Bumper alternative: how FreePlateLookup compares
Last checked: 2026-10-31
Published facts side by side
Each line below was read from the vendor's own website on 2026-10-31. Anything we could not verify is marked "not published". Prices change; check the linked page before you buy.
Bumper
Source: https://www.bumper.com/, checked 2026-10-31
| FAQ: 'Plans start at $27.99 per month'; trial converts to recurring unless cancelled |
| VIN and plate search; accidents, salvage, theft, title, liens, market value |
| Accident records from 44 state-level agencies 'where available' (footer) |
| bumper.com/pricing returned 404 on 2026-10-31; trial price not published |
| iOS and Android apps |
FreePlateLookup
Source: our own pages on freeplatelookup.com, checked 2026-10-31
| VIN decode: year, make, model, engine and open recalls from NHTSA (vPIC and recall data), no charge |
| Plate lookup by state; no owner names or addresses (DPPA) |
| We do NOT have our own title-brand, accident, odometer or NMVTIS data |
| For a full history report we link to EpicVIN ($1 for a 3-day trial, then a monthly plan) and EpicVIN pays us a commission |
Short answer
Bumper is a paid vehicle-history service with accident, salvage, theft, title and lien data drawn from state agencies, plus market value estimates and mobile apps. FreePlateLookup is a no-charge VIN decoder and plate lookup that returns year, make, model, engine and open NHTSA recalls, and points to EpicVIN when a full history report is needed. Bumper suits buyers who want a broad history report and market value in one subscription; FreePlateLookup suits people who want to confirm a VIN or plate and check open recalls before deciding whether to pay for a history report.
What we checked on 2026-10-31
- On Bumper's FAQ page, plans are described as starting at $27.99 per month.
- Bumper's FAQ states that a trial converts to a recurring plan unless cancelled.
- Bumper's trial price was not published on the pages we reviewed.
- bumper.com/pricing returned a 404 error on 2026-10-31, so we could not confirm a current price list.
- Bumper's footer states accident records come from 44 state-level agencies "where available."
- Bumper lists VIN and plate search, accidents, salvage, theft, title, liens and market value as report contents.
- Bumper offers iOS and Android apps.
- Our own pricing page lists VIN decode at $0, covering year, make, model, engine and open recalls from NHTSA vPIC and recall data.
- Our plate lookup is organized by state and does not return owner names or addresses, per DPPA restrictions.
- We do not hold our own title-brand, accident, odometer or NMVTIS data; for a full history report we link to EpicVIN, which offers $1 for a 3-day trial, then a monthly plan, and pays us a commission.
Where Bumper is stronger
Bumper assembles accident and title data from many state agencies, which is a category of record we do not compile ourselves. Its reports include market value estimates, a useful reference point when negotiating a price that our VIN decode does not provide. Bumper also offers iOS and Android apps, so its report workflow is available on a phone rather than only in a browser.
Where we differ
Our VIN decode returns year, make, model, engine and open recalls from NHTSA vPIC and recall data at $0, with no subscription and no trial that converts. Bumper's plans start at $27.99 per month per its FAQ, and its trial converts to a recurring plan unless cancelled; its trial price was not published. Our plate lookup is organized by state and excludes owner names and addresses under DPPA; Bumper lists plate search among its features. The main limitation on our side is scope: we do not have our own title-brand, accident, odometer or NMVTIS data, so a full history report is not something we produce. Instead we link to EpicVIN, where a 3-day trial is $1 and then a monthly plan applies, and EpicVIN pays us a commission. Bumper's own coverage carries a qualifier too: its footer describes accident records from 44 state-level agencies "where available," and its pricing page returned a 404 on the date we checked, so the current plan details could not be confirmed there.
Which suits you
- Choose Bumper if you want accident, salvage, theft, title and lien records plus market value in one paid subscription, and you prefer to work from a mobile app.
- Choose Bumper if a recurring monthly plan at $27.99 or more fits your budget and you will cancel the trial if you do not want to continue.
- Choose FreePlateLookup if you want to decode a VIN for year, make, model, engine and open recalls at $0 before paying anyone.
- Choose FreePlateLookup if you need a plate lookup by state without owner names or addresses.
- Choose FreePlateLookup if you are willing to run the no-charge checks first and then buy a full history report from EpicVIN at $1 for a 3-day trial, followed by a monthly plan.