OHIO.STATERECORDS.ORG IS A PRIVATELY OWNED WEBSITE THAT IS NOT OWNED OR OPERATED BY ANY STATE GOVERNMENT AGENCY.
close banner

Ohio VIN Lookup

state records colored logo
VIN Check

  • Make
  • Model
  • Year
  • Recalls and Defects
  • And More
  • Vehicle Specs
  • Vehicle Details
  • Public Records
  • Vehicle Identification Number

VIN Lookup in Ohio

A VIN lookup in Ohio is a procedure that involves an individual or company carrying out a detailed vehicle history check using its Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). This check provides all legal information concerning the vehicle, including its original registered owner and manufacturing date, accidents, safety concerns, and other information.

Ohio state government instituted the Ohio Rev. Code § 4511.01 to provide an extensive set of protocols and regulations concerning vehicles recognized in the state and used within Ohio and the penalties for breaking the stated laws. Notably, the vehicle manufacturers provide the VINs of each vehicle as a unique identifier.

Ohio VIN checks can be done via the state's local BMV online tool for anyone who wants to find out the history of a vehicle. Requesters can fill out an online application form, providing the required information and submitting it online. The Bureau of Motor Vehicle website contains the requirements for the different types of records for VIN checks. Furthermore, the Federal Register's official website states additional details concerning Vehicle Identification Number Requirements.

While VIN and license plate numbers are unique identifiers for legally approved vehicles, they differ. Ohio license plate lookup typically provides the availability of the plate number, vehicle insurance, and penalty or insurance status. Whereas VIN look involves checking the vehicle's recall status, make and model, engine size, manufacturing date, and other essential details.

Some important reasons why a VIN check is needed include:

  • To check for accidents
  • To check for title brands
  • To check for theft records
  • To check for mileage
  • To check for other essential information like fuel efficiency, lien records, safety ratings, sales records, market value, vehicle specifications, warrant recall, and other important information.

What is a Vehicle Identification Number in Ohio?

Also known as a vehicle's fingerprint, the Vehicle Identification Number is a unique identification code specific to every vehicle registered within the state. The serial number comprises 17 characters, a combination of both capital letters and digits. Notably, vehicles that were manufactured before 1981 will most likely, have VINs not up to 17 characters long.

How is a VIN Number Used?

In Ohio, a vehicle's VIN is used for the following reasons:

  • To confirm the vehicle's history.
  • To check all essential legal information about the vehicle since its registration.
  • To request a vehicle history report.
  • To obtain the car's specifications.
  • To track theft records by law enforcement agencies.

Who Issues a Vehicle's VIN Number in Ohio?

A vehicle manufacturer is responsible for issuing a Vehicle Identification Number to every car created in its manufacturing plant. Moreover, the state's Department of Public Safety Bureau of Motor Vehicles has outlined the different categories of vehicles recognized for VIN issuance within Ohio State. They include:

  • Vehicles (including motorized bicycles, electric bicycles, low-speed micro-mobility devices, or electric personal assistive mobility devices).
  • Motorcycles.
  • Emergency vehicles.
  • School Buses.
  • Public Safety vehicles.
  • Trailers (including Semi-trailers, and pole trailers).
  • Motor-driven vehicles (including power cranes, power shovels, traction engines, road rollers, etc.)

How Many Digits are in a VIN?

A vehicle's VIN comprises 17 unique characters (including capital letters and digits) used for identification of the vehicle. The 17-charactered serial number contains accurate information about specific aspects of the vehicle such as its make, model, the order in which it was created, its manufacturing plant, and the country it was created. Furthermore, it comprises a mathematical formula known as the "check digit", that is used to determine the VIN's legitimacy. Before 1981, the standard VIN ranged from 11-17 digits long.

A typical example of a vehicle's 17-charactered VIN is 1G1PY978K6667666. The first digit represents the country in which the vehicle was created. The second represents its manufacturer, the third represents the vehicle's make, and the following characters represent information about the vehicle, including body series, engine type, random security number, product sequence, and body style.

How to Find Your Car's VIN Number

Different car manufacturers in the United States and internationally encode the different VINs in various ways. Vehicle owners can locate their VINs on the front of the engine block, rear wheel well, underneath the spare tire, and inside the driver-side doorjamb.

How to Conduct a VIN Lookup in Ohio

Individuals who want to conduct a VIN check in Ohio have various options. They can either use one of the many government-owned options or perform the lookup on third-party aggregate sites.

  • Requesters can access vehicle history reports of their cars using the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System's official website.
  • The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's official website provides information about road and traffic safety via a VIN search.
  • Various other government-supported VIN decoders also provide access to free online VIN checks to interested car owners.

How Do I Look Up a VIN Number for Free in Ohio?

Members of the public can look up the VIN of their vehicles at no cost via the National Insurance Crime Bureau's online VINCheck tool. This free tool is accessible on the NICB site, enabling requesters to input a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and receive details about the specific vehicle. These details include the vehicle's make, model, manufacturer's information, theft record, mileage, and accident records. Vehicle owners may also access the State's DMV Ohio State Bureau of Motor Vehicle (BMV) and request any specific detail concerning its VIN. Also, a good substitute for getting VIN-related details is by visiting the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

How to Use the VIN Decoder to Do a VIN Number Check

A VIN decoder is an online tool created to help vehicle buyers, owners, and sellers obtain all required data associated with a specific vehicle effortlessly and quickly. This 17-charactered VIN serial number can provide essential information about the vehicle such as its production date, manufacturer's name, country of origin, make, model, and other vital information.

