How to Find the Owner of a Car (6 Easy Approaches)
I am a serial entrepreneur and a consumer advocate. When I’m not helping car buyers, I love working on ventures that have a positive impact.
I run a cause marketing agency and serve on the board of Vayu Global Health where we are disrupting the medical industry and preventing the needless deaths of mothers and babies during childbirth.
You may wish to find the owner of a car due to various reasons. For instance, you may have witnessed an accident involving a vehicle. You may also have a car that you recently sold, or perhaps you spotted a car with the driver, thinking that the individual was a long-lost friend.
Or probably someone hit your car and ran away and you were able to spot his plate number and eager to figure out who owns the car.
The good thing is that if you are able to find the contact details of the person, you can easily find them through their email.
In this article, you will learn how to find the owner of a car easily.
Let’s get started!
Table of Contents
How to Find the Owner of a Car
To successfully find the owner of a car, take the following simple steps:
1. Look for the License Plate
If you see a car abandoned in a parking lot, it’s likely that it belongs to someone. After looking at the license plate, you can identify the car’s owner.
You can also try contacting the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to get the owner’s information.
However, if you’re unsure how to look at the license plate, there are other ways to find the car’s owner.
2. Look for Tags
If there are stickers and tags on the car windows, then it’s likely that the person who owns it has been there. This method could also be helpful if it’s hard to read the messages on the windows.
The messages will still be readable if there are no scratches or marks on the windows.
If the car has no stickers or tags on the windows, you can still find its owner by looking for other stickers or tags on the vehicle.
3. Look for Signs of Identification
If you’re in a parking lot and notice an abandoned car, then it’s most likely that it belongs to someone.
In addition to the license plate, you can also check for other personal information, such as cards and IDs.
If the license plate doesn’t contain written information, look for other objects to help you identify the car’s owner. These could include credit cards or pieces of paper with written messages.
4. Have a Look at the Credit Cards or Insurance Papers Found Inside the Car
You can immediately find the owner when you find insurance documents and credit cards inside the car.
If the license plate doesn’t contain written information, look for other objects to help you identify the car’s owner. These could include credit cards or pieces of paper with written messages.
5. Look for Personal Information Found Inside Cars
When you find an ID card, social security card, or similar documents inside the car, you can immediately identify its owner. An easier way to do this is to examine the license plate.
If the license plate doesn’t contain written information, look for other objects to help you identify the car’s owner. These could include credit cards or pieces of paper with written messages.
6. Call the Police
Getting in touch with the authorities can also provide you with the most accurate and complete information about a car’s owner.
If something goes wrong with a vehicle, then you must contact the authorities. This is also true in the case that it’s been stolen or damaged.
One essential thing to remember is that the institution where you should seek help differs depending on the situation.
i) Contact the Authorities
If you are a victim of illegal activity or a witness to an accident, you should also contact the police. However, in certain cases, it’s important to avoid taking laws into your own hands.
In the case of an accident, the police must have as much information as possible regarding the involved vehicle and the other driver.
This can include the make and model of the car, its license plate number, and other distinguishing features.
You should also give the police your contact details and personal information so they can follow up on your inquiries.
ii) Contacting the Insurance Company
This is also a must if you have an accident or your vehicle is stolen. If you are filing a claim or planning on filing one, your insurance company can provide you with the current owner’s information.
Make sure to cooperate fully with the insurance company. In addition to providing the necessary information, you should also complete all the necessary paperwork.
iii) Contact the Registry of Motor Vehicles
The Registry of Motor Vehicles is the ultimate authority regarding cars. It has sufficient information about vehicles and can help you identify their owners by their license plate number or VIN.
7. Use Online Databases
Today, numerous websites let you search for a car using its vehicle’s serial number (VIN).
This method requires identifying the car’s serial number first, as it would not allow you to check the documents of its owner.
This is done by inconspicuously approaching the vehicle, and you should be able to see its dashboard and side-door frame. If it isn’t, it’s most likely at the front of the engine block.
You can also check for websites that provide vehicle identification reference checks. Some of these provide free-of-charge services, while others charge a small fee.
Buyers of second-hand cars usually rely on free websites to keep track of their vehicle’s history and ensure that it has not been damaged or stolen.
These services do not have the personal details of past and current owners, such as their names, addresses, and contact information.
Some of the paid services, however, provide more detailed information. Before signing up for a service, make sure you know what you’ll be getting.
Also, avoid paying for services that only provide incomplete or unsatisfactory results.
Be careful when using search engine results. Even the paid services can’t guarantee that the information you’re getting is correct.
Also, many of these sites don’t have the necessary licenses or verification to ensure that the data they provide is accurate.
8. Contact Various Car Clubs
One of the most useful sources of information on finding the owner of a car is car clubs.
These organizations can provide you with the current owner’s contact details and possible clues about the car’s collector’s value.
Before you start working on a car identification project, you must have all the necessary details about the vehicle, such as its make, model, and year. Having these details can help you identify the car’s owner.
After you have these details, check out car clubs online. You should also expand your search to include other national organizations, as the person you’re looking for may be passing through your area.
9. Place an Ad
If you still have a hard time finding the owner of a car, try asking your friends and family through social media or an old-fashioned newspaper ad.
You can opt for a local ad if you prefer to reach out to local residents rather than national media.
Another option is to place an ad in a magazine for cars. This could be very helpful if you’re looking for the owner of a particular type of vehicle.
If you prefer to keep in touch with people through social media, then platforms such as CraigsList and Facebook are ideal.
If you are still looking for a group dedicated to cars, try searching through the pages of car enthusiasts.
If you’re planning on posting an ad for a car, provide sufficient information about the vehicle.
Also, make sure to include your contact details so that potential buyers can easily find you. However, remember that you should keep your personal information private.
What You Need to Search for a Car?
Before you start searching for a car, you must have some clues. These include the vehicle’s owner and any information you can gather about it.
- The model and the make of the car
- Some of the unusual features you might see in a car include a unique paint job, unusual accessories, and scratches.
- The plate number of the vehicle
- The VIN (Vehicle Identification Number)
- If you’re unsure where to start when finding the owner of a car, there are various steps you can take.
What is VIN?
Many people acknowledge the importance of a vehicle’s identification number. If you’re not sure how to find the owner of a car, then you need to know the vehicle’s VIN.
This unique serial number is used for identifying a car. It also has a set of 17 characters and includes both letters and numbers. This eliminates the possibility of confusion regarding the numbers 1 and 0.
The vehicle’s identification number is usually imprinted onto the car’s surface. You can find it on the left-side dashboard or the driver’s side door frame.
If you have access to the documents related to the vehicle, such as its registration, title papers, and insurance, you can also check the car’s serial number.
Privacy and Confidentiality
Always remember that the information you seek from government agencies may be private and confidential. This applies especially when it involves contact details.
This means that, as a private individual, you may not be entitled to the information the authorities provide.
However, they can still provide it to third parties, such as your lawyer and insurance company. It depends on the type of information that’s being used and the context.
The Driver’s Privacy Protection Act prohibits unauthorized access and use of the authorities’ information regarding vehicle owners.
You should only use this information for lawful and legitimate reasons.
