Wyoming License Plate Lookup

License Plate Lookup in Wyoming

A Wyoming license plate lookup is a process of searching for the details of a vehicle with a license plate search tool. A license plate is a combination of alphabets and numbers that uniquely identifies a vehicle. Details that an inquirer can get from a license plate lookup include the vehicle's owner and Wyoming traffic records, date of last renewal, odometer readings, features of the vehicle, vehicle identification number (VIN), and any associated lien. A license plate lookup can be used when purchasing a pre-owned vehicle as it provides information about the vehicle.

The Wyoming Department of Transportation regulates and administers the issuance of vehicle license plates through the Motor Vehicle Service (MVS). Any interested person can look up a license plate in Wyoming. Each county treasurer's office directly issues license plates to applicants. There are free license plate lookup services that provide basic information about vehicles. However, paid license plate lookup services give more detailed information.

What is a Wyoming License Plate?

A Wyoming license plate is a metallic plate tag showing the unique alphanumeric registration characters assigned to the vehicle. The Wyoming Motor Vehicle Code stipulates that a license plate must be at least 12 inches long and 6 inches in height. A Wyoming license plate has black serials with a bucking horse and rider emblem (the bucking horse and rider is the registered trademark of the state). It also features the Green River Lakes and Squaretop Mountain in a cloudy blue sky. The word "WYOMING" in yellow is inscribed at the top. Wyoming license plates are county-coded from 1 to 23, indicating the county number. The county code is the prefix for all license plates followed by the assigned serials. The license sticker (decal) showing the expiration date is also visible.

Per Wyoming Motor Vehicle code, front and rear license plates are required for most vehicles in the state, while others are required to have only rear plates. Vehicles required to have only rear license plates are motorcycles, trailers, multipurpose vehicles, house trailers, and vehicles with dealer's license plates. In 2015, antique vehicles, custom vehicles, and vehicles manufactured without a front license plate bracket were exempted from the two license plates requirement. A license plate is registered to a specific owner and cannot be transferred to another person. However, a vehicle owner can transfer the license plate to another vehicle they own.

The following are the types of license plates in Wyoming:

• Standard license plate: the default license plate issued to vehicles.
• Specialty plates: the different types of specialty plates are:
  • Radio Amateur
  • Former POW
  • Disabled vet
  • Pioneer
  • Purple Heart Recipient
  • National Guard
  • Pearl Harbor Survivor
  • University of Wyoming
  • EMT
  • Firefighter
  • Wildlife conservation
  • Tribal Plate
  • Novelty
  • Street Rod & Custom Vehicles
  • Gold Star
  • Veteran Plates
  • Choice Disabled Veteran Plate
• Temporary license plates: these are issued to dealers or non-residents working in the state. They are valid for 30 days at $50 per month.
• Personalized license plates: they are also called prestige plates and can be obtained for all regularly registered vehicles upon the payment of the prestige license fee and submission of the Application for Prestige Plates form. The following rules apply:
  • A maximum of 5 characters
  • No symbols
  • Only capital letters and Arabic numbers
  • No combination of entire numbers except the first number is a zero
  • No conflict with existing license plates
  • Vulgar, indecent, obscene, or pruriently suggestive language is prohibited
  • No combinations of entire numbers and suffixed by a single alphabet
  • No combinations with more than three W's or M's

How Do I Get a License Plate in Wyoming?

The Motor Vehicle Services (MVS) under the Department of Transportation regulates the titling and registration of vehicles. A license plate is obtained after registering and titling a vehicle in Wyoming. The local county treasurer's office registers all vehicles in the state. For a vehicle purchased from a Wyoming dealer, the dealer is responsible for sending the vehicle's paperwork to the county treasurer's office. The county treasurer's office will notify the vehicle owner of the items to bring for registration. The items needed for registration include:

• The original Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin
• The purchase invoice and proof of insurance
• A completed Application for Certificate of Title and VIN/HIN Inspection Form
• Odometer reading
• Wyoming sales and use tax form provided by the dealer
• Payment of registration and titling fees along with relevant count fees

The following are required to register a pre-owned car:

• Original title duly signed by all concerned parties
• A completed Application for Certificate of Title and VIN/HIN Inspection Form
• Odometer reading
• Sales and use tax form if vehicle is purchased from a dealer
• Purchase invoice if purchased from a dealer or notarized bill of sale if purchased from an individual
• Security agreement or loan contract if the vehicle is financed
• Payment of appropriate registration fees

The registration fees are:

• Passenger vehicles - $30
• Motorcycles - $25
• School busses - $25
• Trailers - varies based on weight
• Electric vehicles - $200

Passenger License Plates vs Commercial License Plates

Passenger license plates are the standard license plates issued to vehicle owners for personal use. In contrast, commercial license plates are issued to vehicles designed for commercial purposes, such as buses, taxis, and commercial trailers. There is no physical difference between passenger license plates and commercial license plates in Wyoming.

