Virginia VIN Check
How to Perform a VIN Lookup in Virginia?
The Virginia DMV maintains motor vehicle records in the state. While the DMV does not specifically have a VIN check request system for requesters, it allows the public to make motor vehicle record requests. One piece of information required in this request is the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
However, VIN lookups are more commonly done using online VIN lookup services. You can perform a Virginia VIN lookup using GoodCar, an online VIN check service. On the VIN check page of the GoodCar website, provide the 17-character, and click the search button. The result page will reveal vehicle specifications for free users and a vehicle history report for paid users.
How to Find Your Car's VIN Number?
VINs are imprinted in different locations in a car, depending on the manufacturer. However, most cars usually have it on the windshield in the driver area or on a sticker stamped on the doorjamb where the driver-side door latches. If you are struggling to find the VIN for your car, you may look in the manufacturer owner's manual or on the car's registration card.
A VIN typically has 17 characters, except for the VINs for vehicles manufactured prior to 1981. Since 1981, VINs have followed a standardized formula that has different information encoded into each of its characters. To understand what each character of the VIN serial stands for, use the GoodCar VIN decoder.
Why Should I Run a va VIN Check?
You should run a VIN check if you have any reason to want to know about a particular vehicle. Vehicle history information is recorded and can be obtained from a VIN check. From a VIN lookup, you can access the following information:
Vehicle History
Vehicle history information is useful in confirming whether a vehicle's specifications and features align with a seller's advertisement. As of 2021, there are about 920 used car dealers in Virginia, and a VIN look will verify their claims about a car.
Title Verification
As of 2022, over 7.6 million vehicles were registered in Virginia. An average of 2.4 vehicles are owned per household in the state. Running a VIN check will reveal the title status for any used car in the state.
Accident History
Approximately 1,000 traffic crashes occur yearly in Virginia. A VIN check can reveal any damages or structural issues a vehicle may have.
Mileage Verification
In 2023, more than 56,000 vehicles operating in Virginia had their odometer readings rolled back. You can avoid falling victim to an odometer rollback scam by running a VIN check. The state Office of Enforcement and Compliance is in charge of odometer fraud.
Recalls and Safety Standards
More than 116,000 vehicles operating on Virginia roads have open recalls on them. To avoid buying a vehicle with safety issues, consider running a VIN check prior to purchase.
Theft Check
Per NICB 2022 data, 14,256 vehicles were stolen in Virginia. To avoid buying a stolen vehicle, you should consider running a VIN check.
Natural Disaster-Related Reasons
Virginia experiences natural hazards like storms, tornadoes, wildfires, and flooding, which can damage vehicles. Conducting a VIN check can help reveal any such damages, ensuring you avoid purchasing a vehicle compromised by natural disasters.
Virginia Lemon Laws
and How They Relate to VIN Checks
If you have attempted unsuccessfully to repair your new vehicle purchased in Virginia three or more times for the same issue, your vehicle may be classified as a lemon. Your car may also be tagged a lemon if the vehicle has been out of service for over 30 days in a year. Per Virginia Lemon Law, also called the Virginia Motor Vehicle Warranty Enforcement Act, the manufacturer of the car (qualified as a lemon) must replace the vehicle or refund the buyer's funds.
If you are buying a vehicle in Virginia, you can protect yourself by using the VIN to confirm the vehicle's repair history. If you notice multiple repairs, especially for the same issue, this may indicate a lemon buyback. Also, lemons returned to manufacturers may be resold, Hence, if you are leasing or buying a car from a dealer, you may ask for a copy of the vehicle's defect history prior the conclusion of the transaction.
The Title Transfer Process
When you buy a vehicle in Virginia and the purchase is financed by a loan, the Virginia DMV will forward your vehicle title with the lien recorded on it, to your lienholder. If you register the vehicle with the DMV, you will get a registration card and license plates. A lien will be applied to your vehicle title until you pay off your loan.
When you pay off the loan on your vehicle, the lienholder must notify you and send you the title showing your lien has been satisfied within 10 days. With most lenders participating in the Virginia DMV's electronic lien program, they can release liens on vehicle titles automatically. This automatic release triggers the DMV to mail a new title to your address on file with the department. The new title will be a "clean title" stating "no liens."
