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Vermont License Plate Lookup

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License Plate Search

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License Plate Lookup in Vermont

A Vermont license plate lookup involves searching for information about a vehicle using the details on a number plate. It helps to obtain information about the owner of a vehicle, other details of the vehicle as documented at the point of vehicle registration, and information about the vehicle's history. Details about the history of a vehicle obtainable through a license plate lookup are accident history, driver's Vermont traffic records, repossession history, flood, hail, and fire damage history, etc.

The Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles DMV is in charge of all vehicle registration and renewal in the state. The DMV maintains the records of all vehicle owners and drivers in the state. There are no special requirements for looking up license plates in Vermont. A person may conduct a license plate lookup in Vermont using private third-party sites. Private database companies often buy information from government agencies, organize it, and sell it to customers for a fee. However, some information is freely accessible to individuals through free license plate lookup tools. An inquirer may also request at the main office of the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles between the hours of 7:45 am, and 4:30 am from Mondays through Fridays using the following address:

Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles
120 State street
Montpelier, VT 05603-0001

They may also visit any of the local offices of the Vermont DMV close to where they reside.

What is a Vermont License Plate?

Vermont license plates are metallic plates containing a combination of letters and numbers issued by the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The DMV is associated with the Vermont Agency of Transportation. Vermont requires all vehicles to be registered and obtain license plates bearing their unique allocated numbers. The DMV issues a registrant a Vermont license plate together with a registration card and a validation sticker, showing the expiration date of the vehicle registration. Vehicles are issued two license plates in Vermont. However, motorcycles, tractor trucks, semi-trailers, and trailers are issued one license plate. A license plate must be affixed to the front and rear of a vehicle. All the letters and numbers on the plate must be legible at all times. Vermont requires registration validation stickers to be attached to conspicuous areas of the vehicle, close to the license plate as follows:

  • For vehicles with license plates with dimensions of approximately 12 x 6 inches, the registration validation sticker shall be attached at the lower right corner of the rear registration plate.
  • For vehicles with license plates with dimensions of approximately 7 x 4 inches, the registration validation sticker shall be attached at the upper right corner of the rear registration plate.

Vermont issues specialty license plates and commercial license plates. If the vehicle is sold, the new owner must re-register and obtain another set of license plates from the DMV. Vermont license plates may not be transferred to another person, as they are properties of the plate's registered owner. If a vehicle owner wants to transfer a Vermont s registration and license plate from one vehicle to another, a registrant is required to:

  • Complete and submit a Vermont Motor Vehicle Registration, Tax, and Title Application Form (Form #VD 119) to the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles
  • Ensure that they state the plate number they wish to transfer
  • Change the legal ownership of the vehicle they want to transfer
  • Ensure they complete Section 7 of the Vermont Vehicle Registration Application or include their current Vermont Registration

How Do I Get a License Plate in Vermont?

Anyone may apply for a license plate in Vermont. An applicant does not have to be a Vermont Resident before they apply. The applicant may schedule an appointment for a visit to the main office of the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles at:

Vermont DMV Montpelier
120 State Street,
Montpellier, VT 05603

They may also visit any of the local offices of the Department of Motor Vehicles closest to them. They will be required to provide the following documents:

  • A downloaded and completed Registration/Tax/Title Application (Form VD-119)
  • A completed Bill of Sale/Odometer Disclosure Statement (Form VT-005)
  • The vehicle's title
  • A proof of the tax history of the vehicle showing the total amount paid

An applicant will also be required to make payment for applicable Vehicle Registration Fees depending on the type of vehicle.

Passenger License Plates vs. Commercial License Plates

Vermont issues commercial license plates to vehicles used for business purposes to differentiate them from passenger vehicles used for private purposes. However, there are no notable differences in the features of commercial license plates and passenger license plates. There are four categories of commercial vehicle plates issued in Vermont. These are:

  • Apportioned Bus license plate: This is issued to vehicles designed to carry and transport more than ten passengers. Applicants are to complete and submit Form VP-162. Applicants are issued two license plates.
  • Apportioned Truck license plate: This is issued to registered trucks weighing over 26,000lbs and purposed for traveling out of the state. Applicants are issued two license plates. Applicants are to complete and submit Form VP-162.
  • Agriculture license plate: This is issued to vehicles used to transport agricultural products or used for agricultural activities on farms owned by the registrant. Applicants are to complete and submit Form VD-119. Applicants are given two license plates.
  • Off-Highway Tractor license plate: This is issued to all types of tractors. Applicants are to complete and submit Form VD-119. Applicants are given one license plate.

Applicants for passenger license plates in Vermont are required to complete a Registration/Tax/Title Application (Form VD-119). They are to indicate other information about the type of vehicle they are registering while completing the form.

How Can I Find the Owner of a License Plate in Vermont?

A person may find the owner of a license plate in Vermont by conducting a license plate lookup. This is done by contacting any of the local offices of the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). They may also conduct license plate lookups using private third-party database company websites. Information obtained from the license plate lookup may be used for further search through phone number lookup.