Using a VIN decoder is quite simple, car owners or buyers need to input the VIN serial codes into the appropriate input field on the VIN tool website or mobile app. After accepting the right data, the VIN decoder will create an extensive report that contains all the vehicle's legal information. Requesters may save the report online for future reference or print it out.

Typically, there are third-party organizations within Ohio state that offer VIN decoder accessibility, though some car manufacturing companies provide free VIN decoder tools on their official websites. It's worth noting that when using an online VIN decoder, the accuracy of the information given depends on the database it is gotten from.

How to Conduct a VIN Lookup by License Plate in Ohio

Interested individuals may acquire all required detail about a car's report from the state's Bureau of Motor Vehicle. On this platform, a requestor will need to navigate to the "OPLATES" section and either log in (for users that are already registered with the Ohio State DMV) or create a new account using either their license plate number, driver's license, or bio-data information.

This will enable the user to access specific information about their vehicles, such as manufacturer, model, theft record, accident record, insurance records, etc.

What is a VIN Inspection in Ohio?

Vin inspection in Ohio is a process whereby certain vehicles go through a VIN verification within the state. The primary reason for a VIN inspection in Ohio is to make sure that the VIN displayed on a vehicle is the same as the one on the legal paperwork.

In Ohio, the VIN inspection must be carried out by the state-authorized DMV. The motor vehicle owner or lessee will be required to provide certain documents before a motor vehicle safety inspection process successfully occurs. These documents include the owner's driver's license, the title of the vehicle, original receipts for every replaced car part, the original vehicle inspection receipt from the stats DMV (or Ohio BMV) if it's available, and the donor (where the replaced parts where gotten from) vehicle's VIN. In the application process:

  • The applicant will submit the required documents to the BMV.
  • The inspecting officer will check the vehicle to ensure that the VIN on the car and the one on the registration paperwork match.
  • If they don't correspond, the vehicle owner will receive a "Notice of Non-Conformance" which will enable them to have the VIN corrected.
  • When everything is sorted out properly, the inspecting officer will approve the documents by signing and dating the statement of facts before returning the documents to the car owner.
  • Vehicle owners need to store a copy of this form in their cars all the time, in case they're being pulled over for inspection.

How Much is a Vehicle Inspection in Ohio?

In Ohio, vehicle emissions inspections are free. Car owners have three attempts to pass an emissions test, for which they will need to pay $18 extra inspection fees per inspection. Full details about all the fees accrued via car inspections in Ohio can be found in the state-owned BMV. In addition, while newer-model vehicles wouldn't need many inspections to be approved, older and used cars may need extra repairs or tests to pass the inspection, and the car owners bear all the costs.

What is a Vehicle Inspection Report in Ohio

An Ohio Vehicle Inspection Report (VIR) is a document comprising elaborate information about a car's current state or its history. The depth of the report usually depends on the inspection level the owner chooses, and may cover between 226 to 318 unique factors, including internal and external, mechanical and electrical parts. According to the Ohio Administrative Code, vehicles leased or owned by the government don't need an annual inspection. However, car owners or lessees need to ensure that their vehicles are safe.

What Does a Vehicle History Report Contain?

A vehicle inspection report (VIR) or vehicle history report (VHR) comprises a variety of information on a specific vehicle. These details include the odometer readings, previous owners, accidents or repairs, open recalls, and damage. Though a vehicle history report can provide extensive detail about its past, the car owner or lessee will need to ensure to take it for test drives and inspections regularly. Car owners will need to pay around $25 and $40 to third-party vehicle inspection sites to get the VIR of their cars.

How to Conduct a VIN Verification in Ohio

Car owners can conduct a VIN verification in Ohio and have the documents of their cars verified easily. To conduct a VIN verification in Ohio state, a car owner will need to provide specific information:

  • The title of the car can include a certificate issued by another state.
  • A document providing the car owner's identification, like a driver's license.
  • A standard payment method for the vehicle inspection number verification fee. Prices may differ according to the various counties in Ohio.
  • A filled-out DMV vehicle inspection number verification form is available at a local BMV office or on the state-owned government portal.

Can I Lookup My Vehicle Specs by VIN Number?

Yes, car owners can decipher the specifications of their cars by reading their VINs. This can come in handy for various reasons. Also, individuals looking to purchase a car may confirm the records of any specific car, including its previous owners, mileage, recalls, repairs, and accident records. Furthermore, some vehicle insurance companies in Ohio utilize VINs in evaluating premiums. Requesters may visit the BMV official website or visit the car manufacturer directly to check a car's vehicle specifications.

Can I Check My VIN Number Online in Ohio?

Yes, an individual can check their vehicle's inspection number online in Ohio. Here are the following options accessible to car owners or lessees in Ohio:

  1. The Ohio state Department of Motor Vehicles provides an online VIN verification tool for users within the state to validate their car's registration status. Car owners only need to visit this platform and provide their VIN in the required field to confirm.
  2. Various third-party online platforms provide portals for motorists to check their VIN validation for an affordable amount. These private firms have the most detailed records of VINs than the BMV or car dealerships, making them an ideal option for motorists or buyers who want to have a detailed history of their cars.
  3. Within Ohio, all car dealerships are required to have VIN checking tools on their websites or physically for prospective buyers.

Can You Track a Car by VIN Number in Ohio?

Yes, car owners can track their vehicles online using the car's vehicle identification number. This is essential when tracking stolen vehicles within the state. The owner will be able to see the car's history via its VIN.

Can You Tell Engine Size by VIN Number?

Yes, the VIN can tell owners or buyers the engine size of a particular vehicle. Interestingly, the 17-character sequence provides extensive detail on every registered vehicle. While each character has its unique meaning, the eighth character in the VIN code represents the type of engine used for the car. Car owners, buyers, or pundits may study the 17 characters to further understand them.