License Plate Lookup in Arkansas
Arkansas license plate lookup is the process of searching for information about a vehicle with the help of an online search tool or in-person at the Department of Motor Vehicles Office location. Arkansas residents can use license plate lookup service to obtain Arkansas traffic records when purchasing vehicles to verify details such as:
- The current vehicle owner
- If there are existing liens on the vehicle
- The make and model
- Accident history
- Service and maintenance history
- Milage
- Technical specifications
- The market value of the vehicle
- Warranty
Per House Bill 1483, the Motor Vehicle Office records in the state are open to the public, except for personal information exempted by law. A license plate lookup may be conducted in-person or online through the official Arkansas Office of Motor Vehicles website. It may also be done via free or paid license plate lookup sites run by third parties. Third-party, free license plate check and lookup sites only provide basic vehicle information. Law enforcement officers, local state authorities, and individuals with subscriptions to the Information Network of Arkansas can access detailed information on a license plate and a car owner. Individuals looking to get detailed reports from license plate lookups may do so online through the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. This is a paid license plate lookup service that provides accurate details, including drivers' criminal records. On the other hand, free Arkansas license plate lookup services are unreliable and sometimes provide inaccurate information.
What is an Arkansas License Plate?
A license plate is a metal or plastic plate attached to a motor vehicle for identification purposes. Arkansas requires license plates for all road vehicles such as cars, trucks, and motorcycles. Per House Bill 1483, it is a misdemeanor to operate a motor vehicle in the state without a valid license plate. A typical Arkansas license plate consists of a unique combination of numbers and letters, giving each vehicle in the state a unique identity. Per Arkansas Administrative Code, all vehicles in the state need to display one license plate in the front and the other at the rear. If only one license plate is issued, it will be displayed at the rear. There are three different types of license plates issued in Arkansas. They are:
- Special license plates
- Personalized license plates, also referred to as vanity plates
- Standard license plates
In the past, the standard Arkansas license plate contained a combination of three numbers and three letters. However, in 2021, the OMV approved the issuance of license plates that will contain a combination of three letters, two numbers, and another letter in this order. This came about because the state has run out of possible 3-letter and 3-number license plate number combinations.
Third-party aggregate sites are a reliable alternative for obtaining license plate information. These sites are maintained by independent establishments which collate the information from government-run repositories. Obtaining records from these sites often proves substantially easier than government alternatives. However, requestors may be required to provide any information required to facilitate the record search and pay any required fees to access the record of interest.
How Do I Get a License Plate in Arkansas?
Arkansas requires a vehicle proof of insurance to obtain an Arkansas license plate. Proof of insurance must show that the vehicle and its uses meet motor vehicle liability insurance standards. Acceptable proof of insurance includes a certificate of self-insurance and an insurance policy issued by a company licensed to do business in Arkansas.
The OMV accepts electronic copies of proof of insurance. The proof of insurance must provide minimum coverage of:
- $25,000 or more for the death or injury of 1 person in an accident
- $50,000 or more for the death or injury of 2 people in an accident
- $25,000 or more for property damage
The Arkansas Office Of Motor Vehicle receives in-person and online license plate applications. Individuals seeking to apply in-person are required to provide the following documents:
- Proof of ownership (this can be either the vehicle's Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin or the vehicle title signed by both buyer and the seller)
- A signed copy of a lien agreement
- A completed Vehicle Registration Application Form
- State of Arkansas Vehicle Bill of Sale Odometer Disclosure Statement Form
- Proof of VIN verification
- Proof that your vehicle has been assessed or is scheduled for assessment by the county assessor
- Proof of all property tax payments
- Proof of Arkansas auto insurance
Applicants who have these documents can submit copies to the Office of Motor Vehicle located at:
Office of Motor Vehicle
Ragland Building
1900 West 7th Street, 1010
Little Rock, AR 72201
Applicants may also visit any of the OMV office locations in the state to submit their applications and pay the required licensing fees. After paying the fees, the applicant is issued a receipt and license plate.
For online applications, applicants must provide the following documents and information:
- Primary document (Arkansas Title, Bill of Sale, Manufacturer Statement of Origin, Out of State Title)
- Insurance card
- Federal Odometer Statement
- Personal Property Tax Number (PPAN) assigned by the county assessor
- Lien contract/security agreement
- Current year county tax assessment
- Proof of paid tax receipt
Applicants should use the online registration portal and pay the required fees. Once an application has been submitted, the applicant will receive an email notification on the status of their registration. Successful applicants will have their license plates and registration documents delivered to them via mail.
Passenger License Plates vs Commercial License Plates
Commercial license plates are plates issued for vehicles that are used for business purposes. On the other hand, passenger license plates, also known as personal or pleasure plates, are issued to vehicles used strictly for personal reasons. In Arkansas, the requirements for obtaining commercial and personal license plates are the same. However, the fee paid for commercial plates is based on the gross weight of the vehicle when loaded. The fees for passenger license plates are based on the unladen gross weight of the vehicle as outlined in the Arkansas Administrative Code 27-14-601.
