According to the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA), in 2020, the global production of passenger vehicles and light commercial vehicles was around 78.6 million units. In the same year, the global fleet of motor vehicles of all types was estimated at around 1.4 billion units.
The number of cars in circulation is growing every day, which means that there are several everyday situations in which we need to obtain information about a vehicle, whether it is when we are purchasing one or when we come across a vehicle in a suspicious condition.
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In many countries, it is possible to find out basic information about a vehicle using its license plate, such as the make, model, year of manufacture and color. This information is useful, for example, to verify the authenticity of a vehicle being sold or to identify the model of a car on a busy street.
Furthermore, it is possible to check whether a vehicle has any traffic fines or outstanding debts using the license plate. This is useful for those who are buying a used car, for example, to avoid purchasing a vehicle with outstanding financial obligations.
On the other hand, when we come across vehicles with questionable characteristics, driving suspiciously, it is possible to check whether the car has been stolen and notify the competent authorities, using the license plate. This type of query is important to help recover stolen vehicles and to combat car theft.
Below we have listed the best apps that will help you search for this information. It is important to remember that these apps must be used responsibly and ethically, respecting local privacy and data protection laws.
SOUTH AMERICA
There are several applications for checking vehicle license plates in South America, but it is important to remember that the availability and accuracy of the information may vary depending on each country and application.
Some examples of applications for checking vehicle license plates in South America are:
- Sinesp Citizen (Brazil) – is a free Brazilian application for consulting vehicle and person information. The application allows users to consult information about vehicles, such as license plate, make, model, color, year of manufacture, legal status, among other relevant information. Available for free at App Store for iOS devices and Google Play Store for Android devices.
- National Motor Vehicle Registry (Chile) – To check vehicle license plates in Chile, you can access the website of the National Vehicle Registry, which is the body responsible for registering vehicles in the country. On the website, you can enter the vehicle license plate number in the “Vehicle Search” option and obtain information about the vehicle, such as make, model, year of manufacture, legal status, among other information. Visit https://www.registronev.cl
- Runt (Colombia) – is an official application developed by the National Single Traffic Registry (RUNT) of Colombia, which allows users to consult information about vehicles based on their license plates. RUNT is the body responsible for registering and managing vehicle information throughout the country. To download, visit Google Play Store.
NORTH AMERICA
In North America, each country has its own vehicle registration system and therefore country-specific apps. Below are some examples of apps for checking license plates in some North American countries:
- NHTSA SaferCar (United States) – The official license plate lookup app for Americans. It allows users to check if a vehicle has been recalled and provides information about vehicle safety and performance. In addition, the app provides safety tips, traffic alerts, and real-time recall notifications. Available for free download at App Store and Google Play Store.
- My Service Canada Account – MSCA (Canada) – is an official application developed by the Government of Canada to provide online services to Canadian citizens. Among the services offered, the application provides information on vehicle registrations, registration history, fines and outstanding taxes. Visit My Service Canada Account (MSCA) – Canada.ca.
- My Police (Mexico) – With the Mi Policía app, users can consult basic information about vehicles registered in Mexico, including data on owners, model, make, year and license plate status. In addition, the app allows users to report stolen or missing vehicles. Download at Google Play Store.