Editorial standards and data sources
FreePlateLookup publishes vehicle facts: plate formats, title and inspection rules, VIN factory specs and open safety recalls. Every state guide is written from the rules published by that state's motor vehicle agency and the federal sources below.
What we publish
- State plate formats, front-plate rules, inspection and emissions rules, title brands and DMV record procedures.
- VIN factory specs from NHTSA vPIC and open safety recalls from NHTSA Recalls.
- Vehicle history reports sold by our paid partner; those reports cover title, accident and odometer records.
Where the data comes from
- State agencies — the DMV or motor vehicle agency linked in each state's Sources section.
- NHTSA vPIC — the official VIN decoder fed by manufacturers.
- NHTSA Recalls — open safety recall campaigns by year, make and model.
- Partner reports — title, accident and odometer history sold by our paid partner.
How we update pages
State rules and fees change. Each state page shows the date it was last rebuilt and links to the official agency so you can confirm the current rule. We update a page when a state changes a plate format, inspection rule or record procedure, or when a reader sends a correction with an official source.
Corrections
Email hello@freeplatelookup.com with the page URL and the official source. We review every correction and update the page when the source confirms it.
Affiliate disclosure
Vehicle history reports are sold by our partner, and we may earn a commission. The VIN decoder and NHTSA recalls are part of the site and do not require a report purchase.