To legally drive in Vermont, you must first register your vehicle with the state's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Upon registration, you will receive two vehicle license plates, a validation sticker with the expiry date (to be placed on the rear plate), and a registration card.
If you are buying a new or used car from a dealership, you will need a temporary license plate to drive the vehicle until your permanent plates are issued. When purchasing a vehicle from a private seller, you must apply for a restricted permit valid for three days.
Conducting a quick license plate lookup on the vehicle you intend to buy provides the benefit of obtaining detailed and up-to-date information, ensuring that you make a legal and informed purchase.
Farm Fact! 👨🏻🌾
Vermont is one of the few states that allows you to register a car with a farm plate if you are a farmer. These special plates offer certain benefits and reduced registration fees for vehicles used primarily for agricultural purposes. This highlights Vermont's strong agricultural heritage and support for the farming community.
Where Is My Vermont License Plate Number?
Vermont license plates must be placed on the front and rear of your vehicle. If you need to lookup your vehicle's license plates without having physical access to the vehicle, you can find it on your registration card.
Getting a License Plate in Vermont
Getting your license plates requires that you register your vehicle with the Vermont DMV first. If you recently moved to Vermont from another state, you must do so within 60 days of your move. You may need also to show proof that you're the rightful owner of the vehicle (via its certificate of title, for example).
You can register your car through various channels: online, over the phone, by mail or in person.
You may also need to provide the following items:
- Your state’s identification card or driver’s license
- Your insurance information for the state the vehicle will be driven
- A sales tax payment
- Documents proving the vehicle passed emissions regulations and a safety inspection
- The car’s registration application
While waiting, you can apply for temporary license plates so that you can drive around. These plates are valid for 60 days. Temporary plate applications can be done via the DMV's website.
Types of Vehicle License Plates in Vermont
There are a few types of license plates you can apply for:
- Standard plates: The license plate number is written in white characters on a green background and the state tree on the top left of the plate. Specific vehicles will also have their classification listed.
- Low number plates: These plates are highly sought after in the state. They feature a set of characters between the numbers 101 and 9999. Vermont residents are even able to apply to keep plate numbers used by their families through a special application process.
- Specialized plates: These cater to people affiliated with particular organizations or institutions (e.g., military veterans, members of the Lions Club, etc.). There are also specialty plates for causes like the Vermont Building Bright Futures, which aims to support child care facilities in the state.
- Vanity plates: Personalized plates must abide by specific terms and conditions as specified by the DMV. They also carry an annual fee charge of $48 on top of the annual registration fee.
What Do I Get from a License Plate Lookup Report?
A license plate lookup provides you with relevant data on the vehicle you intend to purchase or have already purchased. Information you will be able to access includes:
Market value: Knowing the estimated or actual market value of the car you intend to buy can protect you from possible sales fraud. You'll be able to tell if a seller has jacked up the price above its actual price point.
Vehicle specifications: You may be interested in knowing the vehicle’s make, model and VIN before purchasing the car. This report gives you detailed facts on the vehicle’s overall attributes prior to its listing.
Accident records: This checks if the car being looked up has been involved in any reported accidents. 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.
Junk/salvage title check: This tells you if the car has been damaged and is therefore considered a ‘total loss’ by an insurance company.
Odometer record: Some sellers may alter odometer readings to trick buyers into thinking that the vehicle has been driven for less than it was. This report helps protects you from potential odometer fraud.
Lien records: Provides information on whether the car has been used in a lease, as collateral for a debt, as a rental car unit, etc. A car dealership is legally obligated to resolve any existing liens before selling the car. If they don't, you'll be able to find out via the report.
Previous owners: Gives you comprehensive information on the number of owners the vehicle has had and each person's duration of ownership. It doesn't tell you more about each owner as a privacy safeguard, but it's sufficient to know how the vehicle was used throughout its life.
Flood records: This tracks any previous damage to the car caused by floods. Floods can cause certain mechanical faults that can be missed without a thorough inspection. In some cases, you might not be informed beforehand by the seller, whether intentionally or not. With a lookup report, you'll be able to look out for possible flood records.
Why is the Report Important?
When purchasing a used car, you always want to prioritize protecting yourself from possible scams. As such, having a license plate lookup report provides a powerful tool to help you make informed decisions when buying a car.
If a car dealership intentionally withholds any information on the overall condition and performance of the car you want, a license plate report will keep you appraised of any such fraudulent attempts. Odometer fraud is one of the most common fraud tactics used by unscrupulous sellers.
Using online tools like VinFreeCheck's license plate lookup gives you access to an extensive and verifiable source of vehicle information from reputable sources like the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) and the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS).
Vehicle lookups aren't restricted to vehicles personally owned; it even transcends look-ups for a suspicious vehicle on the road or out of curiosity to look up a car you might like.
Is a Reverse License Plate Search Even Legal?
Yes it is! In fact, we comply with the Driver's Privacy Protection Act (DPPA) and do not disclose any information about the previous vehicle owners' personal details. Our lookup system performs a reverse lookup that obtains the vehicle's VIN number and searches for its history reports. Nothing in our report is traceable to any particular individuals.
Additionally, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) allows any individual the right to access to information collected by the government. There's no reason for you not to give our auto license plate lookup tool a try. It's totally legal and FREE!