Arizona License Plate Lookup

GoodCar generally offers two levels of report - comprehensive and premium - with each designed to provide different types/scopes of information.

Comprehensive Data Reports

When available, a GoodCar comprehensive report may contain the following types of information:

Title History

This summarizes reported title transfers and may identify issues such as salvage or flood designations. This information is typically compiled from state-reported title brands and may assist in identifying vehicles with potential concerns.

Vehicle Specifications

This usually includes basic vehicle details such as make, model, engine type, fuel economy, drivetrain, and other information that makes a vehicle comparison relatively easier.

VIN Information

This links the license plate to the corresponding Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), which can help verify vehicle details and allow for further research and/or verification.

Accident Records

When available, these may show reported collisions, including information about damage severity or airbag deployment.

Odometer Readings

This helps interested parties to track mileage changes over time, which may highlight inconsistencies or discrepancies.

Safety Information

This may include publicly sourced crash test results, manufacturer recalls and defect reports, safety notices, and other similar information that may be used to assess a vehicle's overall safety and reliability.

Warranty and Ownership Costs

This section typically provides estimates for remaining warranties and expected costs related to ownership, including repairs, insurance, and maintenance. Buyers often use this type of information to plan for long-term ownership costs.

Premium Data Reports

In addition to the features found in the comprehensive report, premium reports may offer additional data such as:

Market Values

This offers estimated market pricing (trade-in, wholesale, or retail) for the vehicle based on factors like location and vehicle type. Vehicle prices in Arizona can vary by location - for instance, trucks and SUVs are usually in greater demand in rural regions, while hybrid and electric models tend to be more popular in metropolitan areas like Scottsdale and Tempe. However, it should be noted that the provided estimates may vary from actual prices and should not be considered definitive.

Sales History

This tracks available past listings and pricing trends from major automotive marketplaces, which can assist in understanding a vehicle's sales history, assessing fair market prices (especially in competitive areas such as Phoenix and Chandler), and making well-informed purchasing decisions. Links to original listings may also be provided when accessible.

GoodCar's premium features are especially useful for those buying used cars, dealerships working across multiple markets, insurance professionals, and businesses managing vehicle fleets throughout the state.

Users can peruse a sample report that shows the level of detail GoodCar's license plate lookup provides.

GoodCar is an approved data provider for the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS). This allows GoodCar to access data that may include title records, salvage history, and other vehicle-related information. As an approved NMVTIS data provider, GoodCar follows strict data handling and compliance procedures to ensure that information is accessed and used lawfully.

Running a license plate search through GoodCar is a relatively simple process that involves the following steps:

1. Enter the vehicle's full license plate number in the search field.
2. Select "Arizona" as the state of registration to refine/filter search results.

Arizona License Plate Format and Design

Knowing the type of plate issued can often significantly impact the relevance of the results when performing a license plate lookup. Different types of plates may be categorized separately in registration systems, with formats linked to specific vehicle uses, while others, like temporary plates, may not appear in traditional databases.

Arizona's standard license plate is the most commonly issued, seen on the majority of vehicles across the state. Standard license plates follow a seven-character alphanumeric format, which is randomly generated and typically feature a desert landscape design with the word “Arizona” at the top and, in some cases, the phrase "Grand Canyon State" at the bottom.

Source: Arizona Department of Transportation

This plate, which was designed by Walter Punzmann and introduced in 1996, remains widely used. Arizona also issues personalized and specialty plates, which represent causes, affiliations, or organizations. These include a wide range of options, including military-themed designs, university affiliations, and charitable causes that allow Arizona drivers to showcase their interests, affiliations, or causes while abiding by state regulations. In addition, the state issues digital license plates as well, which are displayed on approved electronic devices.

Arizona Personalized Plate Availability

The Arizona MVD allows interested parties to request personalized license plates that display a custom combination selected by the vehicle owner. Multiple background designs are available, including the standard sunset theme. GoodCar's Vanity Plate Lookup tool may help users determine whether a specific custom plate is currently in use. This tool is designed to save time and streamline the personalization process by conveniently letting vehicle owners know whether their creative plate idea is still up for grabs or already claimed, without requiring a visit to an MVD office.

Data Availability and Considerations

GoodCar typically gathers and cross-references vehicle data from multiple sources. However, the information returned in a license plate lookup may be limited (or unavailable in some cases) due to certain factors and considerations, such as:

• Privacy Restrictions: License plate lookups will not typically reveal owner names, addresses, contact details, and other restricted personal information, in compliance with privacy laws. Notwithstanding this, non-personal vehicle data may still be accessed.
• Plate Type and Format: Arizona issues various types of license plates, and search results may vary depending on the type and format of the license plate entered and the correctness of the information input into the search tool.
• Recent Changes in Ownership or Registration: If a vehicle has recently changed hands or been re-registered, some records may take time to update in the database.
• Limitations in Historical Data: Records for older vehicles may be limited, particularly if those vehicles predate electronic recordkeeping.

