Pennsylvania License Plate Lookup

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Table of Content

How To Lookup Pennsylvania License Plates
Why Run a License Plate Search in Pennsylvania?
What Can You Get Out of a Pennsylvania License Plate Lookup?
Why Choose GoodCar for Pennsylvania Plate Lookups?
Pennsylvania License Plates
How to Get a License Plate in Pennsylvania
Frequently Asked Questions about Pennsylvania License Plate Lookups

How To Lookup Pennsylvania License Plates

Pennsylvania license plates are issued by the PennDOT's (Pennsylvania Department of Transportation) Driver and Vehicle Services Division. The division maintains motor vehicle records and ensures such information is linked to license plates. Hence, a Pennsylvania license plate search can be done with the custodian of the motor vehicle records.

In limited circumstances, you can request vehicle information from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. In such cases, the PennDOT charges $14 and requires a completed Form DL-135 and other information such as the VIN.

Alternatively, for a smaller fee, you can use third-party online services to perform a license plate lookup. GoodCar is a third-party site that allows the public to perform Pennsylvania license plate lookups via the lookup service provided on the site. You can get vehicle information from online services by using a license plate number or the VIN as the search parameter.

License Plates

When performing a vehicle information search with a license plate, you must use the serials printed on the metal plate as the data to be provided on the online resource to conduct the search. GoodCar has a search field for inputting this serial. After providing the license plate data, select Pennsylvania in the state field and click the search button. You will get basic vehicle information from the search results. For more information, you must pay a small fee to use the paid option on the site.

VIN

You can also use a VIN to get vehicle information. If you prefer to use the 17-digit vehicle identification number of the car to perform a lookup, switch to the VIN lookup feature and provide the VIN serial. The VIN can be found in the vehicle owner’s manual or below the windshield area of the vehicle. GoodCar has a lookup service using the VIN number provided by the user to return search results. Since a VIN is more difficult to locate and to input than a plate number, most people utilize the plate search instead.

Why Run a License Plate Search in Pennsylvania?

Reasons to Run License Plate Search in Pennsylvania

Despite its multi-use options, the public often uses a license plate lookup when purchasing a used car. In such a case, running a license plate search can protect you from the risk of purchasing a broken or stolen car. For instance, some vehicle sellers roll back the odometer readings on a car and also clone the VIN in order to sell a vehicle for more than it is worth. When you perform a Pennsylvania license plate search, you can access the actual odometer readings and VIN to confirm the history and appraise the value of the car.

It is easier to run a license plate search compared to the VIN when looking for vehicle information because the license plate is in a more visible location than the VIN. While license plates are attached to the exterior of the vehicle on the rear or front of the vehicle, VINs may be in obscure locations, such as printed in small font sizes and on the driver-side door jamb or underneath the front chassis.

What Can You Get Out of a Pennsylvania License Plate Lookup?

A wealth of vehicle information is available to the public in a Pennsylvania license plate lookup. However, if you do not use a paid subscription, third-party online vehicle data providers only make basic vehicle information available. GoodCar provides a fuller vehicle report for users of its paid license lookup service.

Vehicle Records

Access to vehicle records can help prevent you from falling victim to a fraud that may be perpetrated by a seller or an owner of a vehicle. In a detailed vehicle report from a license plate lookup, you can find information, including accident history, recall information, and lien information. This can help whoever is performing the license plate lookup make informed decisions.

Title Brands and Problem Checks

When you do a Pennsylvania license plate lookup, you can view the title brand assigned to the vehicle’s title. If a title brand, such as salvage, reconstructed, lemon, junk, hail damage, flood damage, or junk, has been assigned to a vehicle, it shows that the vehicle has significant issues. A significant risk may mean that you avoid buying the vehicle to re-evaluate the price to pay a fair amount for what the car is worth.

Also, since the license plate lookup provides data on information such as lien records and odometer information, you can avoid any potential issues that may arise in the future from purchasing the vehicle.

Tracing a Vehicle’s History for Used Car Purchases with Pennsylvania Plate Checks

Pennsylvania plate checks can be used to determine the fair price for a used vehicle or avoid purchase completely. Potential used car buyers can see if there are any frauds to odometer readings, VIN, or other significant issues highlighted in the vehicle history report that may necessitate putting the brakes on buying a used car.

Why Choose GoodCar for Pennsylvania Plate Lookups?

Requesters can benefit from extensive vehicle records and reports as they obtain information from accredited data providers like the NMVTIS. GoodCar also illustrates theft checks, collision records, recalls, flood, hail, or fire damage, and pricing.

Pennsylvania License Plates

Pennsylvania license plates are issued by the Driver and Vehicles division of the State Department of Transportation (PennDOT). Passenger vehicles are required to display one license plate, while two license plates are required for passenger vehicles owned by the state. For vehicles mandated to have only one plate, the license plate must be affixed to the rear of the vehicle, with an exemption grant to a truck tractor whose plate must be affixed to the vehicle's front. Pennsylvania license plates are 12 inches in length and 6 inches in height.

Standard Issue License Plates

The standard-issue license plate in Pennsylvania is a rectangular design divided into three rows. The first row has its background filled with a dark blue car and the word "PENNSYLVANIA" printed in white color at the center. The middle row is the biggest of the three sections and is filled with white color in the background and the plate serial in deep blue color at the center with the first three characters separated from the last four characters by a deep blue colored keystone separator. The bottom row is filled with a yellow color with the state's tourism website address (visitPA.com) printed in deep blue at the center.

