Buying a car is a complex process that requires careful and thoughtful consideration. Every tool available should be utilized. One key aspect to focus on is the license plate number. This is unique information stored in databases maintained by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine and other relevant authorities.

When You Need to Find a Car Owner by Number Plate

There are many situations where you might need to find a car owner by number plate. Some of the most common scenarios include:

  1. The owner is absent, and while the car is parked, another vehicle hits it and drives off. Today, many urban areas are equipped with cameras that can help identify vehicles. Often, these cameras are privately owned, and you can negotiate with the owners. Once you have the footage, you must decide whether to involve the police or try to find the car owner by the registration number on your own.

  2. Traffic accidents where the drivers flee the scene are also common. The consequences can be severe, and the victims' families may be highly motivated to find the car owner by the registration number. This can be the first step in identifying who was behind the wheel.

  3. Sometimes, you might encounter aggressive drivers who, after minor incidents, immediately resort to violence, damaging other people’s property. In such cases, knowing how to find a car owner by registration number for free or using a paid service might help you seek compensation. Often, these drivers calm down and are willing to compensate for the damage without involving the authorities.

In general, there are many reasons, but is it even possible to legally find a car owner by number plate?

Internet Services

Given the widespread availability of the internet, it would be surprising if there weren’t services for checking vehicle details. Among the most popular is our service, which provides comprehensive information about cars, including accident history and maintenance records. Unfortunately, personal details about the owner are not available here, meaning you cannot directly find a car owner by registration number free of charge.

There are many other similar online resources with varying levels of detail. However, you won’t find the owner’s name, phone number, or address on any of them.

Read also:

Databases of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine

Recently, this information has become publicly accessible. Anyone can visit the official website of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, use the "AutoNumbers" service, and enter either the registration number or VIN to get relevant data from the open data registry at data.gov.ua. The most valuable information includes whether the car is listed as stolen. However, you won’t find the owner’s full name or phone number here either. Personal data of Ukrainian citizens is protected by law. Such information can only be obtained by submitting an official request to the nearest police station, making it difficult to find a car owner by registration number directly.

Paid Platforms

This is where things get interesting. Trying to find a car owner by registration number essentially crosses into illegal territory. While the violation may not be severe, and most people won’t face any consequences, there is another factor to consider. A large number of scammers operate in this grey area. They know that once their deception is revealed, the victims are unlikely to report it to the authorities since they were partly to blame themselves.

These scammers often claim to have access to complete databases from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Security Service of Ukraine, or other entities. Some even boast of connections or acquaintances who can provide such information.

The prices are usually low to attract more clients. The result is always the same – the service provider either disappears or provides randomly generated information, including fake names and addresses.

Before you attempt to find a car owner by registration number through these resources, consider whether it’s worth it and if you’re willing to pay scammers, even if the amount is small.

You might also be interested in the following articles:

Messenger Bots

Today, social networks and messengers like Telegram or Viber are increasingly popular. It’s no surprise that these platforms also have special bots that offer to help you find a car owner by number plate, often for a small fee. One such bot is OpenDataUABot, designed for the above-mentioned messengers. The service costs from 400 UAH.

Can You Hide Information About a Number Plate?

Technically, it’s possible, but you must remember Article 121-3 of the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses. The penalties here can be quite hefty. In particular, fines will be imposed in the following cases:

  1. Completely missing number plates in the designated places. Driving on public roads without number plates is strictly prohibited, and you’ll be stopped at the first checkpoint.

  2. Using someone else’s number plates, whether found or intentionally removed, is also prohibited by law. It’s clear that such a car wouldn’t be on the road for legitimate reasons.

  3. Installing the number plate in an incorrect location. Sometimes, during car repairs, owners might place the plate behind the windshield or attach it somewhere unconventional. While it might be visible to a person, the growing use of machine vision in surveillance and traffic violation detection cameras poses a problem. These systems focus on the designated plate location, and if it’s not there, it becomes impossible to find the car owner by number plate. Consequently, improper placement of the number plate or altering its shape or geometry can result in fines.

  4. A flipped number plate is also a violation. A human can still read it, but machines cannot. Although modern algorithms are starting to overcome this challenge.

  5. Dirty number plates. The question arises: how do you determine if a plate is dirty or just dusty? The answer is simple: all symbols must be clearly identifiable from 20 meters away. There are no special tools for this, so it’s up to the discretion of the inspector.

In conclusion, the law on the confidentiality of personal information remains in effect. It is crucial to respect it, as well as the rights of others. If you find yourself in an extreme situation where you need to locate the owner of a vehicle, it’s best to contact the Ukrainian law enforcement authorities. This approach is safer, more correct, and more reasonable. Otherwise, you risk facing serious legal issues yourself.