Wisconsin License Plate Lookup

License plate lookups through GoodCar may return results such as vehicle history data that is publicly sourced or aggregated from third-party providers.

Comprehensive Data Reports

Suitable for those conducting preliminary checks to explore potential issues or confirm transaction details, GoodCar's reports typically provide the following data points when available:

Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)

A VIN is a unique 17-character code that helps identify a vehicle's origin and history. GoodCar's reports allow buyers to compare VIN details in advertisements or titles. Any differences may suggest potential fraud or tampering.

Auto Specs

Users may explore technical details and features of vehicles, such as model, make, driveline, capacity, climate control, and more.

Accident and Damage History

This section of a vehicle report reveals whether a car has been in a collision and the extent of its damage, and the factors that directly impact reliability and safety. In Wisconsin, winter conditions, including heavy snowfall and icy roads, frequently lead to accidents.

Safety and Recall Records

These entries, sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), help users identify if a vehicle has been subject to a safety recall or regulatory issue.

Title Brands

GoodCar may highlight over 60 potential title designations, including salvage, rebuilt, or fire damage labels, helping users assess associated risks.

Mileage Readings

Tracking inconsistencies in reported mileage may assist users in evaluating whether a car's usage aligns with its asking price, reducing the chance of unexpected repair costs.

Premium Data Reports

Accessible for an additional fee, premium reports from GoodCar may contain more detailed vehicle insights when available. These records are intended to help users evaluate aspects like vehicle valuation and past usage:

Sales Records

GoodCar's premium reports may feature auction or sale histories, showing frequency and pricing trends, and may link to previous listings where applicable. This allows users to gauge fair market value.

Market Values

Market pricing for vehicles shifts based on supply, demand, and conditions. GoodCar's data is intended to help users identify favorable moments to buy or sell.

Ownership History

Reports may indicate the number of prior owners and ownership types. This may suggest how a car was used, such as private vs. commercial, which may inform potential maintenance needs.

For those interested in understanding the specifics of these data points and how they are presented, a sample report from this website is available for review.

With over 15 years in the Data-as-a-Service industry, GoodCar is an authorized National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS) data provider. It gathers data from public and private sources, combines it with proprietary information, and uses advanced algorithms to process, analyze, and organize the data efficiently.

GoodCar's license plate lookup is designed to assist insurance providers, financial services, dealers, auction professionals, fleet managers, and individual consumers. Here are the steps for performing Wisconsin license plate searches through GoodCar:

1. Type the exact combination of characters from the license plate in the search field below.
2. Choose Wisconsin from the dropdown menu as the vehicle's state of registration.
3. Click the green “Search” button to start the lookup process and examine the generated vehicle history report.

Wisconsin License Plate Design and Format

Plate design may influence how easily results are returned. Standardized formats typically reduce input errors and may yield more consistent results.

A standard Wisconsin plate features a white background, a small lake and farm graphic on the top right, and "WISCONSIN" in bold red capital letters on the top left. "America's Dairyland" appears in red at the bottom, while a black embossed seven-character alphanumeric serial number, typically formatted as ABC-1234, is displayed at the center.

In addition to standard license plates, several other types are available in Wisconsin. Heavy truck and trailer plates are assigned to commercial vehicles, while vanity plates allow personalized numbers or messages.

For more detailed information about all license plate types in Wisconsin, check the Wisconsin DMV's License Plate Guide.

Source: Pierce County Journal

Wisconsin Personalized Plate Availability

GoodCar's Vanity Plate Lookup tool may help users find out if a custom license plate is available. It is intended to make the reservation process more efficient before visiting a licensing center. Whether you want to display a personal message, a unique combination, or a fun phrase, this tool may help you secure your ideal plate quickly and efficiently, making the process smoother before heading to a local or central office.

GoodCar compiles vehicle data from the following sources and processes it through internal systems to produce reports that are intended for informational use:

• NMVTIS (National Motor Vehicle Title Information System): The primary data source, NMVTIS aggregates information from the Wisconsin Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), junk yards, salvage yards, and insurance carriers. This data may contain title histories, salvage records, and other important vehicle details.
• NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration): Safety-related data, such as recall information and crash test ratings, are included when available, helping users assess vehicle safety concerns.
• Private Data Providers: GoodCar may also include information from providers like Black Book, J.D. Power, MarketCheck, and DataOne, which contribute vehicle valuation, market trends, and specifications.
• Internal Databases: Collected data is structured using proprietary methods while following FTC guidance.

