Are License Plates Public Information

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Are License Plates Public Information? The short answer is no. License plate data is protected by federal law. Most people cannot just look up a plate. You need a legal reason to access this data. That is where a licensed investigator comes in. People need plate lookups for many reasons. Some are tracking down a hit and run driver. Others need to find someone who owes them money. A licensed PI can help you get this done legally.

The Driver’s Privacy Protection Act

The Driver’s Privacy Protection Act is a federal law. It limits who can access DMV records. This includes license plate information.

Only licensed investigators and authorized people can run a plate lookup. You cannot do it yourself online legally. Random websites that claim to offer this are not reliable. They often return outdated or incorrect data.

Lance Casey & Associates is a licensed California PI firm. Our license number is CA PI #27617. We have over 25 years of experience running lawful plate lookups.

Who Can Legally Run a Are License Plates Public Information

Attorneys and Process Servers

Attorneys often need plate lookups for their cases. They locate parties for service of process. They also use this data for pre-litigation work and judgment enforcement.

Hit and Run Victims

Hit and run cases are frustrating. Sometimes law enforcement will not act on your case. A licensed PI can identify the driver who fled the scene.

Debt Recovery and Skip Tracing

Creditors need to find people who owe money. A plate lookup can locate a debtor fast. It also confirms vehicle ownership for repossession or judgment enforcement.

Towing Companies

Towing companies must notify vehicle owners by law. They need accurate registration information. A plate lookup helps them identify and contact the right person.

Licensed Private Investigators

Licensed PIs run plate lookups for their clients. They do this for investigative purposes allowed under the DPPA. This includes cases across multiple states including a Florida License Plate Lookup.

Judgment Creditors

You won a judgment but cannot collect. A plate lookup confirms vehicle ownership first. Then you can direct the sheriff to seize assets to satisfy your judgment.

How It Works

The process is simple when you work with us. You submit a request to Lance Casey & Associates. Provide us with the plate number and state. We verify your legal purpose for the search. Then we run the lookup through authorized databases. You get accurate and current results. Most requests are completed quickly. We have been doing this for over 25 years so we know how to get it done right.

Fill out the form above to get started today. Our team is ready to help with your plate lookup request.