VIN SEARCH

VIN SEARCH

What’s a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)?

Since 1954, American automobile manufacturers have used a vehicle identification number (V.I.N.). The early VINs came in a wide array of configurations and variations, depending on the individual manufacturer.

Beginning with model year (MY) 1981, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration required that all over-the-road-vehicles sold must contain a 17-character VIN. The standard established a fixed VIN format.

Why should this be important to me?

The Office of Odometer Fraud Investigation reported that “Odometer tampering continues to be a serious crime and consumer fraud issue. In 2002, National Highway Traffic & Safety Administration (NHTSA) determined this crime allows more than 450,000 vehicles to be sold each year with false odometer readings, milking American car buyers out of more than $1 billion annually.”

The NHTSA web-site states “From 2002 to 2005, we have seen a definite escalation of odometer fraud. New car prices, coupled with the increased demand for late-model used cars, has made odometer fraud more profitable than ever. Strong enforcement of the federal and state odometer laws, i.e., prosecutions with stiff sentences, appears to be the most effective deterrent.”

Where can consumers find VIN information?

There are two companies, CARFAX and AutoCheck, that offer a service of researching and providing VIN histories to consumers. Both AutoCheck and CARFAX can be located on the Internet. Please be aware that Credit Union Services, LLC provides the names for reference purposes. A decision to purchase a copy of a vehicle history report is the sole responsibility of the consumer

We do suggest that used-vehicle buyers request a copy of the VIN report from the dealer prior to the purchase of the vehicle. Vehicle auctions often provide a copy to dealers and, in turn, many dealers will provide a copy for the consumer.

The following information is provided from the NHTSA Web-site.

Title & Odometer Records: How to Access Them by State

Congress, in passing the law which prohibits odometer tampering, stated that car buyers rely heavily on the mileage to determine the value, safety, and reliability of a vehicle. If you doubt the stated mileage of the vehicle you purchased, we recommend that you contact the state(s) in which the vehicle has been titled to obtain a title history. A title history can provide crucial information about the vehicle's odometer history.

Every state requires that a private party purchaser of a vehicle obtain a title or certificate of registration in his or her name. These transactions result in records that will contain odometer readings and odometer statements. Federal law requires that the mileage of a vehicle be disclosed on the title each time the title is transferred. Every state maintains title history records.

Use this listing to locate the address of the state agency where title records can be obtained. This listing is not intended to be all inclusive, but can be used as a starting point to research a mileage and ownership history.

When requesting a title history, be sure to specify that it must include all odometer mileage at all ownership transfers. You MUST also include the vehicle's identification number, along with the year, make, and model. We recommend that you include the name of the last titled owner in that state and/or the state's title number if known. This extra information might mean the difference between a "no record" response and obtaining the complete history. Some states may not release the title history due to privacy considerations. Be sure to specify that the purpose for your request is to obtain evidence of odometer tampering and may therefore qualify as a permissible use under 18 USC Section 2721(b)(2), motor vehicle safety.

Contact the state office before sending your request. The costs listed below may have changed. If the cost of the history depends on how many past titled owners the vehicle has had, send enough money to cover one past transaction and request the state to call or write to let you know how many past titled owners the vehicle had and how much money to send. Include your daytime telephone number with your request. Do not send cash.

When you receive the title history, examine the mileage statements carefully for apparent alterations and erasures before they were submitted to the state. Then, contact prior owners to verify the mileages that appear on the title records.

If you have further questions about ordering a title history, telephone the listed agency before proceeding. If timeliness is a major concern, many states will provide a fast service for a nominal charge. (Revised 5/11/06)