How Can I Find the Owner of a License Plate in Wyoming

The Wyoming Motor Vehicle Records and privacy regulation regulates the disclosure of motor vehicle records. An interested third party applying to know the owner of a license plate must show proof of identity and state the reason for the disclosure by filing the Application for Vehicle Record and Privacy Disclosure Release form (MV-220). The reason for the disclosure must comply with the state law for the request to be granted. The reasons allowed by law for disclosure of a vehicle's information are as follows:

• To be used by a governmental agency, court, or law enforcement agency.
• To be used in matters of driver/vehicle safety, theft, recalls, emissions, or performance monitoring.
• To prevent fraud.
• To verify the accuracy of personal details submitted by a person.
• To be used in connection with civil, criminal, arbitral, or administrative proceedings.
• To conduct research activities and production statistics reports as long as the personal information is not re-disclosed, published, or used to contact the owner.
• To verify or obtain information by an employer.
• To provide notice to the owners of towed, impounded, or abandoned vehicles.
• For use by a licensed private investigative agency.
• To investigate claims by an insurer.
• To be used in connection with the operations of toll transportation facility.
• With the express consent of the owner.
• For any other use authorized by the state laws and such use is related to the operations of a vehicle.

The completed Application for Vehicle Record and Privacy Disclosure Release form (MV-220) and a $5 fee can be sent via email to: mvsplates@wyo.gov or mailed to:

WYDOT
ATTN: Motor Vehicle Services
5300 Bishop Boulevard
Cheyenne, WY 82009-3340

Third-party businesses or websites can provide the license plate lookup service free of charge or for a fee. The information obtained from the search can be used to find the vehicle owner through a phone number lookup or by searching vehicle service records in Wyoming.

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.

Wyoming License Plate Renewal

Vehicle license plates are renewed yearly at the county treasurer's office by the Motor Vehicle Service. There are only two options for license plate renewal in Wyoming; online and in-person. Online renewal is available in some counties, while in-person renewal can be done in all counties. A vehicle owner can contact the local county to find out if online renewal is available in their county. The following are required for online renewal:

• Vehicle information
• PIN on the renewal notice
• Mailing address to send the decal or plates
• Payment of all required fees using a credit or debit card

To renew in person, visit your local county treasurer's office with the following:

• Registration renewal notice
• Current registration or license plate number
• Proof of current vehicle insurance policy
• A copy of IRS form 2290 for vehicles that weigh above 55,000 pounds
• The required state renewal fees with county fees

The state renewal fees are as follows:

• Passenger vehicles - $30
• Motorcycles - $25
• School busses - $25
• Trucks and trailers - determined by weight
• Electric vehicles - $200

Can You Look Up License Plates with VIN?

Yes, you can look up a vehicle's license plate with its Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). A vehicle's license plate number and VIN are linked in the state's database. The Application for Vehicle Record and Privacy Disclosure Release (MV-220) form can also be used to look up a vehicle's license plate with the VIN. It costs $5 for each lookup. The request can either be sent via email (mvsplates@wyo.gov) or mail to the Motor Vehicle Service in Cheyenne.

VIN Number Lookup

A VIN lookup involves using a VIN search tool to check for information on a vehicle. All registered vehicles have an identifying code (17 characters long) that uniquely identifies the vehicle and its manufacturer. The VIN can be found on the hood underside, the dashboard of the driver's side of the vehicle, the doorpost of the driver's side door, or the engine block. The VIN can reveal specific details about the vehicle, such as country of production, airbag types, engine size, plant name, safety recalls, insurance coverages, and claims.

The National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS) provides a database of title information from all the states in the US. A VIN lookup using the NMVTIS resource provides details such as the current state of title and last title date, salvage history, odometer reading, total loss history, and brand history.

Can Civilians Lookup License Plates in Wyoming?

License plates are public records. Therefore, civilians can request to view or obtain copies of them at any Vermont DMV office. However, civilians may not be allowed to retrieve drivers’ personal information unless they satisfy the requirements outlined in the Federal Driver Privacy Protection Act.

What Do Police See When They Run Your Plates in Wyoming?

Most times, Wyoming police officers run vehicle plates before pulling them over. Usually, the first thing the police will see is information relating to the vehicle. This includes the vehicle identification number (VIN), the year the vehicle was made, its make and model, license plate expiring date, and any suspensions placed on it.

A license plate search will also return information about the person to whom the vehicle is registered. The police can see the person’s name, address, date of birth, eye color, height, social security number, and driver’s license information. This personal information will help the police determine if the driver is also the registrant. Running a license plate also helps police officers see if a driver has an active warrant in Wyoming or other states. This can lead to the arrest of the driver.

Free License Plate Lookup in Wyoming

Most third-party aggregate sites return a wealth of information for free when a person conducts a license plate search. However, requesters might have to pay a small fee for a complete vehicle history report. A free license plate lookup through third-party sites reveals the following information:

• Sales record
• Title history
• Accidents history
• Flood, hail, and fire damage
• Lien and repossession records
• Vehicle owner's and registration information
• Mileage rollback to detect odometer fraud
• Service, inspection, and registration history
• Vehicle specifications (make, vehicle year, horsepower rating, torque, and engine capacity)
• Rebuild and repair records (salvage, junk, and loss records, full maintenance history, recalls/defects history, odometer reading report, and current condition)

How to Search for Ticket by License Plate in Wyoming

The best method of conducting a ticket search by license plate in Wyoming is in person at the DOT or the circuit court handling the case. Requesters should be able to find the following information when they conduct a ticket search:

• The traffic violation, the vehicle code that was violated, and its description
• The location, time, and date of the alleged violation
• The officer’s name, badge number, and signature
• Vehicle description like model, make, registration number, color, and license plate number