Minnesota VIN Check
How to Perform a VIN Lookup in Minnesota?
There are two ways to perform a VIN lookup in Minnesota. You can make a request to the Driver and Vehicle Services section of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DVS) to lookup a VIN. The Driver and Vehicle Services division of the Minnesota DPS is the official motor vehicle records keeper in the state. You can make a request to the DVS by visiting its location at 5 Minnesota Street, Saint Paul. Alternatively, you can submit a request by mail. To submit a request by mail, send a completed DVS Record Request form with a check or money order made out to Driver and Vehicle Services for the applicable fee (as indicated on the form), and a copy of your driver's license, government-issued ID card, or notarized signature to:
Driver and Vehicle Services
Records Unit
445 Minnesota Street, Suite 161
St. Paul, MN 55101-5161
Note that the federal Driver Privacy Protection (DPPA) is enforced by Minnesota, ensuring that personal information contained in Minnesota motor vehicle records is only accessible in limited circumstances.
The more common method used by most people when looking up a VIN in Minnesota is an online third-party look-up service. Such services provide fast and reliable results for VIN lookup. You can use the GoodCar VIN lookup service to get a detailed vehicle report for a car. On their website, you need to type in the 17-digit VIN in the search bar and click on the search button to obtain a quick report on the vehicle.
How to Find Your Car's VIN Number?
Manufacturers assign unique numbers to each vehicle in the form of a VIN. This number contains 17 characters and can be found in the driver's side windshield area or printed in the inner area of the driver's door jamb. In addition, VINs can also be located in your vehicle insurance card, vehicle registration, and vehicle owner's manual. The VIN is coded with multiple information, such as the country of manufacture, vehicle type, manufacturer, security code, vehicle model year, and the plant where the vehicle was assembled. For more information on decoding the 17-character VIN serial, visit the VIN decoder page of the GoodCar website.
Why Should I Run a mn VIN Check?
You should consider looking up a VIN if you are interested in checking or verifying important vehicle information that can be useful in circumstances such as when buying a vehicle. You can get the following information via a VIN check:
Vehicle History
A VIN check will provide important data on the history of a vehicle. This information includes details that may be used to verify the condition of a used car and the claim made by any of the 421 used car dealers in the state.
Title Verification
A VIN check helps you verify that a car has been titled appropriately and if a lien has been placed on the car. Without a proper title and registration, a car cannot be operated on Michigan roads. About 5 million vehicles are titled and registered in Michigan, an average of 2.6 cars owned per household.
Accident History
More than 400 motor crashes are recorded annually in Minnesota. These figures suggest that some cars may have structural damage that needs checking before purchasing used vehicles. A VIN check can help you reveal this information, if it exists.
Mileage Verification
Over 45,000 vehicles are estimated to have had their odometer readings rolled back in Minnesota. If you run a VIN check, the report will show the actual odometer readings for the history of the car. The office of the state’s attorney general is in charge of odometer fraud.
Recalls and Safety Standards
At least 60,000 motor vehicles registered in Minnesota have open recalls. An open recall indicates that driving the car with the recall puts the driver at significant safety risk. You can verify if a car has an open recall by running a VIN check.
Theft Check
Some stolen vehicles are touted for resale by unscrupulous dealers or individuals. In 2022, the NICB reported that over 17,000 cars were stolen in Minnesota. To avoid buying a used car, perform a VIN check before purchase.
Natural Disaster-Related Reasons
Some common natural disasters in Minnesota, such as flooding and ice storms can damage a car, making it unsafe for use. From the vehicle report resulting from a VIN lookup, you can get a vehicle’s accident history which can help you avoid buying a damaged vehicle.
Minnesota Lemon Laws
and How They Relate to VIN Checks
Lemon laws are established to protect car buyers from purchasing defective vehicles. The Minnesota Lemon Law applies to any defect not conforming to the manufacturer's warranty, which considerably restricts the use or decreases the market value of the vehicle. It covers passenger automobiles used for carrying no more than 15 persons, including a pickup or van, and the van portion of a recreational vehicle or ambulance. Used vehicle owners can ask for compensation in Michigan as long as the vehicle remains under the warranty of the original manufacturer and the vehicle has been used at least 40% of the time for personal purposes.
To ensure that the vehicle you want to purchase is still under warranty by the manufacturer and has not been labeled with a lemon title, you should perform a VIN check. VIN checks reveal brand titles, accident histories, and recall information. This information arms you with the appropriate information to determine whether a car is safe to drive.
The Title Transfer Process
When you purchase a vehicle in Minnesota, the vehicle title is issued to the vehicle owner and not the lienholder even if a lien is against the vehicle and has not been paid off. Hence, unlike non-title holding states, a title transfer from the lienholder to the vehicle buyer is not required.