Third-party aggregate sites are a reliable alternative for obtaining license plate information. These sites are maintained by independent establishments which collate the information from government-run repositories. Obtaining records from these sites often proves substantially easier than government alternatives. However, requestors may be required to provide any information required to facilitate the record search and pay any required fees to access the record of interest.

Vermont License Plate Renewal

The Vermont Department of Motor Vehicle handles issues of license plate renewal in the state. The department allows four options for registrants to renew their license plates. A registrant may:

  • Renew online: Through Vermont's DMV Express portal, a person may renew their vehicle's license plate. The system produces a temporary registration valid for 10 days. The applicant will receive a permanent registration document and sticker from the Department of Motor Vehicle by mail.
  • Renew by Phone: An applicant may renew their license plate by phone by calling the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicle on (866) 259-5368. They will be required to provide their Vermont Driver's license number and make payment using their credit cards (Visa Card, MasterCard, or Discover).
  • Renew by Mail: To renew a vehicle license plate by mail in Vermont, an applicant will be required to provide the following documents:
    • Their signed registration renewal notice or a completed Vermont Registration/Tax/Title Application(Form VD-119)
    • A check or money order which covers the amount required of them to pay as stated in their registration renewal notice

The mail renewal method requires the applicant to mail the renewal notice in an envelope addressed to:

The Department of Motor Vehicle
P.O. Box 1308
Williston Vermont 05495-1308 (The address is designated only for license renewal)

The registration document and sticker for the renewed license plate will be sent to the applicant in about ten business days from when the application is received.

  • In-person Renewal: A person may visit any of the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicle

Office locations closest to them. They may also visit any of the offices of the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles Participating Town Clerks. They will be required to provide their signed registration renewal notice and the payment for the amount specified in their renewal notice. If the applicant can not provide their renewal notice, they will need to complete a new registration form (Form #VD-119).

License plate renewal fees vary in Vermont according to the type of vehicle and the number of years for the renewal.

Can You Look Up License Plates with VIN?

Yes. A person may look up a vehicle's license plate using the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). Applicants supply all details about their vehicles, including their VINs, to the Vermont DMV during vehicle registration. The DMV maintains these details as public records and makes them available when duly requested.

VIN Number Lookup

Every vehicle has a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) given as an identifying code for the vehicle by its manufacturer. The VIN is usually a combination of 17 characters (digits and capital letters) written on the driver's side of a vehicle's dashboard. A VIN lookup provides information about the history of the vehicle, such as:

  • Registration records
  • Warranty claims
  • Insurance records
  • Warranty claims
  • Recalls
  • Theft record
  • Accident record etc

The Vermont government requires VIN lookups in the state to be completed by:

  • A State Law Enforcement Officer
  • Personnel employed by a law enforcement agency and under the direct supervision of a law enforcement officer designated for management of vehicle registration records
  • An employee of the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles designated by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles

However, a person may use any free third-party online VIN check websites. An inquirer should note that VIN does not use the alphabets O, I, and Q as they are often confused with other figures. Characters that look like O and l are to be inputted as 0 and 1.

Can Civilians Lookup License Plates in Vermont?

Yes, civilians can look up license plates in Vermont because they are considered public records. However, they might be unable to retrieve a driver’s personal information without written consent from the record holder. Such information is usually restricted to a selected few like government agencies, any private person or entity acting on behalf of a Federal, State, or local agency, researchers, insurance companies, and licensed private investigative agencies. Requests for license plate lookups can be made in person at the Vermont DMV Montpelier office.

What Do Police See When They Run Your Plates in Vermont?

Vermont police officers run plates for various reasons. However, below are some information they get to see when they run plates:

  • Driver’s license status
  • Vehicle information (vehicle identification number, manufacturing year, vehicle license expiration date, and any suspensions on the car)
  • Driver personal information (name, address, date of birth, social security number, height, and eye color)
  • Criminal history (outstanding arrest warrants and bench warrants)

A police officer can issue a citation or arrest a driver due to the information found when a license plate search is conducted. Therefore, it is advisable for drivers to ensure their license and registration is valid ad they are not violating any Vermont traffic law.

Free License Plate Lookup in Vermont

Most third-party websites offer free license plate lookups. However, the information that can be retrieved might be limited. Requesters can pay a small fee for a more extensive search. Each third-party site provides unique information when individuals enter license plate numbers in their search boxes. However, below is the common information that can be seen by conducting a free license plate lookup:

  • Sales records
  • Lien records
  • Title records
  • Theft records
  • Title brand checks
  • Accident records
  • Warranty/manufacturer Recalls
  • Market value, safety ratings, and fuel efficiency
  • Vehicle specifications (year of build, color, technical features, optional equipment, and odometer reading)

How to Search for Ticket by License Plate in Vermont

A ticket search by license plate can be conducted in person at the Vermont Judicial Bureau or DMV. Requesters would be able to access the following information after paying the necessary fees:

  • Citation number
  • Offense level (infraction or misdemeanor)
  • Whether the violation is correctable
  • Violation(s) and their descriptions
  • The issuing agency and name of the officer
  • The court’s address and phone number
  • The date the driver must pay the ticket

Individuals can also use the Vermont Judiciary public portal to conduct a ticket search. However, the search criteria are by citation number, name, or driver's license number and not license plate.