How Can I Find the Owner of a License Plate in Arkansas
Anyone in Arkansas may look up a license plate to find the owner of a vehicle using a free or paid online license plate lookup tool. In general, third-party license plate lookup services provide information such as phone numbers against records on the shelf of the Office of Motor Vehicles. Further information about the vehicle owner may be obtained by performing a phone number lookup using the phone number retrieved from a free license plate lookup. Detailed vehicle information may be obtained from Arkansas Office of Motor Vehicles.
Arkansas License Plate Renewal
Arkansas license plates are renewed through the Arkansas STreamline Auto-Renewal Portal. The state only permits the renewal of license plates 90 days before they expire. To renew a license plate online in Arkansas, an applicant must have the following:
- A valid liability insurance policy.
- Proof of vehicle inspection from the county assessor.
- Proof of payments of all property taxes.
- Renewal reminder with the renewal identification number and the verification code. An individual who does not have a renewal reminder and a verification code can renew the registration with the last four digits of their VIN, zip code, and license plate number.
Upon renewal, verify and update all personal information such as mailing addresses and other contact information. Once all information is confirmed, the applicant pays the renewal fees. Credit card payments and electronic cheque payments are accepted for online renewals.
Contact the Department of Finance and Administration helpdesk at (888) 389-8336 for further inquiries on Arkansas license plate renewal.
In Arkansas, license plates for the following categories of vehicles can only be renewed in person:
- Trucks registered at 1 ton and bigger
- Trailers
- Boats
- Vehicles carrying special license plates
In-person renewals are done by visiting the Office of Motor Vehicle located at:
Office of Motor Vehicle
Ragland Building
1900 West 7th Street,1010
Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone: (501) 682-4692
Applicants may also visit the nearest Arkansas State Revenue Office to renew their Arkansas license plates. Once there, they should tender their registration renewal notice and pay all applicable renewal fees.
Can You Look Up License Plates with VIN?
Yes, VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) can be used to look up a vehicle's license plate. The OMV in Arkansas links VIN to vehicles' license plate numbers once registered.
Arkansas VIN Number Lookup
VIN or Vehicle Identification Number is the 17-character code consisting of numbers and letters used to identify a vehicle. VINs are unique to every vehicle. Arkansas VIN lookup uses a VIN number to look up information about such a vehicle. VIN can be found on the driver's side dashboard, door, or engine block of a vehicle. In general, a VIN lookup provides details about a vehicle, including the country of manufacture, engine size, plant name, safety recalls, claims, insurance coverage, and vehicle options.
Can Civilians Lookup License Plates in Arkansas?
Yes, civilians can look up license plates in Arkansas. Per Arkansas Code § 27-14-412, all records of the state’s Office of Motor Vehicle (OMV) that are not otherwise deemed confidential are open to the public for inspection. These include records related to vehicle license plates, titles, and registration.
However, Arkansas license plate records are subject to the Federal Driver’s Privacy Act (18 U.S.C §2721). Under the Act, public disclosure of personal information in license plate records is prohibited. Generally, personal information refers to information that identifies a specific individual, such as their name, photograph, social security number, address, telephone number, and medical or disability information. This information can only be disclosed for permissible reasons or to eligible entities or persons detailed in the act. These include and are not limited to:
- Towing service providers per Arkansas Code § 27-50-1101
- Any government agency in carrying out its functions
- For research activities, provided the personal information is not used to contact individuals, published, or redisclosed.
- Insurance providers
- Licensed private investigative agencies or licensed security services
- Individuals who obtained a signed consent form from the record holder.
Hence, personal information about the owner of the license plate is typically not revealed when civilians look up license plates in Arkansas. Instead, search results are typically centered around details and reports on the vehicle registered to the license plate. These include the vehicle’s make, model, year, odometer readings, accident reports, and liens.
What Do Police See When They Run Your Plates in Arkansas?
In Arkansas, government agencies, including law enforcement agencies, are granted unrestricted access to license plate records. Therefore, when a police officer runs a license plate, they can see basic details about the vehicle registered to the plates and personal information on the license plate registrant. These basic details include the vehicle’s make, type, VIN, year, and color. The vehicle's involvement in any crimes or reports of theft would likewise be visible to the police. A police officer can also do a secondary search using the license plate registrant's personal information to look up the registrant's criminal history to see whether they have any outstanding warrants.
Free License Plate Lookup in Arkansas
Free license plate lookups in Arkansas can be conducted online through different third-party license plate lookup services. While many third-party license plate search services typically charge users to utilize their services, some service providers may allow customers to view limited information about a license plate for free. To use these services, an inquirer must provide the full license plate number and the plate’s registration state. Free license plate information offered by third-party license plate lookup services is often limited to the vehicle's year, make, and model. For more detailed information, inquirers would need to use a paid service.
How to Search for Ticket by License Plate in Arkansas
Only specific types of traffic tickets in Arkansas are searchable by license plate. These types of tickets are limited to parking tickets. Most cities in Arkansas provide online tools interested persons can use to search for unpaid parking citations issued within the city using their license plate number. These search tools are typically available on the parking enforcement section of the city’s website. For instance, interested persons can use the City of Little Rock Parking Portal to search for and pay parking tickets issued in the city. Another example is the City of Fayetteville citation portal. Interested persons can search for other types of citations issued within the entire state using their driving license/state ID number and date of birth through the Arkansas courts citation portal.