GoodCar typically compiles data for Arizona vehicle reports from several publicly available and third-party sources. These include the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS), which contributes title records, salvage and junk history, and odometer readings collected from state titling agencies, salvage yards, and insurance carriers. Likewise, safety recall data and vehicle identification information are typically aggregated from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

GoodCar also incorporates information - ranging from market trends, pricing, listings, and sales activity, to vehicle valuation data, vehicle specifications and VIN decoding - from private data providers like Black Book, J.D. Power, MarketCheck, and DataOne. External data is also supplemented with the platform's internal databases to support the delivery of reports.

The federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act (DPPA) restricts the use and distribution of personal information associated with vehicle and driver records and regulates how this information is disclosed. In Arizona, vehicle and driver records are also governed by the Arizona Public Records Law, which establishes guidelines for the release of public information while protecting private details. Under the DPPA and Arizona Public Records Law, personal details like names, residential addresses, and contact details are strictly protected.

GoodCar adheres to both federal and state regulations by limiting report content to non-personal vehicle history data. Personally identifiable information is only disclosed under specific, legally authorized circumstances, such as:

• Requests from law enforcement agencies
• Insurance companies assessing claims or verifying vehicle histories
• Government agencies carrying out regulatory or safety-related duties
• Towing and impound services managing abandoned or towed vehicles
• Licensed private investigators conducting legal investigations
• Courts or attorneys involved in litigation or legal disputes
• Employers performing background checks for driving-related job positions
• Researchers or statistical agencies using anonymized data for transportation studies

In addition, GoodCar uses encryption, secure storage protocols, and regular audits/routing compliance checks to prevent unauthorized access to and/or misuse of protected data.

The Arizona Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) - a division of the Arizona Department of Transportation - is responsible for managing vehicle registration, titling, and maintaining license plate records in the state. While the MVD maintains a detailed database of registered vehicles, this information is not openly searchable by the public online. Nonetheless, certain individuals and organizations may request access to Arizona license plate record information under specific conditions, which include providing proof of identity, a legally valid reason for requesting the information, and any necessary documentation proving their eligibility to obtain the requested records. Requests can typically be submitted using the following methods:

• In-Person: Interested parties may visit an MVD office to submit their request and required documentation.
• Online: certain authorized parties may submit record requests to the MVD online via the AZ MVD Now platform. Note that the creation of a user account is typically required to utilize this option.

Vehicle record information that may be accessed via the Arizona MVD typically include:

• Vehicle registration details, including expiration date and vehicle specifications.
• Ownership records, which may show current and previous owners. Note that access to this information is restricted by privacy regulations.
• Title history, documenting changes in ownership over time.

The time required to process requests and associated fees may vary depending on the method used. For general inquiries on accessing vehicle record information, contact the MVD at (602) 255-0072.

In addition to the MVD, several alternative sources may help users access vehicle-related information in Arizona, such as:

• Law Enforcement Databases: Police agencies typically have access to restricted national and state vehicle records and may offer eligible requesters with access to this information in certain situations, such as stolen vehicle investigations.
• Government Safety and Public Records: Some government agencies offer online tools for checking vehicle recall status, lien records, or theft reports using a license plate number. These resources are designed to help consumers verify critical vehicle details.
• Insurance and Lienholder Records: Insurance companies and financial institutions typically keep records of claims, damage reports, and loans/financing linked to a vehicle. Individuals involved in legal matters may request specific details from these entities.
• Third-Party Platforms: Platforms like GoodCar offer a convenient option for accessing publicly available vehicle-related information remotely and in line with relevant legal regulations and guidelines.

There are multiple ways to access vehicle-related information in Arizona beyond a license plate lookup. Eligible parties can typically access vehicle information from the state's MVD using other identifiers - requests for this information may be made online (where applicable) or by submitting a properly completed Motor Vehicle Record Request Form to the division, along with any applicable fees and supporting documentation. Be aware that access to information via the MVD is usually restricted to specific requesters.

GoodCar also provides a suite of tools designed to deliver in-depth vehicle insights, such as:

• VIN Check
• Vehicle History Search
• VIN Decoder
• Recall Lookup
• Residual Value Lookup
• Car Depreciation Check
• Lease Calculator
• Car Loan Calculator
• Car Title Check

These tools are designed to assist users in making informed vehicle-related decisions by providing necessary information (when available) that may be used to verify a vehicle's history, identify any outstanding recalls, evaluate its depreciation over time, estimate potential loan or lease payments, and confirm whether there are any title concerns.

In addition to GoodCar's available services, several official government resources also offer alternative ways to access vehicle information. These include:

• The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) VINCheck tool, which may be used to check if a vehicle is tagged as stolen or classified as a total loss due to severe damage by entering its VIN (Vehicle Identification Number).
• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) VIN Decoder, which enables users to input a full or partial VIN along with the model year to obtain manufacturing details, including the vehicle's make, model, trim, engine specifications, assembly plant location, and country of origin.