There are many reasons you may want to look up a license plate in Ohio. Maybe you need to report an accident, or you want to be sure the vehicle information in a potential purchase is correct. Fortunately, there are several quick and easy ways to perform a license plate lookup.
The Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles is responsible for keeping records of all vehicles across the state. The BMV’s responsibilities are the same as the DMV in other states. This department is the first place to go for vehicle records, but you can also use third-party websites to find information.
Find Registered Owner of a Vehicle With a License Plate Owner Lookup
To go through the Ohio BMV, you’ll need to obtain the Ohio Vehicles Record Request Form. This is an official document that you can receive in-person at the BMV or through the BMV’s website. If you find the form online, you’ll need to print it, fill it out, and mail it to the BMV. Then you’ll need to wait for the results.
Unfortunately, the Ohio BMV doesn’t currently have a lookup search feature on its website. You also can’t complete a search request over the phone because the paper documentation is necessary. This means that completing a license plate search through the BMV involves going to the BMV in person, as well as the possibility of waiting several days for a result.
Many people don’t have the time to complete this process. This is when the use of a third party is helpful. Online public databases often have all the information you need. These databases store millions of public and private records and make them available for a price.
To use an online database, you’ll have to create an account with the website of your choice and pay any associated fees for your search. Then you can look up the license plate owner of the vehicle in question. This website even offers a license plate lookup completely free of charge.
If you’re looking to purchase a vehicle, a license plate search can save you money in the following ways:
- You can avoid buying a vehicle that has extended sales and trade
- You can avoid buying a vehicle that’s been poorly serviced
- You can avoid dishonest sellers by verifying the correct information regarding the vehicle
- You can avoid purchasing a vehicle with a history of repair and recall problems
- You can obtain information about the vehicle’s fuel use ratings and cost
- You can avoid buying a car with a history of theft problems
You’ll also be able to find and contact the current registered owner of a vehicle.
