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The Ultimate Guide to Vehicle License Plate Lookup: A Step-by-Step Process to Quickly and Accurately Identify Any Car or Motorcycle

To ensure peace of mind when buying or selling a car or motorcycle, it is essential to verify the vehicle's license plate number to ascertain its origin and provenance. This vital step provides valuable insight into the history and legitimacy of the vehicle, fostering confidence and security in the transaction for all involved parties.

Administrator

11 July, 2024

To minimize these unnecessary risks, learning about the vehicle’s origin is essential. Currently, you can research a car’s information in several ways:

Check with a reputable car dealership or insurance company
Contact the vehicle registration authority
Look up vehicle information online using the license plate number

1Why You Need to Look Up Vehicle License Plate Numbers

There are numerous reasons why buying a used car can become a serious issue if the seller is dishonest about the vehicle’s information. Typically, you may end up purchasing a car that has been in an accident, stolen, or illegally imported.

Therefore, to make the right purchasing decision, you need to look up the license plate number of the car or motorcycle you want to buy to check the owner’s information and the vehicle’s condition.

For reference: Meaning of license plate numbers according to Feng Shui.

2How to Look Up a Car’s License Plate Number

Step 1 Access the website http://www.vr.org.vn of the Vietnam Registry.

This is currently the only website in Vietnam authorized to provide vehicle information based on license plate numbers. From your phone or computer browser, go to the “Vehicle Information Lookup” feature on the website.

Step 2 Fill in the information

Once you’re on the lookup feature, enter all the required information, such as the license plate number, sticker number, and current certificate number.

For the license plate number: Please note the following to enter the correct license plate number:

4-digit license plate (Old style): You can enter the number with a hyphen, uppercase or lowercase letters. For example: 77L7777 or 77L-7777 or 77l7777

5-digit license plate (New style): Similar to the 4-digit license plate, but note that white plates have a “T” and green plates have an “X”. For example: 77L7777T or 77L7777X

For the sticker and current certificate number: Enter the information completely and accurately, paying attention to including the hyphen between letters and numbers. For example: KC-2860472

Note: The inspection certificate is given to the vehicle owner to carry while driving. The inspection sticker is placed in the upper right corner on the inside of the front windshield of the motor vehicle. In the case of a motor vehicle without a front windshield, the inspection sticker is placed on the frame near the license plate mounting position and covered with a transparent protective layer.

Step 3 Enter the verification code and click “Lookup” to get the results

Enter the verification code provided by the website (usually 4 characters, including numbers and uppercase letters) into the corresponding box below, then click “Lookup” or press Enter.

Step 4 View the results

The lookup results will provide detailed vehicle information, including:

General information: Brand, frame number, vehicle type, engine number.

Technical specifications: Overall dimensions, cargo compartment dimensions, curb weight, permitted cargo weight, number of passengers, gross vehicle weight, number of axles, permitted towing weight.

Last inspection: Inspection agency, inspection date, sticker and certificate number.

Note: Red license plates belonging to military vehicles will not display results when searched.

3How to Look Up a Motorcycle’s License Plate Number

Step 1 First, download the ‘License Plate’ application to your device

Download from CH Play: here

Download from Appstore: here

Step 2 After downloading, open the application. Then, enter the license plate number you want to look up in the search box or enter the province/city name.

Enter the license plate number to look up

Step 3 The system will provide results including some basic information such as the vehicle number and address.

Motorcycle license plate lookup information

4List of License Plate Numbers for Provinces and Cities in Vietnam

Province/City	License Plate Number
Cao Bang	11
Lang Son	12
Bac Giang	13, 98
Quang Ninh	14
Hai Phong	15, 16
Thai Binh	17
Nam Dinh	18
Phu Tho	19
Thai Nguyen	20
Yen Bai	21
Tuyen Quang	22
Ha Giang	23
Lao Cai	24
Lai Chau	25
Son La	26
Dien Bien	27
Hoa Binh	28
Hanoi	29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 40
Hai Duong	34
Ninh Binh	35
Thanh Hoa	36
Nghe An	37
Ha Tinh	38
Dong Nai	39, 60
Ho Chi Minh City	41, 50 – 59
Da Nang	43
Dak Lak	47
Dak Nong	48
Lam Dong	49
Binh Duong	61
Long An	62
Tien Giang	63
Vinh Long	64
Can Tho	65
Dong Thap	66
An Giang	67
Kien Giang	68
Ca Mau	69
Tay Ninh	70
Ben Tre	71
Vung Tau	72
Quang Binh	73
Quang Tri	74
Hue	75
Quang Ngai	76
Binh Dinh	77
Phu Yen	78
Nha Trang	79
Gia Lai	81
Kon Tum	82
Soc Trang	83
Tra Vinh	84
Ninh Thuan	85
Binh Thuan	86
Vinh Phuc	88
Hung Yen	89

Frequently asked questions

A vehicle license plate lookup is the process of identifying a car or motorcycle by running a search using its license plate number. This tool can provide valuable information such as the vehicle’s make, model, year, and even owner details. It is important for various reasons, including vehicle history checks, ownership verification, and safety and security purposes.

The process is quite simple and can be done online. You will need to input the license plate number, including the state or country code, into a reliable license plate lookup service. These services have access to large databases that can provide information on most vehicles registered in that particular region.

By performing a license plate lookup, you can typically access a range of information, including vehicle specifications such as make, model, year, and color. You may also be able to obtain ownership details, including the registered owner’s name and address, as well as any lienholders or leasing companies associated with the vehicle. Additionally, some services may provide vehicle history reports, highlighting important events such as accidents, repairs, mileage readings, and title changes.

Yes, license plate lookup services are legal in most jurisdictions, provided they are used for legitimate purposes. These services are often utilized by individuals, businesses, and even law enforcement agencies for various reasons. However, it is important to use these services ethically and responsibly, respecting the privacy and legal rights of vehicle owners.

There are a few ways to conduct a free license plate lookup. One method is to utilize government-run websites or portals that provide public access to vehicle registration information. Another option is to use online databases or search engines specifically designed for license plate lookups, as some offer limited free searches. Keep in mind that free services may have limited data or require specific criteria to be met for a successful search.

Paid license plate lookup services are often necessary when you require more detailed or comprehensive information. These services typically have access to larger databases and can provide more current and accurate data. If you need to perform multiple searches or require immediate results, a paid service is usually the better option.

To ensure accuracy, it is important to use reputable and trusted license plate lookup services that source their data from official records and have regular updates. Additionally, cross-referencing the information obtained with other sources, such as vehicle history reports or government records, can help verify its accuracy.

While license plate lookup services cover a vast majority of vehicles, there may be certain limitations or exceptions. For example, some services may not have access to information on vehicles registered in specific states or countries, or there may be privacy laws restricting the disclosure of certain information. It is always best to check the coverage and terms of the service you intend to use.

License plate lookups can be useful in a variety of scenarios. For instance, if you’re purchasing a used car, you can verify the vehicle’s history and ownership to ensure it’s legitimate. They can also be helpful in identifying a vehicle involved in a hit-and-run or tracking down the owner of a car parked on your property. Additionally, businesses can use these services for fleet management, insurance companies can verify policyholder information, and law enforcement can utilize them for investigations.

Yes, privacy concerns are an important consideration when using license plate lookup services. While these services are legal, it is crucial to respect the privacy of vehicle owners and comply with any applicable laws and regulations. Some jurisdictions may have restrictions on the use of such services, and it is your responsibility to ensure you are using them ethically and lawfully.