Are you looking to buy a used car but aren't sure about its history? Or do you need to check whether the car is in collateral or whether it is listed as stolen? Perhaps you just want to know the actual mileage or number of previous owners. All this can be found out by state registration number (GRZ) - but only through official sources.

In this article we will look at legal ways to obtain information by car number, we will tell you what data is available to ordinary citizens and what data is available only to government agencies. You will learn how to avoid fraud when buying a used car, which services provide accurate information, and which provide only superficial information. We also warn against using dubious methods that could lead to administrative or criminal liability.

Important: from 2023, the rules for access to vehicle data have become stricter. Now some information (for example, the owner’s full name) can only be obtained upon request to the traffic police with justification for the purpose. But there is also open information - we will consider it in detail.

What data can be found legally by car number?

Not all information about the car is available to third parties. That's what you are you can find out through official sources:

  • 📜 History of registration actions (number of owners, dates of re-registration)
  • 🚨 Participation in an accident (if they were recorded by insurance companies or the traffic police)
  • 🔒 Restrictions on registration actions (pledge, arrest, theft)
  • 📊 Specifications (model, year of manufacture, color, engine power)
  • 💰 Availability of fines (only for the owner of the car by license plate + STS)

Here's what it's impossible find out without the consent of the owner or a court decision:

  • 👤 Exact name and passport details of the current owner
  • 📍 Car registration address (owner’s registration)
  • 🔑 PTS data (series, number, date of issue)
  • 📱 Owner's contact phone number

If you are offered to “extract” such data for money, this is a scam. At best, you will be deceived, at worst, you will be held accountable for illegal collection of personal data (Article 13.11 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation).

📊 Why do you need data on the car number?
Check before purchase
Checking fines
Finding the owner after an accident
Curiosity
Other

The most reliable source - State Traffic Inspectorate portal. You can check here:

  1. Finding a car wanted (theft, forgery of documents)
  2. Restrictions on registration actions (pledge, arrest)
  3. History of participation in road accidents (if they were registered)

Checking instructions:

  1. Go to car check page
  2. Enter the license plate number in the format A123BV 77 (no space between letters and numbers)
  3. Enter VIN (optional, but increases accuracy)
  4. Enter the captcha and click "Request verification"

☑️ What to do if the car is stolen or pawned

Done: 0 / 4

⚠️ Attention: If the traffic police website shows that restrictions are imposed on the car, but the seller claims the opposite, this is a reason to refuse the deal. Even if they show you “clean” documents, the risk of being left without a car and without money is extremely high.

Restriction type What does this mean Is it possible to remove
Wanted (hijacking) The car is listed as stolen Only after returning to the rightful owner
Bail The car is collateral for the loan After the loan is repaid by the bank
Arrest Imposed by the court or bailiffs After the arrest was lifted by the court
Registration ban Violations in the previous sale Through court or elimination of the cause

Method 2: Paid services with extended history

If the data from the traffic police website is not enough, you can use paid services. They collect information from open sources, insurance companies and databases:

  • 🔍 Autocode — from 349₽ (mileage, accidents, owners)
  • 📊 Vinformer — from 290₽ (technical inspections, customs history)
  • 🚗 CarVertical — from 5 € (European history, if the car is imported)

Sample report from Autocode includes:

  • Actual mileage (according to data from service stations and diagnostic cards)
  • Photo of the car at the time of previous sales
  • Number of owners and tenure
  • Road accident indicating damaged elements
  • Being in a taxi or car sharing
💡

Before purchasing a report, check whether the service has up-to-date data for your region. Some databases are updated with a delay of up to 3 months.

⚠️ Attention: Paid services do not have access to closed traffic police databases. Their data is based on:

  • Insurance company reports (MTPL, CASCO)
  • Diagnostic inspection cards
  • Public court decisions
  • Data from car markets and car dealerships

If the car has never been in an accident and has not undergone technical inspection, the information may be incomplete.

Method 3: Check through insurance companies

If the car was insured under OSAGO or CASCO, you can request information about the accident through RSA database (Russian Union of Auto Insurers).

How it works:

  1. Enter the license plate number and VIN on the RSA website
  2. The system will show how many times the car was involved in an accident
  3. For details, you need to know the date of the accident and contact a specific insurance company.

Limitations of the method:

  • Only road accidents registered using e-OSAGO or through insurance companies are shown.
  • There is no information about guilt and payment amounts
  • Data appears with a delay of up to 30 days
What to do if there was an accident, but it is not in the RSA database?

