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Check car recalls by license plate (free)

You no longer need the 17-character VIN to check for open safety recalls: NHTSA also accepts a state and license plate number. It is quick, but it has one catch you should know about.

How to check recalls by license plate

Go to nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Choose the plate search, select the state that issued the plate, and enter the plate number.
Read the result. It tells you whether that vehicle has an unrepaired safety recall.

If there is none, NHTSA shows a message such as "0 unrepaired recalls associated with this VIN".

Why the plate result can be wrong

NHTSA gets plate information from state motor vehicle agencies. If the result shows a car you used to own, or a car that is not the one in front of you, the state record has not been updated. NHTSA's advice is to ask your state DMV to correct the record, and in the meantime to search by VIN instead. When you are looking at a used car you might buy, always confirm with the VIN printed on the car itself, because plates can be swapped or reassigned.

What neither search shows

Recalls that were already repaired.
Some very recent recalls where not every affected VIN has been identified yet. Check again every few months.
Recalls more than 15 years old, unless the manufacturer offers longer coverage.
Recalls by small manufacturers, including some ultra-luxury and specialty brands.
Manufacturer service campaigns that are not safety recalls, and recalls on vehicles sold outside the U.S.

Where to find the VIN instead

The 17-character VIN is on the driver's-side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door-jamb sticker, and your registration and insurance card. Once you have it, you can decode it for free to confirm the year, make and model match the car, then look up recalls for that model on our recalls by make and year pages.

Important: the recalls in our report are listed for the vehicle's make, model and year, so not every campaign applies to every car. The most reliable free way to see whether a specific VIN has an open (unrepaired) recall is NHTSA's own VIN lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What VinCheck1 adds

A plate or VIN search at NHTSA answers one question: does this exact car have an open recall? Our optional report looks at the whole model and year: recall campaigns, owner complaints, crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy, all in one page.

On this site you can decode a VIN for free to see the year, make and model. A full report costs a small one-time fee and adds factory specifications, NHTSA safety recalls, owner complaints, crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for that model and year. If we can't find your car's details, there's no charge. The report is compiled from free public U.S. government sources – the same sources you can use yourself for free – and it is not an accident, title or ownership history report.

Frequently asked questions

Can I check recalls with just a license plate number?

Yes. NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls accepts a state and license plate number as well as a VIN.

Is checking recalls by plate free?

Yes. NHTSA's lookup is free, and safety recall repairs are generally done free of charge by an authorized dealer.

Why does the plate search show a different car?

Plate data comes from state motor vehicle agencies. If the record is out of date it can show a previous vehicle. Contact your state DMV, or search by VIN.

Is the VIN or the plate more reliable?

The VIN identifies one specific vehicle for life, while plates can change hands or be reassigned, so the VIN is the more dependable choice, especially when buying a used car.