A license plate, positioned at the front or back of a vehicle, displays its unique license plate number. This number provides access to important information about the vehicle.
In Delaware, all new vehicles must be registered and titled before hitting the road. Existing Delaware residents have 30 days to register a new vehicle, while new residents are given 60 days.
If you're considering buying a used car, a license plate lookup can be incredibly useful. This service reveals the vehicle's history, including odometer readings, salvage title reports, and more. It also evaluates the vehicle's current market value, helping you negotiate a better price.
Our license plate lookup service is free and simple to use. Just enter the license plate number from the comfort of your home, and receive your report in seconds—saving you a trip to the DMV and lengthy wait times.
Click here now to access your license plate lookup report!
Fun Fact 🚘
Delaware was one of the first states to require official registration of motor vehicles, starting in 1905. This early adoption highlights Delaware's proactive approach to automobile regulation.
Location of the License Plate Number
Find your license plate number by looking at the license plate issued. However, if you are not physically with the vehicle, simply check the vehicle registration card or any documents related to the vehicle.
Available License Plates in Delaware
There are different types of license plates in Delaware, each having an eligibility requirement.
- Special Plates/Tags
- College Plates/Tags
- Military Plates/Tags
- Vanity Plates/Tags
- Delaware 'Black Tag'
Under the Black Tag program, license plates that meet the Delaware Historic Plate Co.'s restrictions are eligible to have a reproduction of a historic black and white license plate, with your license plate number on it.
The Delaware DMV also sells vanity license plates to vehicle owners who want to display the tag on their vehicles. A vanity license plate costs $40 annually, in addition to the vehicle's standard annual registration charges. Vanity license plates can only be bought online; requests made in person are no longer accepted.
Bear in mid that any vanity license plates issued must be assigned to a vehicle with a Delaware vehicle registration, and is valid for at least 90 days before the order is made.
You can check the availability of your desired plate here.
Benefits of Getting a License Plate Lookup Report
Salvage Titles: This will determine whether or not the vehicle has a salvage title. A vehicle with a salvage title indicates that the vehicle was damaged, and is considered a loss by the insurance company that paid out the claim. In most cases, the cost of repairing the damaged vehicle was way above its value.
Because salvage vehicles lack a blue book value, determining their financial worth is challenging. Banks, finance companies, and lenders are generally wary about funding such vehicles. If such cars are involved in an accident, insurance companies will not pay the claims. It also cannot be traded in since auto dealers will have a hard time selling it.
Lien Record & Vehicle Usage: This determines if your vehicle is under a loan, used as a rental vehicle, or leased. A car lien is an interest on the vehicle that the owner transfers to a third party (a bank or financial institution) as security or collateral for a debt.
If you were to purchase and take title to such a vehicle, you might be responsible for the unpaid debt. If the lien goes unpaid, a third party can repossess the vehicle from you.
Vehicle Collision/Accident History: This detects if the vehicle has ever been in an accident. There could be underlying faults with the car due to accidents, making it risky to be on the roads. This report helps car buyers make a more informed decision.
Accurate, Real-time Market Pricing: Lets you find out how much the vehicle you want is worth on the open market. It will reveal whether or not your dealer is overcharging you.
Odometer readings: This detects if your odometer has been tampered with, resulting in misleading readings. This may be done to deceive buyers into thinking the vehicle has been driven for less than it was.
Detailed Inspection, Title, & Service History: This detects the overall state of the vehicle, and if it's in proper working condition or not. The service history is a thorough record of each time the car was serviced following the manufacturer's schedule, such as annual oil and filter changes. It also indicates which and what parts were replaced and why. The service history of a vehicle can either boost or decrease its market value, and helps predict potential car difficulties.
Some dealers go as far as title washing and tampering with the odometer. NHTSA estimates that more than 450,000 vehicles are sold each year with false odometer readings! With this report, you'll have a much better chance at protecting yourself from costly fraud attempts.
Delaware State has warned about the possibility of being targets of fraudulent scams. It's conceivable that legislation will be enacted to combat all of these scams. Nevertheless, there are techniques to help you avoid falling for them.
If you know of or suspect insurance fraud, please report it to the authorities. All tips and calls are investigated, and kept confidential unless otherwise requested. Fraudulent insurance claims should be reported as follows:
- You can call (800) 632-5154 or (302) 632-5154.
- To report a fraud, send an email to [email protected].
- Reports should be sent to Fraud Prevention, 1351 West North Street, Suite 101, Dover, DE 19904.
Is Looking Up a License Plate Legal?
Yes, it is. Our site conforms with the Driver’s Privacy Protection Act (DPPA)’s restriction on disclosing private information of a car owner. We also abide by the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), which grants individuals the right to access information collected by the government.