
The Maine BMV issues license plates with an embossed black serial on reflective white plate with border line. You will find black-capped chickadee on pine cone and tassel screened at left and green pine forest silhouette screened at the bottom. Centered at the top, the name “MAINE” is screened in black. The slogan “Vacationland” is screened in black in the center of pine forest silhouette. The serial format is 1234 AB. Serials issued are from 1 GA to 1077 ZB (as of February 14, 2022), excluding the letter O.

How do I transfer a Maine license plate legally from one vehicle to another?
If you register a new vehicle in the same year you revoke the old registration, you are allowed to transfer your license plates to your new vehicle.

What Can You Learn From a Free License Plate Search?

When it comes to negotiations, you need to figure out exactly what a car is worth. While Kelley Blue Book can give you a rough estimate, it won’t take into account the vehicle’s history or other factors that need to be considered. That’s why you’ll need to run a free vehicle history using the license plate as search index to learn more about the car’s history report. This will give you more in-depth information on that particular car and its history. Using details from this report, you’ll be able to better determine the vehicle’s value, helping you to negotiate with the owner.

Vehicle Specifications are details about the vehicle such as as the year of build, model year, age, color, and more.

Records of sale, lien, accident, or title brands refer to the history of transfer of ownership via sales, minor and major accidents, liens or claims that a lender has on a car, and title brands or indicators that the used vehicle has sustained damage or might be potentially unsafe to drive.

Warranty/Manufacturer Recalls refer to any open recalls announced by the automaker.

Safety Ratings refer to evaluations made by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

Fuel Efficiency refers to the distance the vehicle can travel per gallon of fuel.

Market Value refers to the value of the car based on the prices of similar models in the local area and across the US. 

Why You Need to Run a Free License Plate Lookup Before You Buy?

A free license plate search will tell you many important things. Here are some of the things that can help you decide if a used car is the right one for you:

1.  Find out whether a title has liens on it

A car owner short on cash may use their car as collateral for a loan. But if they try to sell that car before they pay back their loan, the buyer could become responsible for the money, or be unable to get the title signed over in their name. Without a legal title in your name, you won’t be able to get insurance on your vehicle. Use a free VIN check to find out whether the title is clear.

2.  Figure out if the airbags in the vehicle have ever deployed

If the free VIN search reveals any major accidents that caused the airbags to deploy, you may be looking at a car that is likely to need more repairs in the future. Major damage means major repairs. When too much of the car has been rebuilt, it can lead to more issues later.

3.  Learn about recalls and whether they’ve been repaired

Recalls on vehicles and parts are common. Sometimes the recalls are minor. They could be cosmetic problems, like paint fading before its time or decals falling off. Getting these fixed isn’t always a necessity, although because the repairs are free, many owners still choose to do so. But other times, the damage is much more major, and driving the vehicle even short distances can be very dangerous. If left unfixed, these recalls pose a hidden threat to unsuspecting used car buyers. Protect yourself and your family by running a free VIN search to check for any recalls on the vehicle that haven’t been fixed.

4.  Detect incidents of fraud

When you run a free VIN search, you may discover that the details present in the vehicle’s history report don’t match the car itself. Maybe the mileage on the odometer is much higher or lower than maintenance records say they should be. Or the car doesn’t show minor cosmetic damage that an accident report says should be there. VIN fraud may be to blame.

Each of these details are important factors to consider when shopping for a used car. With a free Maine license plate search from VINCheckPro.com, you can learn about a car’s history, and use that history to decide if a car is safe, as well as to figure out what the vehicle is worth. You can use this knowledge to help give you a leg up when it comes time to negotiate with the vehicle’s owner.