If a lienholder does not participate in the Virginia DMV's electronic lien program, they can manually release the lien by signing and dating the lien release section on the vehicle title and mail the title to your address. Upon receiving the title, you must visit a DMV customer service location to apply for a substitute tile and have the DMV remove the lien from their records. If you do not get a replacement title at the DMV, you must get a lien release letter from the lienholder and a new title from the DMV if your vehicle title is destroyed or lost.
If you cannot get a lien released because the business the lender has been taken over by another business or gone out of business, you must submit proof of this, and evidence that the lien terms have been met. This includes:
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If the lender was a motor vehicle dealer: Obtain a written "out-of-business" attestation from the MVDB (Virginia Motor Vehicle Dealer) from the dealer licensing authority in the state where the dealer is based. A lienholder in Virginia may call (804) 367-1100, extension 2.
A lien release for the vehicle from the new business will be required if the dealer merges with a business or is taken over by another business. Supporting documentation associating the original lienholder with the takeover or merged lender will be required.
If the lender was a sole proprietor and not a Virginia-approved licensed vehicle dealer, a written confirmation of the lender's out-of-business status from the local area in which the lender was licensed to do business is required
If the lienholder was a business and not a motor vehicle dealer, a written "Certificate of Fact" from the clerk of the Virginia State Corporation Commission (if you are a lienholder in Virginia) or an official form from the licensing authority in the jurisdiction where the lienholder was based. The form must state the lienholder has been taken over by another business entity, merged with another business, or that the lienholder has gone out of business. If the lender has been taken over or merged with another lender, company, or business, include a lien release from the takeover or merged lender and provide supporting document linking the original lienholder with the takeover or merged lender
- Evidence of request for lien release: Provide a returned certified mail addressed to the lender as proof that you requested a lien release for your vehicle. Also, any documentation that may serve as proof of satisfaction of the lien. Receipts from the lienholder, billing notices, or other evidence stating that the lien has been paid in full will suffice
- Notarized statement of lien satisfaction: A notarized statement identifying the VIN, year, and make, and attesting that the lien has been satisfied
Virginia Insurance and Registration Requirements
To register a vehicle in Virginia, the owner must pay the Uninsured Motor Vehicle Fee or ensure coverage by the minimum insurance requirement. Minimum insurance coverage limits for the state are outlined in Section 46.2-472 of the Code of Virginia.
The minimum liability insurance policy limits are $30,000 for bodily injury or death of one individual in an accident, $60,000 for bodily injury or death of two or more individuals in an accident, and $20,000 for injury to or property damage of another in an accident. These minimum limits are valid up to December 31, 2024.
From January 1, 2025, the minimum insurance policy limit is; $50,000 for bodily injury or death of one individual in any one accident, $100,000 for bodily injury or death of two or more individuals in an accident, and $25,000 for injury to or destruction of property of others in an accident
A motorist who opts to pay the Uninsured Motor Vehicle Fee must pay a fee of $500 to the Virginia DMV. This fee does not provide any coverage but allows motorists to drive an uninsured vehicle for a period of 12 months at their own risk. The uninsured driver will be personally liable if the driver is involved in an accident. The $500 may be prorated for the unexpired portion of the registration period.
The Virginia DMV imposes strict penalties for motorists who do not comply with its insurance requirements. Motorists who are not insured or have not paid the Uninsured Motor Vehicles will have their vehicle registration and driving privileges suspended. For reinstatement, the motorists must file an SR-22 (Financial Responsibility Insurance Certificate) with the DMV for three years, pay a $600 statutory fee, and pay a reinstatement fee, if applicable.
Virginia Titling Requirements and Sales Tax
You can title your vehicle in Virginia electronically, by mail, in person at a DMV Select office or a Customer Service Center.
To title a vehicle using the Virginia Electronic Titling Program, the vehicle buyer and seller must fulfill certain conditions. The seller must be an individual owner, not a business, be a current Virginia resident, and have an active Virginia myDMV account. The buyer must not be a current Virginia resident, be an individual purchaser, have an active myDMV account, have no customer holds on their account that prevent titling, and not be a business.