ALABAMA Department of Revenue Motor Vehicle Division Title Section 50 N. Ripley St PO Box 327640 Montgomery, AL 36132-7640 (334) 242-9102 $15	ALASKA Division of Motor Vehicles 1300 W. Benson Blvd Suite200 Anchorage, AK 99503-3600 (907) 269-5551 $5	ARIZONA Motor Vehicle Division 1801 West Jefferson PO Box 2100 Phoenix, AZ 85001-2100 602) 255-0072 $3 for each titled owner in history. Include reason for request and notarized signature.
ARKANSAS Office of Motor Vehicles PO Box 1272 Little Rock, AR 72203 (501)682-3333 $1, plus $1 per title copy	CALIFORNIA Department of Motor Vehicles PO Box 942869 Sacramento, CA 94269-0001 (800) 777-0133 $5 for each titled owner in history plus $20 for copies. Include reason for request.	COLORADO Department of Revenue Motor Vehicle Business Group Titles & Registration Denver, CO 80261-0016 (303) 205-5608 $6 for each titled owner in history (non-refundable)
CONNECTICUT Department of Motor Vehicles 60 State St Wethersfield, CT 06161 (860) 263-5700 $11.25	DELAWARE Division of Motor Vehicles Department of Transportation P.O. Box 698 Dover, DE 19903 (302) 744-2500 $4 for each titled owner in history	DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Dept of Motor Vehicle Services 301 C St, NW Washington, DC 20001 (202) 727-5000 $2 for each titled owner in history
FLORIDA Division of Motor Vehicles Neil Kirkman Building 2900 Apalachee Parkway Tallahassee, FL 32399-0500 (850) 922-9000 $1 for each page	GEORGIA Dept of Motor Vehicle Safety Motor Vehicle Services PO Box 740381 Atlanta, GA 30374-0381 (404) 362-6500 $1	HAWAII Dept of Customer Services Division of Motor Vehicles, Licensing & Permits PO Box 30330 Honolulu, HI 96820-0330 (808) 532-7700 No fee
IDAHO Transportation Department Division of Motor Vehicles PO Box 7129 Boise, ID 83707-1129 (208) 334-8000 $7	ILLINOIS Secretary of State's Office Vehicle Services Department 501 S. 2nd St, Room 312 Springfield, IL 62756 (217) 785-3000 $4	INDIANA Bureau of Motor Vehicles Government Center North 100 N. Senate Ave, Rm N440 Indianapolis, IN 46204 (317) 233-6000 $4 plus 50 cents for each page
IOWA Department of Transportation Office of Vehicle Services 100 Euclid Ave PO Box 9278 Des Moines, IA 50306-9278 (515) 237-3049 or 237-3148 $2.70 for every 15 minutes searching plus 10 cents for each copy of a title	KANSAS Department of Revenue Division of Vehicles Docking State Office Building 915 Southwest Harrison Topeka, KS 66626-0001 (785) 296-3621 $9	KENTUCKY Transportation Cabinet Division of Motor Vehicle Licensing PO Box 2014 Frankfort, KY 40622-2014 (502) 564-5301 $2
LOUISIANA Department of Public Safety Motor Vehicle Division 7979 Independence Blvd PO Box 64886 Baton Rouge, LA 70896-4886 (225) 925-6388 or (877) 368-5463 $7.50	MAINE Secretary of State Bureau of Motor Vehicles 29 State House Station Augusta, ME 04333-0029 (207) 624-9000 $4	MARYLAND Motor Vehicle Administration 6601 Ritchie Highway, NE Glen Burnie, MD 21062 (301) 729-4550 $2 for each titled owner in history
MASSACHUSETTS Registry of Motor Vehicles Title Division PO Box 199136 Boston, MA 02119-9136 (617) 351-9550 $10	MICHIGAN Department of State 7064 Crowner Drive Lansing, MI 48918 (517) 322-1460 $6.55 for each titled owner in history, telephone requests accepted	MINNESOTA Driver and Vehicles Services Division 445 Minnesota St St. Paul, MN 55105 (651) 296-6911 $4 plus $1 for each titled owner in history