Military License plates

The military license plate is issued to currently active or retired members of the United States Military units.

Special Fund License plates

Pennsylvania special fund license plates are issued to raise funds for specific causes or organizations. They usually feature unique logos representing the causes supported by the individual requesting such plates. A portion of the fees charged for special fund license plates in Pennsylvania goes towards the causes supported.

Special Organization License plates

Pennsylvania allows specific organizations to advocate their interests by providing unique license plates. These organizations are allowed to charge an initial fee authorization to request a license plate bearing the name of the special group. This fee is separate from the fees charged by the State Department of Transportation. Special organization license plates are manufactured in the standard plate colors (blue, yellow, and white). The organization's name is printed across the bottom of the plate and "Pennsylvania" is also printed across the top. On the left side of the plate is the emblem or logo of the organization. Pennsylvania special organization license plates may be issued to passenger cars, motorcycles, trailers, motorhomes, and trucks registered with a gross weight of up to 14,000 pounds.

Personalized License Plates

Personalized license plates are license plates unique to individuals. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation allows individuals to choose the combination of serial characters to be printed on their license plates, subject to certain constraints. This allows motorists to display customized license plates reflecting individual interests and likes. The state restricts personalized license plates to passenger vehicles, trailers, motor homes, motorcycles, and trucks with a registered gross weight of up to 14,000 pounds.

The PennDOT restricts personalized plates to a combination of up to seven letters and numbers. No special characters may be used on personalized plates. You may check for the availability of personalized plates using the personalized registration plate availability tool on the PennDOT website.

Specialty License Plates

Specialty license plates are issued to certain individuals or categories of persons to create awareness about a cause or support a goal.

How to Get a
License Plate in Pennsylvania

Temporary license plates are only valid for use for up to 90 days in Pennsylvania. Beyond that, you must obtain a permanent license plate from the State Department of Transportation (PennDOT). To get a license plate, you must title and register the vehicle to be affixed with the plate with the Driver and Motor Services Department of PennDOT.

If you are titling or registering a vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Weight of up to 8,500 pounds, an odometer reading of 7,500 miles or less, and manufactured in 2008 or after, you must first obtain a certification from the California Air Resources Board. The certification must be submitted along with the MCO/MSO, and a completed Form MV-1. Form MV-1 is available at authorized PennDOT agent locations.

For used vehicles with a Pennsylvania certificate of title, the title must be submitted with acceptable ID requirements, a copy of a current insurance ID card, a Pennsylvania driver's license or photo ID, and a completed Form MV-4ST. Form MV-4ST is available at approved PennDOT agent locations. Fees for Pennsylvania license plates are included in Form MV-70s.

PA License Plate Renewal

Pennsylvania license plate renewals are done when motorists complete their vehicle registration renewal process. PennDOT allows renewals to be completed online or by mail. If you want to renew by mail, mail a completed Form MV-140, the applicable fee, and required documentation (listed on page 2 of Form MV-140) to:

Bureau of Motor Vehicles
1101 South Front Street
Harrisburg, PA 17104-251

To complete a renewal online, visit the Online Vehicle Services Login portal. You will need the current plate number, title number, odometer reading, valid credit card, and insurance information. Note that Pennsylvania allows counties to impose a $5 annual fee for vehicles registered to an address in their jurisdictions. For further information on the counties charging the $5 fee, see the Fees for Local Use - Participating Counties Fact Sheet published on the PennDOT website.

PA License Plate Replacement

A lost license plate can be replaced by PennDOT. If you have lost your plate, submit a completed Form MV-44 with the appropriate fee in the form of a check or money order payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to:

Bureau of Motor Vehicles
PO Box 68593
Harrisburg, PA 17106-8593

Frequently Asked Questions about
Pennsylvania License Plate Lookups

Can I Look Up PA License Plates for Free?
You can look up Pennsylvania license plates for free online from third-party sites offering free license plate lookup services. GoodCar offers such a service but, like other vendors, only reveals basic vehicle history information in a free lookup. With a paid plan, you can view more comprehensive vehicle history information.
Can I Use Pennsylvania License Plate Lookup Services to Find Out About a Vehicle's Accident History?
Yes, a vehicle’s accident history is available in a Pennsylvania license plate lookup. If you use GoodCar, you can access the entire accident history recorded for a vehicle via the paid plan, which provides comprehensive vehicle history information.
How Can I Register a Vanity License Plate in Pennsylvania?
The first step in applying for a Pennsylvania vanity plate is to verify if the configuration of choice has not been taken by another motorist. You can carry out this step using PennDOT's Personalized Registration Plate Availability Tool.

Once you confirm the plate is available, download and complete the MV-904 form. Submit the completed form and a check or money order made out to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for the applicable fee to:

Bureau of Motor Vehicles
PO Box 68293
Harrisburg, PA 17106-8293

If your application is successful, PennDOT will issue your plate and make it available within 10 weeks. However, if your plate serial combination falls short of PennDOT laws, your application will be returned, including an official statement notifying you of the reasons why your plate could not be manufactured.

Note that PennDOT will return a vanity license plate application if the combination chosen is considered:
- To contain sexual connotations
- A racial, religious, lifestyle, or gender epithet
- Related to unlawful activities
- Related to the abuse of alcohol or illegal substances
- Profane, sexually suggestive, vulgar, or obscene