The vehicle to be titled must meet specific requirements:
- It must be owned by a single person with no beneficiaries listed on its title
- Have no vehicle holds on the account of the owner or the title that prevents the vehicle from being retitled
- Have no holds on the vehicle title
- Be a passenger vehicle (car, truck, sport utility vehicle, mopeds, no trailers, or all-terrain vehicles)
- Have no liens
- Not have been reported sold more than 15 days before electronically titling the vehicle
The Virginia electronic titling program does not allow the following types of vehicles to be titled via the electronic system:
- Vehicles being titled in another state
- Vehicles owned by a business
- Vehicles being transferred by power of attorney, survivorship, or divorce decree
- Vehicles for which a sales and use tax exemption is sought
- Buyer:
- Log in to your myDMV account and generate a buyer code
- Provide the buyer code to the vehicle seller to initiate the title transfer process
- Wait for the seller to complete their part of the process. You will get a notification via the email provided on your myDMV account when the vehicle is ready to be titled in your name
- Seller:
- Log in to your Virginia myDMV profile. Under the "Online Services" tab, select "Vehicle Title and Registration" to initiate the process
- Provide the buyer code provided by the buyer and complete the vehicle information section
- Confirm and certify the entered vehicle information
- The buyer will get a notification that the vehicle is ready for them to tile
- Your vehicle will be removed from your record once the buyer has completed their part of the transaction
- When the transaction has been completed, the seller will no longer be the current vehicle owner in DMV's records
- Buyer:
- Click on the "Continue" button once the seller has completed their part of the process and you have been notified that the vehicle is ready for titling
- Select from the list, the vehicle to be titled
- Review and confirm the sale information entered by the seller
- Continue with the online title and registration process by completing the required information and certifying the title transfer
- Submit your payment with a credit card and print your temporary registration card and plates or receipt
Note that you will not get a paper title if you use the Virginia DMV electronic titling program. Rather, the DMV will hold an electronic record of your title. If you want a paper title, you may submit an online request through your myDMV account using the Original Electronic Title Print transaction or via Form VSA 67 (Application for Replacement and Substitute Titles) by mail or at a customer service center or Virginia DMV Select office.
Virginia-Assigned VINs
The Commonwealth of Virginia, through its Department of Motor Vehicles assigned vehicle identification numbers to specially constructed vehicles, reconstructed vehicles, replica vehicles, homemade trailers, or vehicles that have their VINs changed, altered, or missing. To obtain a Virginia-assigned VIN, you must submit a completed Application for Assigned Vehicle Identification Number and the applicable fee and supporting documentation (indicated on the application) to:
The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles
P.O. Box 27412
Richmond, Virginia 23269-0001
Why Choose GoodCar for Virginia 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.
Virginia Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
about Virginia VIN Checks
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Who Issues A Vehicle's Vin Number In Virginia?
VIN numbers are issued and imprinted on vehicles by their manufacturers. The Virginia DMV only assigns VINs to homemade vehicles, reconstructed vehicles, replica vehicles, and vehicles with altered, missing, or defaced VINs.
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How do I verify a VIN number in Virginia?
A VIN check can help verify a VIN number in Virginia. To run a VIN check, visit the GoodCar VIN check page and provide the VIN serial in the search field. Next, click the search button to get information about the vehicle to verify the VIN number.
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Is it safe to check a Virginia VIN online?
It is safe to check a Virginia VIN online. VIN information is not personal information and is therefore available for lookup purposes.
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Do I need a VIN inspection in Virginia?
A VIN inspection is generally required for vehicles with altered, missing, or changed VINs.
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Are Virginia VIN checks necessary for out-of-state vehicles brought into Virginia?
Yes, VIN checks are typically conducted by the Virginia DMV for out-of-state vehicles brought into the state.
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What does a Virginia VIN check reveal?
A VIN check can reveal how many times a vehicle has changed hands, information on previous accidents and damages, mileage, outstanding financial obligations on the vehicle, stolen alerts, and other non-sensitive vehicle information that can be used to make an informed decision.
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Can you ask for the VIN from a Virginia seller?
Yes, you can request a VIN from a Virginia vehicle seller. Vehicle sellers in the state do not hesitate to give VIN numbers to potential car buyers who may want to review the vehicle’s history before purchasing.