If you purchase a vehicle from another state, you must obtain the most current title in order to transfer the title to Minnesota. If you do not have the most current vehicle title, ask the seller to obtain a duplicate from the state where the title was issued. You (the buyer) and the seller must complete and sign the relevant sections on the title. If a lienholder is listed on the title, the lending institution listed on the title must provide a lien release statement or sign a designated portion on the title attesting to the release of the lien.
Afterward, you (the vehicle buyer) must complete an Application to Title and Register a Motor Vehicle. Submit the completed to the following:
Minnesota Department of Public Safety
Driver and Vehicle Services Division
445 Minnesota Street
Paul, MN 55101-5185
Minnesota Insurance and Registration Requirements
In accordance with Section 65B.48 of Minnesota Statutes, also called The Minnesota No-Fault Act, motor vehicle owners are required to maintain no-fault insurance. Consequently, to register a vehicle or motorcycle with the Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services, the vehicle owner must provide proof of insurance. At the registration of the vehicle, vehicle owners will be required to provide the policy number, the policy expiration date, and the insurance company's name. Per Section 169.791 of the Minnesota Statutes, the proof of insurance must always be in the vehicle and shown to a peace officer if required.
Minnesota Titling Requirements and Sales Tax
In order to title and register a vehicle in Minnesota, you must submit a completed Form PS 2000, also called an Application to Title and Register a Motor Vehicle, to a state Division of Vehicle Services Deputy Registrar Office. In addition, you must bring the following to the deputy registrar's office:
- A valid photo identification
- Proof of car insurance
- Current vehicle title
- A completed Form PS 2017. This is applicable if the vehicle title shows that a lien placed on the vehicle has been paid
- Current odometer readings of the vehicle
If you have purchased a vehicle from another state and intend to transfer its registration to Minnesota, you must submit a completed Application to Title and Register a Motor Vehicle to:
Minnesota Department of Public Safety
Driver and Vehicle Services Division
445 Minnesota Street
Paul, MN 55101-5185
This form must be accompanied with your title or registration card.
Note that one of the fees required before titling a vehicle is the sales tax fee. The state charges 6.875% of the vehicle purchase price as sales tax. When you perform a VIN check before buying a used vehicle, you can verify that there is no outstanding fee or tax on the vehicle.
Why Choose GoodCar for Minnesota VIN Lookup?
GoodCar is the one-stop shop for comprehensive vehicle history reports and contains everything from ownership data, vehicle specifications, fire damage, and accident history to the title history of the vehicle. The data provided is of the highest industry standards, placing customers in the best position to make informed decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
about Minnesota VIN Checks
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Who Issues A Vehicle's Vin Number In Minnesota?
VIN numbers are not issued by any Minnesota agency. VIN numbers are issued by vehicle manufacturers in accordance with international standards.
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How do I verify a VIN number in Minnesota?
You can verify a VIN number in Minnesota by conducting a VIN check with a trustworthy service like GoodCar. With cases of cloned VINs rampant among dubious vehicle sellers, it is recommended that you run a VIN check to verify that the vehicle imprinted with the VIN was actually issued with that VIN by the vehicle manufacturer. To verify a VIN, put the VIN 17-alphanumeric character in the VIN number field on the GoodCar website and click on search. You can use the information provided on the resulting page to compare with the vehicle to see if they match.
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Is it safe to check a Minnesota VIN online?
Yes, it is safe to check a Minnesota VIN online. Online VIN check services like GoodCar are authorized to allow the public access to vehicle data reports via VIN checks. Also, Minnesota law allows anyone to check VIN online, provided unauthorized access is not granted to sensitive motor vehicle records.
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Do I need a VIN inspection in Minnesota?
VIN inspections are not mandated by the state Department of Public Safety's Driver and Vehicles Services division prior to titling or registering a vehicle. However, you may consider conducting a VIN check to verify the status and safety of a vehicle prior to the purchase.
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Are Minnesota VIN checks necessary for out-of-Minnesota vehicles brought into Minnesota?
VIN checks are not required for out-of-state vehicles brought into Minnesota.
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What does a Minnesota VIN check reveal?
A Minnesota VIN check reveals lots of information. This includes accident history, theft alerts, title brand information, odometer history, and vehicle specifications.
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Can you ask for the VIN from a Minnesota seller?
Yes, you can ask for the VIN from a Minnesota vehicle seller. It is recommended that you ask a vehicle seller for a VIN when you are considering purchasing a used car. Most sellers know this is a legitimate question and will be willing to provide this information.