Data Availability and Potential Limitations

Although GoodCar gathers data from numerous sources, processing delays, inconsistent reporting practices, and unrecorded events may impact the availability, accuracy, and completeness of information in vehicle history reports.

• Incomplete or Delayed Updates: Data from government agencies, insurers, and other sources may not be immediately available, leading to outdated records. For example, the Wisconsin DMV may take longer to process title or registration updates.
• Unreported Incidents: Accidents, repairs, or damages that are not filed with insurance companies or government agencies may be missing from reports. This may create gaps in the available information.
• Variability in Reporting Standards: Different data providers follow varying reporting practices, which may affect the accuracy and completeness of GoodCar vehicle history reports.

While GoodCar aims to provide requesters with as much information as they need, it strictly adheres to national and state laws that govern access to personally identifiable data in vehicle history reports.

GoodCar does not disclose sensitive information, including names, addresses, and contact details, protected under the Driver's Privacy Protection Act (DPPA).

Enforced by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), this federal legislation prohibits public and private entities from sharing personal vehicle record data except for limited purposes, such as:

• Authorized use by federal, state, or local courts and law enforcement agencies
• Legal matters involving civil, criminal, or administrative court proceedings
• Business purposes such as verifying data accuracy, preventing fraud, or recovering debts
• Investigations conducted by licensed private investigators or security firms
• Insurance providers, self-insured entities, or insurance support organizations handling claims, fraud prevention, rating, and underwriting
• Research and statistical reporting without publication of personal details

Additionally, GoodCar conducts rigorous report reviews and data verifications to ensure that highly restrictive data is not disclosed to unauthorized requestors, as required under Wisconsin Statute (Wis. Stat.) Chapter 343. Some examples of such sensitive information are:

• Persons' photographs
• Disability-related or medical details
• Biometric data (e.g., fingerprints)
• Signatures gathered as per Wis. Stat. Chapter 343 (operator's licenses)

Motorists and organizations in Wisconsin may obtain vehicle or driver records for free using the Wisconsin DMV's license plate search app on the agency's Online Services platform.

To access license plate information, they should enter the license plate number and provide a valid or permissible reason defined by the DPPA.

After the search, they'll access the vehicle's registration expiration date, make, model year, and renewal reference number (RRN). Requests through this online method may take up to three days to process.

License plate information may be accessed through sources besides GoodCar and the Wisconsin DMV.

Some Wisconsin law enforcement agencies, such as the Middleton Police Department (MPD), use License Plate Recognition (LPR) systems to identify expired registrations, stolen vehicles, or those linked to criminal activities.

LPR systems capture parked or moving vehicles' license plate infrared images and convert them into text files. These texts are then checked against hot lists from agencies like the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and the Wisconsin Department of Justice's (WisDOJ) Crime Information Bureau (CIB).

Authorized police employees may query stored LPR data for crime prevention or investigation. However, non-law enforcement agencies and the public may not access this data unless a court order or subpoena is obtained.

Here are the ways individuals and organizations may obtain vehicle and driver records in Wisconsin other than a license plate search:

NICB's VINCheck

With the National Insurance Crime Bureau's (NICB) free VIN lookup tool, VINCheck, users may verify vehicles reported as stolen but not yet recovered, declared as salvage or total loss, or have insurance theft claims. The theft or salvage records are gathered from insurers participating in the program.

Wisconsin DMV's Online and Mail-In Options

Individuals may request their own or someone else's vehicle or driver records from the Wisconsin DMV by filling out and submitting the Vehicle/Driver Record Information (Form MV2896) via mail. They should complete the form with all required information, such as the vehicle's year, make, and VIN, as well as their address and driver's license number.

The records may contain information regarding the vehicle's title, registration, mileage, specifications, and the driver's full history of renewals, restrictions, suspensions, convictions, and endorsements. Each certified copy costs $10, while a non-certified one is $5.

Meanwhile, the Public Abstract Request System (PARS) online service allows businesses, including towing companies, transport businesses, and insurance providers, to quickly and regularly receive employee vehicle or driver records via the web.

Users must set up PARS accounts and Automated Clearing House (ACH) bank accounts and sign a data access agreement. The search fee per abstract is $5.

GoodCar's Alternative Lookup Tools

GoodCar offers certain tools designed to assist users in accessing vehicle prices and specifications, accident and damage histories, title records, depreciation trends, recall information, and financial estimates:

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

With various options available, GoodCar is a wise choice for obtaining vehicle data. The platform's intuitive user interfaces, secure and compliant information-handling techniques, and wide data coverage set it apart.