VIN Lookup in Georgia

A Georgia VIN lookup is a process employed by intending car buyers, law enforcement agencies, and private individuals to obtain information about a vehicle. This is done using the car's vehicle identification number (VIN).

The Georgia Department of Revenue (DOR) provides a site where members of the public can carry out a VIN check for cars in Georgia. The National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS) also provides a platform for conducting VIN lookups.

However, there is a significant difference between a VIN lookup and a Georgia license plate lookup. While the license plate check provides information about a vehicle's current and past owners, the VIN check informs a person about the car.

What is a Vehicle Identification Number in Georgia?

A vehicle identification number in Georgia is a unique alphanumeric code assigned individually to vehicles by their manufacturers. Important information and history about a car, such as its registered owners, vehicle specifications, titles, and others, are recorded against its VIN.

The VIN also allows individuals to see information such as repairs, thefts, accidents, lien records, market value, and sales of any given vehicle. The VIN is also referred to as the frame number or chassis number. In some cases, it is called the vehicle's fingerprint.

The Georgia code annotated § 40-4-21 contains more specific information about VIN-related laws such as car theft, unauthorized or illegal alteration or removal of VIN, ownership of cars or car parts with altered VINs, etc.

A vehicle identification number in Georgia also carries information about the manufacturer, date, and country of manufacture of the vehicle. It contains a combination of 17 numbers and letters that are written without spaces.

The characters 1, 0, I, O, and Q are not included in VINs. This is because the numbers 1 and 0 could easily pass for I and O, respectively, and may result in confusion.

Important information contained in a VIN is as follows:

The vehicle manufacturer - Usually the second and third characters in the VIN
Model year - The tenth character
Serial number - The last six characters
Vehicle brand, engine type, size, model, body style, and series - The fourth to eighth characters
Assembly plant - The 11th character
Security check digit - Usually the ninth character
Country in which the vehicle was manufactured - The first character (1, 4, and 5 indicates that a vehicle was manufactured in the U.S.)
Vehicle division or type - The third character

How is a VIN Number Used?

The VIN is used by vehicle registries and other government law enforcement agencies to record a vehicle's history. Individuals who wish to buy a car can also run a VIN check using this number. Such checks provide interested individuals and authorities with necessary records and information about the vehicle.

They can run such checks through reliable online sites or a VIN decoder. A VIN lookup in Georgia can be used to:

Check insurance coverage
Recalls
Warranty claims
Obtain vehicle history report.
Register a vehicle or renew its registration.
Track stolen vehicles

Moreover, no two or more vehicles have an identical VIN. However, it's important to note that some information from a particular vehicle's VIN when lookup may need to be more accurate because an owner may make minor repairs to it without informing the insurance company. So, such repair records won't be found during a VIN check.

Who Issues a Vehicle's VIN Number in Georgia?

Vehicles in Georgia usually have their VINs issued by the manufacturers. The same is the case for cars in other states. The U.S. department of transportation (DOT) created the VIN system in 1981 to prevent car thefts.

If your vehicle's VIN gets defaced, tampered with, or stolen, the Georgia Department of Motor Vehicles can issue a new VIN plate manufactured by the state's highway patrol. However, before a person gets a VIN replacement, the agencies just inspect the vehicle to ensure it has no connections to any criminal activities.

How Many Digits are in a VIN?

A VIN contains seventeen (17) characters, usually a combination of letters and numbers. The United States DOT created the present VIN system in 1981 and only cars manufactured since then use VINs that contain 17 digits.

Cars manufactured before 1981 used 11 digits VINs. Vehicle manufacturers assigned these numbers as they pleased without regulations or set standards.

How to Find Your Car's VIN Number

The VIN number is most commonly found pasted inside the windshield or dash in front of the driver's seat. If not found there, it should be at one of these locations:

The post of the door just beside the driver's seat
Vehicle registration documents
Insurance cards
On the engine block just under the car hood

How to Conduct a VIN Lookup in Georgia

All VIN records for all vehicles manufactured in Georgia and other states are available on the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS). The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) also provides such information.

Individuals can look up such records via third-party websites. Most times, online platforms that offer VIN search and lookup services usually charge a fee. However, a few other sites also offer free VIN lookups, but paid checks are always more reliable.

On the websites, there are provided fields where a person enters the 17 characters of their car's VIN. Thereafter, they receive a report about their car's history, manufacture, and specs.

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

In Georgia, members of the public can do a free VIN lookup on the National Investigation Crime Bureau (NICB) VIN check site. On the site is a tool where a person has to enter their VIN number and allow the site to generate a comprehensive report about the car.

The state's highway patrol and DMV also allow individuals to look up their VIN. Alternatively, some third-party companies offer free VIN lookups, but you must understand that information obtained from such sites is only as authentic as the places from which they were sourced.

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

On the VIN decoder is a field where a person enters the VIN number. Afterward, the decoder displays information associated with the vehicle's manufacture, specifications, and ISO serial number.

