HOW TO CHECK VEHICLE OWNER DETAILS BY REGISTRATION NUMBER

As you walk down the road, you happen to see a vehicle hitting a cyclist and speeding off without stopping. You manage to note down the vehicle registration number, but you do not know how to find the details of both the vehicle and the driver. You go to the Regional Transport Office and ultimately get hold of the required information after a long struggle and wasting a lot of your precious time. Actually, there are better ways to find out vehicle details by number plate.

Finding Vehicle Owner Details by Number Plate on the VAHAN Website

In 2011, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways collaborated with the National Informatics Centre to launch the national vehicle registry, VAHAN. According to the website, it consists of data related to more than 250,000,000 motor vehicles such as bikes, cars, auto-rickshaws, buses, and cabs registered in India. The objective behind launching the VAHAN website was to collate the details of driving licenses and vehicle registration details recorded by the District Transport Offices and Regional Transport Offices across the country.

To find out vehicle details by number, visit the VAHAN website and follow the steps mentioned below.

  • Click/tap on the "Know your vehicle details" button on the menu bar
  • Provide your vehicle’s registration number and enter the "captcha" as displayed
  • Click/tap on the "Search Vehicle" button

That is it! You will be able to see all the details related to your car or bike provided at the time of registering with the local RTO displayed on the screen.

VAHAN collates and produces information about vehicles and owners in all states and Union Territories in India. These details comply with the Motor Vehicles Act 1988. On entering the registration number of your vehicle, you can get the following details from the VAHAN website:

  • Date of registration of the vehicle
  • Vehicle chassis number (not in full)
  • Vehicle’s engine number (not in full)
  • Name of the owner
  • Vehicle class
  • Fuel type
  • The model number of the vehicle
  • Name of the vehicle manufacturer
  • Vehicle fitness validity date
  • Pollution under control certificate number
  • Motor vehicle tax validity date
  • Two wheeler insurance details
  • Vehicle emission standards
  • Status of the registration certificate
  • Name of the financier 

Finding Vehicle Registration Number Details via an SMS

You can also do a vehicle owner search by sending an SMS to VAHAN. Just follow the steps given below to find out vehicle registration details by vehicle number:

  • Type VAHAN <space> registration number of the vehicle.
  • Forward the SMS to 7738299899. 

So, if you want to know the name of the owner of a vehicle, all that you have to do is note down the vehicle’s registration number and send an SMS to VAHAN.

Different Scenarios When You Need to Check the Vehicle Owner Name by Registration Number Plate

If traffic police stop you and you do not have your vehicle’s documents with you, then you may have to pay a heavy fine. This was true in the past, but not any longer. You can put this worry to rest. You are not required to carry with you the hard copy of your vehicle’s documents all the time. You can save the documents digitally and show them to the traffic police on demand. The details you save in DigiLockers will be considered legitimate across India. However, the traffic enforcement authorities might want to verify the details you provide with the VAHAN website to ensure their legitimacy.

In the past, you had to acquire a no-objection certificate or NOC for your vehicle if you moved to another state or UT for more than a year. The popularisation of the VAHAN website has done away with the need to carry a NOC for your vehicle. This is because RTOs across the country can access the data available on the VAHAN site.

These are the two scenarios when you can utilise this facility to search for vehicle owner details by number plate online.

FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Can I find out my vehicle's tax validity using the registration number?

Yes, you can verify your vehicle's tax validity date using its registration number. On the VAHAN website, you have to look for "MV Tax up to" information.

Q2. Is VAHAN mobile app available?

VAHAN has plans to launch mobile apps for different verticals in the near future.

Q3. How does VAHAN gather information about vehicles?

VAHAN gathers details of vehicles from the National Motor Vehicles Register. The National Register collects details from State Registers, which compile data from RTOs and DTOs.

Q4. Can I find the residential address of the owner of a vehicle using the registration number?

To safeguard an individual's right to privacy, online databases refrain from mentioning personal data or the address of the vehicle's owner.

Q5. Why is it important to get the vehicle number plate?

It is important to get the vehicle number plate because it is a legal requirement, helps in identification, traffic management, and ensures the safety and security of the vehicle and its passengers.

Q6. Can I get the details number and address of the vehicle owner by number plate details?

Yes. It provides important information such as the owner's name and address, vehicle make and model, engine and chassis number, date of registration, and the validity of the registration certificate.

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