Can You Find Insurance Info From a License Plate Number?
Last Updated on February 5, 2026
In most cases, you can’t personally look up someone’s auto insurance details just from a license plate. Because DMV records are protected by privacy laws, insurance information is typically available only through the police, your insurer, or a DMV records request that meets a permitted use (for example, a claim or court-related purpose).
If you only have the other driver’s plate number after a crash, that’s still useful. It can help the police identify the registered owner, help your insurer open a claim, and (in some cases) help confirm whether the vehicle was insured at the time of the incident.
Can you get insurance details from a license plate number? Can you look up someone’s car insurance? How can you find out someone’s insurance company? Below is what typically works—and what doesn’t—when you’re trying to use a plate number to find insurance information.
Quick tip: After a crash, write down the plate number and vehicle details (make/model/color), then take photos. Don’t confront or follow the other driver—let police and insurers handle identification.
- You Usually Can’t DIY an Insurance Lookup: Privacy laws limit what the public can access from DMV records using a license plate.
- Use the Plate to Support a Claim: Police reports and insurer investigations are the most common (and effective) ways to connect a plate to coverage.
- Coverage Determines Your Payout: Hit-and-run damage is often handled under collision or uninsured motorist coverage, and deductibles/police-report requirements may apply.
- Act Quickly and Document Everything: Record the plate number, take photos, file a report when appropriate, and notify your insurer as soon as possible.
- Report the License Plate Number to Police
- Report the Incident to Your Insurer
- How to Find Someone’s Name and Address With a License Plate Number
- What Else to Do With a License Plate Number
- Be Wary of License Plate Info From Stolen Cars
- How to Determine If a Car Has Insurance
- Why Check Insurance With a License Plate?
- Final Word on Finding Insurance Info From a License Plate
- FAQs on Finding Auto Insurance Information From a License Plate
Report the License Plate Number to Police
If you have someone’s license plate number, you may be dealing with a hit-and-run or an incident where the other driver didn’t cooperate. In that situation, the plate number is one of the most important details you can provide.
Start by making a police report. Law enforcement can run the plate to identify the registered owner and vehicle information. That information can be used for an investigation, citations, or criminal charges, depending on what happened.
If officers respond to the scene, they may also collect photos, note damage patterns, and gather witness statements. Even when the damage looks minor, a police report can make a major difference if the other driver later denies involvement or turns out to be uninsured.
Once the report is filed, ask how to get the report number and when it will be available. Your insurer will usually request it during the claims process.
Report the Incident to Your Insurer
Next, report the incident to your insurance company—even if you don’t yet know who the other driver is. Your insurer can open a claim using the details you have (including the plate number) and may coordinate with the police report once it’s available.
Whether your policy pays for the damage depends on what coverages you carry and how your state handles hit-and-runs. In many cases, a police report is required for hit-and-run-related uninsured motorist claims.
| Coverage | What It Can Help Pay For | Common Requirements / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Collision coverage | Damage to your car from a crash, including many hit-and-runs | Usually subject to your deductible |
| Uninsured motorist (UM/UIM) | Injury-related costs (and in some states, vehicle damage) when the at-fault driver can’t be identified or has no coverage | Often requires a timely police report; rules vary by state and policy |
| Comprehensive coverage | Non-collision losses (theft, vandalism, weather, animal strikes) | May apply if the incident is classified as vandalism (policy- and fact-dependent) |
For most claims, you’re responsible for paying your deductible if the coverage involved has one. In some situations, your deductible may be reduced or effectively reimbursed later if the insurer recovers money from the at-fault party through subrogation. Some policies also have specific endorsements that can help you avoid paying your car insurance deductible in certain scenarios.
After paying your claim, your insurer may use the plate number and police report to pursue the at-fault driver (or their insurer). If the vehicle was uninsured or stolen, recovery may be limited—but that doesn’t stop your claim from being handled under your own coverages if they apply.
How to Find Someone’s Name and Address With a License Plate Number
Many drivers assume they can call the DMV and get a name and address from a license plate. In reality, most DMV records are protected by federal and state privacy rules. That means the DMV usually won’t disclose personal details to the general public just because someone asks.