The VIN decoder may be an app or an online tool. A VIN decoder needs to provide in-depth information about a vehicle, as that's the job of an actual VIN lookup. It fetches the information using an existing algorithm to break down the 17 characters of the VIN into its distinct parts and interpret the meaning behind the characters in each part.

Information provided by the decoder is limited to the manufacturer name, manufacturer plant and year, car specs, and serial number.

How to Conduct a VIN Lookup by License Plate in Georgia

A person who wishes to run a VIN check by license plate must first request the vehicle's title and record from the Georgia DMV. Such requests are made on the Georgia DMV website, where they are required to provide necessary information about the car. Such information typically includes the vehicle's license plate number, model, and make.

Accessing such reports may require a fee. Once a requestor has met all the requirements, the DMV sends them an email containing the report.

What is a VIN Inspection in Georgia?

A vehicle inspection is a process done by a law enforcement officer in which a vehicle is checked to ensure that there's no theft history about the vehicle and that the VIN on the vehicle matches that on official records and the bill of sale/title.

This usually requires a T-22B form to certify that the vehicle has been inspected. Note that a VIN inspection must be done within the registration window allowed after purchase. If the window has elapsed, the vehicle should be taken to the inspection appointment using a trailer or a towing van.

This is because such a vehicle is subject to applicable traffic laws of Georgia state when driven on public roads.

How Much is a Vehicle Inspection in Georgia?

There's no fixed price for vehicle inspections in Georgia. The price varies for different check stations. It typically varies between $100 to $300. Furthermore, the cost of an inspection varies depending on the vehicle's maintenance and how old the vehicle is.

While an inspection of new vehicles is signifcantly cheaper, old ones usually require more money to make them fit to pass an inspection test.

What is a Vehicle Inspection Report in Georgia?

A vehicle inspection report (VIR) is a comprehensive document that describes the working condition of a vehicle and also provides information about repairs, accidents, manufacture, and ownership of the vehicle.

The report is usually given at the end of a vehicle inspection. A vehicle inspection is mandatory for vehicle owners in Georgia and must be fine yearly. It gives a diagnostic report about the vehicle at the time of inspection. A DMV personnel or law enforcement officer usually does the vehicle inspection.

Before a VIR is issued, a car has to undergo a series of tests and checks on its interior, exterior, and performance. During the inspection, there's also a test for emissions and vehicle maintenance.

Cars that don't pass the inspection tests have to be taken to licensed auto shops for repairs. After repairs, they must be retested and their owners issued a motor vehicle safety inspection report and a certificate of inspection. Citizens of Georgia who drive cars without a valid inspection report may have to pay fines or penalties when caught.

What Does a Vehicle History Report Contain?

A vehicle history report contains basic information about a vehicle. At least, you should expect the following information in the report:

Towing and impounding data
Information about the vehicle's manufacture such as the country, plant, and year.
Safety reports
The vehicle's sales history
Theft status
Lien information
Data about the vehicle's recalls and defects
Odometer readings
Vehicle specs
Salvage history
Title Information

How to Conduct a VIN Verification in Georgia

A VIN verification in Georgia can be done at the county sheriff's office by the Civil Process Unit. To do the verification, a person is required to go to the office on a working day with the vehicle and other necessary documents.

It is important to note that an appointment must be scheduled at the sheriff's office prior to the date of the verification.

Documents required for the VIN verification should include the following:

The driver's license
Proof of insurance
Registration details and tag
A bill of sale
Form T-22B (certificate of inspection)
Any paperwork that serves as proof of ownership

Can I Lookup My Vehicle Specs by VIN Number?

Yes, the VIN number has digits that communicate a vehicle's specs. This also includes important information such as engine size, type, and car style. The fourth to eighth characters in the VIN number usually have this information encoded in them. A person can identify the following specs categories from your VIN check:

The type of transmission used by the engine and the displacement
Available mechanical components and equipment (both optional and mechanical)
The colors of the vehicle's interior and exterior
Safety equipment that comes with the car from the manufacturer
The car make and model

Can I Check My VIN Number Online in Georgia?

Yes, anyone can check their VIN number online in Georgia. All they need is a smartphone, tablet, or laptop, and a connection to the internet. They can do such checks using the VIN checker tool on the NICB website.

There are also other non-government-owned sites that can be used for an online VIN number check. Some online VIN checking platforms charge a fee for their services while others are free.

Can You Track a Car by VIN Number in Georgia?

Yes, but not completely. Law enforcement agencies can actually use a car's VIN to identify it if it gets stolen and is found with another person. The VIN number also helps car owners and authorities to track activities such as accidents, recalls, and repairs associated with cars.

Can You Tell Engine Size by VIN Number?

Yes, the VIN number actually contains a set of characters that can be decoded to know the engine size and the type. The eighth character in the VIN is the engine code and it carries information about the particular vehicle's engine. Along with the eighth character, a person needs the tenth character (the model year) when requesting a store clerk to help them run the check. Alternatively, one can check the engine size using a VIN decoder.