MISSISSIPPI State Tax Commission Office of Revenue / Title Bureau PO Box 1383 Jackson, MS 39215 (601) 923-7200 $4.50 for each titled owner in history	MISSOURI Department of Revenue Driver & Vehicle Services Bureau 301 W. High P.O. Box 100 Jefferson City, MO 65105-0100 (573) 751-8383 $4 for each titled owner in history	MONTANA Department of Justice Motor Vehicle Division Title & Registration Bureau 1003 Buckskin Dr. Deer Lodge, MT 59722-2371 (406) 486-6000 $6, plus 50 cents for each copy
NEBRASKA Department of Motor Vehicles 301 Centennial Mall South PO Box 94789 Lincoln, NE 68509-4789 (402) 471-3918 $1 for each titled owner in history	NEVADA Department of Motor Vehicles 555 Wright Way Carson City, NV 89711 (775) 684-4368 $5	NEW HAMPSHIRE Department of Safety Division of Motor Vehicles James Hayes Safety Building 23 Hazen Dr. Concord, NH 03305 (603) 271-2251 $20
NEW JERSEY Motor Vehicle Commission 225 E. State St Trenton, NJ 08666 (609) 292-6500 $5	NEW MEXICO Motor Vehicle Division Joseph M. Montoya Building P.O. Box 1028 Santa Fe, NM 87504-1028 (505) 827-2257 $10 if only one titled owner, $25 for more than 1 titled owner	NEW YORK Department of Motor Vehicles 6 Empire State Plaza Albany, NY 12228 (518) 486-4714 $5 (Check or money order payable to "The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles"
NORTH CAROLINA Division of Motor Vehicles Motor Vehicles Building 1100 New Bern Ave Raleigh, NC 27697 (919) 715-7000 $4	NORTH DAKOTA Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division 608 East Boulevard Ave Bismarck, ND 58505-0780 (701) 328-2725 $1	OHIO Bureau of Motor Vehicles Title Division 1970 W. Broad St P.O. Box 16520 Columbus, OH 43216-6520 (614) 752-7671 $2
OKLAHOMA Tax Commission Motor Vehicle Division 2501 Lincoln Blvd Oklahoma City, OK 73194 (405) 521-3221 $1 for each titled owner in history	OREGON Department of Transportation Driver & Motor Vehicle Services 1905 Lane Ave, NE Salem, OR 97314 (503) 945-5000 $22.50	PENNSYLVANIA Bureau of Motor Vehicles 1101 S. Front St Harrisburg, PA 17104-2516 (717) 391-6190 $5 for each titled owner
RHODE ISLAND Division of Motor Vehicles 286 Main St Pawtucket, RI 02860 (401) 588-3020 $10	SOUTH CAROLINA Department of Motor Vehicles PO Box 1498 Blythewood, SC 29016 (803) 737-4000 $3	SOUTH DAKOTA Dept of Revenue & Regulation Division of Motor Vehicles 445 E. Capital Ave Pierre, SD 57501-3185 (605) 773-3541 $5
TENNESSEE Department of Safety Title & Registration Division 44 Vantage Way, Suite 160 Nashville, TN 37243-8050 (615) 741-3101 $15	TEXAS Department of Transportation Vehicle Titles & Registration Division Austin, TX 78779-0001 (512) 465-7611 $5	UTAH State Tax Commission Motor Vehicle Division 210 North1950 West Salt Lake City, UT 84134 (801) 297-7780 $2 for each titled owner
VERMONT Agency of Transportation Department of Motor Vehicles 120 State St Montpelier, VT 05603-0001 (802) 828-2000 $15	VIRGINIA Department of Motor Vehicles 2300 W. Broad St PO Box 27412 Richmond, VA 23269 (866) 368-5463 $5 for each titled owner in history	WASHINGTON Department of Licensing Vehicle Licensing PO Box 9909 Olympia, WA 98507 (360) 902-3770 $2 for each titled owner in history
WEST VIRGINIA Department of Transportation Division of Motor Vehicles 1800 Kanawha Blvd E, Bldg 3 Charleston, WV 25317 (304) 558-3900 $5	WISCONSIN Department of Transportation Division of Motor Vehicles PO Box 7918 Madison, WI 53707-7998 (608) 266-1466 $2 for each titled owner in history plus 25 cents per page, telephone requests accepted	WYOMING Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Services 5300 Bishop Blvd Cheyenne, WY 82009-3340 (307) 777-4851 $5