If you have the license plate number of another driver, the correct move is to route the lookup through the police or your insurer. Those parties commonly have lawful access to request or verify the information needed for a crash investigation or claim.
If you still need DMV records directly, contact your state DMV (or equivalent agency) and ask about records requests tied to an accident or insurance claim. Some states allow limited disclosure through a formal request process (often with identity verification, fees, and a declaration of permitted use).
If your state does not allow public access to personal details from a plate number, you generally cannot look up someone’s name and address using their license plate on your own. In that case, a police report and your insurer’s investigation are typically the most reliable path.
What Else to Do With a License Plate Number
A plate number is most valuable when you use it to support a claim or investigation—not as a do-it-yourself lookup tool.
| Best Use | Why It Matters | What to Provide Along With the Plate |
|---|---|---|
| Police report | Helps law enforcement identify the registered owner and investigate | Photos, time/location, direction of travel, vehicle description |
| Insurance claim | Gives your insurer a lead for verifying fault and pursuing recovery | Police report number (if available), photos, witness info |
| DMV records request (when allowed) | May support a permitted-use request tied to a claim or litigation | Crash date, report number, reason for request, required forms/ID |
Some states don’t allow you to access personal details from a license plate number. When that’s the case, the practical solution is to give the plate to the police and your insurer and let them handle identification and verification.
Be Wary of License Plate Info From Stolen Cars
Sometimes the plate number won’t lead to the driver who caused the crash. If the vehicle was stolen, the plate may identify the registered owner—but not the person behind the wheel at the time.
In general, car insurance follows the vehicle when a permissive driver is using it. But theft is a major exception: if someone steals a car, the owner’s liability coverage typically does not extend to the thief.
This is another reason a police report is important. It helps establish whether the vehicle was reported stolen and whether the at-fault driver can be identified.
How to Determine If a Car Has Insurance
Uninsured driving remains a persistent issue in the U.S., and the percentage of uninsured drivers can vary significantly by state. Recent industry research estimates that about 15.4% of drivers were uninsured in 2023—roughly more than one in seven motorists. (Some states are much higher; others are much lower.)
That state-by-state variation is one reason many drivers pay close attention to uninsured motorist protection. Uninsured rates and enforcement trends can look very different in states like Florida and Mississippi compared to states like Massachusetts and New York.
There’s no single public “national insurance database” you can search by plate number. Instead, insurance verification is typically handled through state DMV systems, law enforcement access, and insurer claim investigations.
To determine if a car is insured, the most reliable approach is to (1) file a police report when appropriate and (2) provide the plate number to your insurer. In some states and situations, the DMV may confirm insurance status through a permitted-use records request, but access rules vary widely.
Why Check Insurance With a License Plate?
Checking insurance by plate number usually comes up in real-life situations where you need to verify coverage for a legitimate purpose—most commonly a crash or a shared financial responsibility.
Common examples include:
- You’re borrowing a friend’s vehicle and want to confirm there’s active coverage before you drive
- You’re in the middle of a divorce and need to make sure required vehicles remain properly insured
- You’re verifying coverage for an employee who drives a personal vehicle for work (often handled through HR, documentation, or a certificate of insurance)
- You were the victim of a hit-and-run accident and all you have is the other vehicle’s plate number
In most of these scenarios, the plate number is a starting point—not a shortcut to private policy details. When insurance verification is needed, it’s typically done through the insurer’s claims process, a formal DMV request, or documentation provided by the policyholder.
Final Word on Finding Insurance Info From a License Plate
A license plate number can help identify a vehicle involved in an incident, but it usually won’t let you directly pull someone’s insurance details online.
If you’re dealing with a crash or hit-and-run, the most effective path is to file a police report, give the plate number to your insurer, and let those parties request or verify the information they’re legally allowed to access. If you need records for a claim or legal matter, your DMV may offer a formal records request process with strict rules and documentation requirements.
Be cautious with unofficial “plate lookup” websites that promise insurance information. At best, they’re often incomplete; at worst, they can be inaccurate or misuse personal data. When insurance coverage matters, rely on official channels: police, your insurer, and the DMV’s permitted-use process.
