Free Texas License Plate Lookup

Know What You’re Driving – Free Texas License Plate Lookup

Jessica almost bought a used pickup in Houston—until a quick Texas license plate lookup revealed it had been totaled twice and resold out of state. One free search saved her thousands.

Don’t Guess—Check Your Texas Plate Now and Drive Smarter. It’s Fast, Free, and Secure.

What is a Texas License Plate Lookup?

A Texas license plate lookup allows you to retrieve vehicle details by entering a plate number. It helps uncover vehicle history, title records, and accident reports.

Why Use a Texas License Plate Lookup? 

How to Conduct a License Plate Lookup in Texas

Types of Texas License Plates

Standard Plates

The default plate issued by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) is the “Texas Classic” design, introduced in 2012. It features a white background, black lettering, and small Texas icons like the lone star and state outline.

Specialty Plates

Texas offers hundreds of specialty license plates, supporting a wide range of causes and organizations. These include:

• Military and Veterans – For service members, medal recipients, and specific branches (e.g., U.S. Army, Vietnam Veteran)
• Colleges and Universities – Support your alma mater with designs for Texas A&M, UT Austin, and more
• Wildlife and Environment – Options like “Horned Toad,” “Hummingbird,” and “Conserve Water”
• Charitable Causes – Including childhood cancer awareness, emergency responders, and autism support
• Sports and Hobbies – For fans of Texas-based pro teams like the Cowboys, Astros, or Spurs

Specialty plates in Texas can be ordered online through MyPlates.com or the TxDMV.

Personalized Plates

Texans can customize most plate types with up to 7 characters (6 for motorcycles), using combinations of letters, numbers, and spaces (e.g., “TXRODEO” or “GO2WIN”). Personalization is available for both standard and specialty plates, with additional fees based on plate style and customization.

Temporary Plates

Temporary permits are available for short-term use, typically issued by dealers or the TxDMV:

• 30-day Permit – For vehicles that haven’t been titled yet
• 72-hour and 144-hour Permits – Mostly for commercial and transport use
• One-trip Permits – For single-use travel across Texas or out-of-state

Additional Plate Types

• Disabled Person Plates – Include the international accessibility symbol and allow for parking in designated spaces
• Fleet Plates – Issued to businesses for multiple vehicles under a single registration system
• Apportioned Plates – For commercial trucks operating interstate under the International Registration Plan (IRP)

What information do I get from a Texas license plate search?

When you run a free Michigan license plate lookup, you’ll uncover valuable vehicle data, including:

✅ Vehicle Specs – Core details like make, model, trim, engine, transmission, and drivetrain.
✅ Critical Issues – Serious past problems such as flood damage, bad titles, or major repairs.
✅ Recalls and Defects – Safety or performance issues flagged by manufacturers or the government—usually fixed for free.
✅ Sales Records – History of sales, locations, prices, and ownership transfers.
✅ Market Value – Current estimated worth based on mileage, condition, and similar sales in Texas.
✅ Ownership Cost – Five-year cost estimate including repairs, fuel, insurance, and depreciation.
✅ Equipment Details – Factory features and optional upgrades originally included with the car.
✅ Safety Rating – Crash-test scores from NHTSA and IIHS for impact and rollover protection.
✅ Inspection – Texas inspection results showing emissions and safety compliance.
✅ Timeline – Chronological list of major events: registration, sales, inspections, and title changes.
✅ Title History – Legal title status across states—clean, salvage, rebuilt, or with liens.
✅ Auto Insurance – Claim history (if available) and guidance on insuring based on risk and title status.

Use a free Michigan license plate lookup to make smarter decisions when buying, selling, or researching any used vehicle in the Great Lakes State.

Need a VIN report instead? Try our Free VIN Check for a detailed vehicle history.

Privacy Laws and Restrictions in Texas

Texas adheres to strict privacy laws under the Driver’s Privacy Protection Act (DPPA). Personal information, like the owner’s name or address, cannot be disclosed unless for permissible uses, such as:

• Law enforcement investigations
• Insurance claims and underwriting
• Vehicle recalls and safety notices

Our lookup tool complies with these regulations, ensuring that only non-restricted information is displayed.

Texas Department of Motor Vehicles

The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles is tasked with providing auto-related government services like the issuance of vehicle registration, title, license plate, temporary permit and placard. Meanwhile, the Texas Department of Public Safety, through its Driver License Division, offers assistance with driver licensing, including renewal and upgrade to commercial driver’s license. The government issues a pair of license plates for each registered vehicle in the state. Since 2012, Texas DMV has issued ‘Texas Classic’ design with a serial format of ‘ABC-1234’ for regular Texas license plates.