Illinois License Plate Lookup

An Illinois license plate lookup can reveal a wealth of information that is crucial to making an informed purchase decision.

For instance, buyers can try to verify the car’s sales history, helping ensure that the seller has the legal right to sell the vehicle. This step helps avoid potential fraud and legal hassles down the road. In everyday situations like verifying vehicle ownership, a license plate lookup helps provide peace of mind. It’s common for sellers to provide limited information or to omit details that may affect the vehicle’s value.

Using a license plate lookup, you can access detailed vehicle history reports that include data on past ownership, accident history*, and records of repairs.

This tries to ensure transparency and allows buyers to identify cars that might have underlying issues not immediately visible during a physical inspection.

Another significant benefit is aiding in the recovery of stolen vehicles. By checking the license plate number, law enforcement agencies can quickly ascertain whether a vehicle has been reported stolen. This capability is invaluable in trying to ensure the vehicle’s rightful return to its owner and in aiding criminal investigations.

Types of Illinois license plates

Standard plates

The standard Illinois plates display a gradient background transitioning from blue to white, featuring a white skyline of Chicago and Springfield along with a gray graphic of Abraham Lincoln on the far left. The state name is visible in black at the top. They currently include two letters, a space, and five numbers.

Alongside standard passenger plates, Illinois provides a wide range of plates for various purposes, including colleges, professional sports teams, law enforcement, hunting, medical research, and numerous other causes.

The price for each plate set varies based on the type of plate and the associated donation required for annual display.

Speciality plates

Illinois offers a variety of specialty plates supporting numerous causes. These include health-related causes such as Alzheimer’s Awareness, Autism Awareness, and Organ Donation.

Plates also support environmental initiatives, education, and local causes like Illinois Hospice. Other plates recognize organizations such as Ducks Unlimited, Rotary International, and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. These plates are distinct from the other custom plate types because a portion of the fee from the sale of these plates supports the causes they represent.

How to do an Illinois license plate lookup

1. Navigate to Bumper.com. Follow this link to the license plate lookup tool.
2. Enter the plate number and select Illinois as the state. On the page, you’ll see a search bar. Enter the Illinois license plate number you want to look up. Make sure to select Illinois from the dropdown menu to specify the state.
3. View available reports and images for the vehicle. Click the search button. The website will generate a report that may include information like vehicle details, images, user comments, and any related reports.

Do you need front and rear plates in Illinois?

Yes, you need front and rear plates in Illinois, although there may be some exceptions for speciality and antique vehicles.

And if you see a vehicle with a license plate from a nearby state like Michigan, Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin, Iowa, or elsewhere in the Midwest (or even from another high population state like California, Texas, or New York), we have history info and data on vehicles from all over the country!

While license plates are easier to spot, if you already have an Illinois car’s VIN, we can also help you do a VIN search!

Illinois VIN Check

Explanation of VIN

The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is akin to a serial number for vehicles and is crucial for identifying specific details about a car. The VIN serves as the unique fingerprint of a vehicle, composed of 17 characters that reveal the car’s unique features, specifications, and manufacturer. VIN numbers became standardized in 1981 to ensure consistency in vehicle identification across all cars. Prior to this, VINs varied in length from 11 to 17 characters,

Process of running a VIN Check

Performing a VIN check is essential for those looking to uncover a detailed history of a vehicle. The process to conduct a VIN check typically involves the following steps:

1. Using free resources: Use the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s(NHTSA) VIN decoder. Enter the full 17-character VIN and click “Decode VIN” to start.
2. Detailed vehicle history using Bumper: For detailed vehicle history reports that include information such as accident*, salvage, theft, repair, maintenance, liens, impounds, and a lot more, visit Bumper.com. You can perform a VIN lookup to try and uncover valuable information.
3. Reviewing data: Detailed vehicle history can be reviewed to understand more about the vehicle. This data can identify past incidents like recalls, warranty claims, thefts, and insurance coverage.

Understanding these elements is fundamental to trying to ensure that a car’s history is thoroughly vetted, particularly for used car buyers who need to verify sales history, accident history*, and other potential red flags. The NHTSA’s publicly accessible VIN decoder offers an efficient and reliable means to access this vital information. For vehicles registered or titled in another state, a VIN check is also available at local municipal police departments in Illinois.

Utilizing an Illinois license plate lookup can be crucial for various scenarios such as buying a used car, verifying vehicle ownership, and aiding in the recovery of stolen vehicles. The accessible and detailed information obtained through this service—including vehicle history reports, specifications, and possible ownership details—could help ensure transparency and informed decision-making. Moreover, the technology aids law enforcement in efficiently recovering stolen vehicles, bolstering public safety.

*Bumper reports are based on data available and may not include historical accident records in all states.