This could mean that:

1) The accident was registered according to the European protocol without insurance

2) The drivers agreed on the spot and did not contact the traffic police

3) There was an accident abroad

In such cases, have the body checked for signs of repair by an independent expert.

Method 4: Checking fines by license plate number

If you are the owner of a car, you can check fines by license plate number + STS data on:

This information is for outsiders unavailable — check of fines is tied to the owner’s data. If you are offered to “find out other people’s fines for money,” this is a scam.

How to check your fines:

1. Go to https://fines-gibdd.rf

2. Enter the license plate number in the format X123XX123 (without spaces)


3. Indicate the series and number of the STS (located in the document)


4. Click "Check fines"
💡

Fines are not tied to the car, but to the owner. If you bought a car with unpaid fines from the previous owner, you are not required to pay them. But it is better to clarify this point before purchasing.

Method 5: Checking through mobile applications

For quick checking, it is convenient to use the following applications:

  • 📱 Autocode (iOS/Android) - car history reports
  • 🚗 Drom Check - data from the car market
  • 🔍 Traffic police fines — checking fines
  • 🛡️ Anti-theft — checking the database of stolen cars

Application benefits:

  • Notifications about changes in car history
  • Saving reports in your personal account
  • VIN code scanner via phone camera

⚠️ Attention: Some apps request access to your contacts or location. This is not necessary to check the car - refuse access if you are asked for permissions that are not related to functionality.

Method 6: Request to the traffic police by written request

If you need official data (for example, for court), you can send a request to the traffic police. To do this:

  1. Write a statement in free form indicating:
    • Vehicle license plate number and VIN
    • Purposes of the request (for example, "check before purchasing")
    • Your passport details
  • Send your application:
    • By mail to the address of the regional traffic police
    • Via feedback form
    • In person to the department
    • Expect a response within 30 days (according to the law on citizens' appeals)

    In response you will be provided with:

    • Information about the current owner (full name, registration address)
    • History of registration actions
    • Availability of restrictions

    ⚠️ Attention: The traffic police may refuse to provide data if it considers your goal to be unreasonable. For example, “curiosity” or “checking on a neighbor” are not sufficient reasons.

    Method 7: Verification through a notary (for transactions)

    If you are buying a car and want 100% guarantee of transaction purity, you can contact a notary. It has access to extended databases and can:

    • Check the car for encumbrances
    • Authenticate PTS and STS
    • Draw up a purchase and sale agreement with guarantees

    Cost of the service: from 2,000 to 5,000 rubles depending on the region. It is more expensive than online verification, but more reliable.

    When to contact a notary:

    • The car costs more than 1 million rubles
    • The seller acts by proxy
    • There are suspicious moments in the car's history
    • You are buying a car in another region

    What to do if data on the number is not found

    Sometimes when checking, the system displays the message “Data not found.” The reasons may be different:

    • 🆕 The car is new and not yet registered
    • 🔄 The number was changed (for example, after it was stolen)
    • 📝 Data entry error (check number format)
    • 🛂 The car is registered in another country

    What to do:

    1. Check the car's VIN - it is unique and does not change
    2. Check the number with what is indicated in the PTS
    3. Try another service (for example, if you didn’t find Autocode, check it through Vinformer)
    4. If the number really does not exist, this is a reason to doubt the legality of the car.

    ⚠️ Attention: If the seller refuses to provide VIN or title for verification, this red flag. Most likely, he is hiding something - refuse the deal.

    FAQ: Frequently asked questions about checking a car by license plate number

    Is it possible to find out the owner's full name by license plate number for free?

    No, from 2021 this data is personal and is not disclosed without reason. Previously, they could be found through some services, but now this is prohibited by law.

    Will the check show if the car was in a taxi?

    Yes, some services (for example, Autocode) display information about the location of a car in car sharing or taxi, if it is available in open sources. However, not all taxi companies transmit this data.

    What to do if the seller hides the real mileage?

    Compare the mileage from the report with what the odometer shows. If the difference is more than 20-30 thousand km, demand an explanation. Also check:

    • Condition of the pedals and steering wheel (with high mileage they wear out)
    • Entries in the service book
    • Diagnostic card data (the mileage during maintenance is indicated there)
    Is it possible to check a car by license plate number if it is registered in another region?

    Yes, the databases of the traffic police and insurance companies are common for all of Russia. The region of registration does not affect the availability of information.

    What data can be obtained from the VIN that cannot be obtained from the license plate number?

    VIN provides more complete information about technical characteristics:

    • Vehicle equipment (engine, gearbox, options)
    • Factory release date
    • Review history (recall) for this model
    • Crash test data

    This information cannot be obtained from the license plate number - only through the VIN.