What an auto title search tells you
An auto title search pulls the official ownership and damage history of a vehicle from your state's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or equivalent agency. When you search a title, you learn who owns the car, whether there are liens against it (meaning a lender has a claim on it), and whether the title has been branded—marked as salvage, flood, lemon law buyback, or total loss. You also see if the odometer reading has been recorded and whether there are any active disputes or holds on the vehicle.
The title search is different from a vehicle history report like Carfax or AutoCheck, which pull accident and service records from insurance companies and repair shops. A title search is the legal record kept by your state. It answers the question: does this person actually own this car, and is there anything wrong with the title itself?
Key Takeaways
- An auto title search shows ownership, liens, and title brands (salvage, flood, lemon law) recorded by your state's DMV.
- You can search a title online through your state DMV website, by mail, or in person at a local DMV office, and the process usually takes a few days to a week.
- A title search costs between $5 and $25 depending on your state and method, and some states offer free online searches.
- A branded title (salvage, flood, or lemon law) means the car has a serious history and will be harder to sell and insure later.
- If you are buying a used car, run a title search before you hand over money, because a lien or brand can make the car unsellable or unsafe.
How to run a title search in your state
Every state's DMV maintains its own title database and offers its own search method. Start by going to your state's DMV website and looking for "title search," "vehicle history," or "title records." Most states now offer an online search tool where you enter the vehicle identification number (VIN) or license plate number and get results in minutes. Some states charge a small fee per search; others offer free searches.
If your state does not have an online search tool, you can request a title search by mail or visit a local DMV office in person. By mail, you typically fill out a form (often called a "Title Information Request" or similar), include the VIN or plate number, and mail it with a check or money order. Processing takes 5 to 10 business days. In person, you walk in with the VIN or plate number, pay the fee, and often get results the same day or within a few days.
Some states allow you to search by VIN only; others require the plate number. If you do not have the plate number, the VIN is always sufficient. Write down the exact VIN from the driver's side dashboard or the title document itself—do not rely on memory or a photo, because a single wrong digit will return no results or the wrong vehicle.
What title brands mean and why they matter
A title brand is an official mark on the title that tells future buyers and insurers that the car has a serious history. The most common brands are salvage (the car was declared a total loss by an insurance company), flood (the car was submerged in water), lemon law buyback (the manufacturer bought it back because of repeated defects), and rebuilt (a salvage title car that has been repaired and passed inspection). Some states also use brands like "junk," "parts only," or "non-repairable."
A branded title does not mean the car is unsafe or worthless, but it does mean the car will be harder to sell, harder to insure, and worth less money. Insurance companies often charge more to insure a branded-title vehicle or may refuse to cover it altogether. If you are buying a car with a branded title, get a pre-purchase inspection from a trusted mechanic and confirm with your insurance company that they will cover it before you buy.
A lien is different from a brand. A lien means someone else (usually a bank or credit union) has a legal claim on the car until the loan is paid off. If you buy a car with an active lien and the seller does not pay off the loan, the lender can repossess the car from you. Always check for liens before you buy, and if there is a lien, make sure the seller pays it off at closing and provides you with a lien release letter from the lender.
When to run a title search
Run a title search as soon as you decide you might buy a used car—before you negotiate price, before you pay a deposit, and before you take the car to a mechanic. A title search takes minutes and costs $5 to $25. If the title is branded or has a lien, you know when ready whether the deal is worth pursuing. Many buyers skip this step and discover problems later, when they cannot get insurance or cannot sell the car.
If you are buying from a private seller, run the search yourself. Do not rely on the seller to tell you whether the title is clean. If you are buying from a dealer, the dealer is required by law in most states to disclose a branded title, but you should still run your own search to confirm. If you are financing the car, your lender will also run a title search as part of the loan process, but that happens after you have already committed to the purchase.
What information appears in a title search result
A title search result typically shows the current owner's name and address, the vehicle identification number (VIN), the make and model, the year, the color, the odometer reading (if recorded), and the date the title was issued or transferred. It will show any liens and the name of the lien holder. It will show any title brands and the date the brand was applied. Some states also show the title number and whether the title is a duplicate or an original.
The search result does not show accident history, repair records, or service history—that information comes from a vehicle history report like Carfax. The title search is purely about ownership and legal status. If you want to know whether the car was in an accident, you need to order a separate vehicle history report and have a pre-purchase inspection done by a mechanic.
Title searches for vehicles with out-of-state titles
If the car you are buying was titled in another state, you will need to search that state's DMV database, not your own. Each state maintains its own title records, and a car titled in Florida will not appear in the New York DMV system. Go to the DMV website for the state where the car is currently titled and run your search there.
If the car is being transferred to your state, the seller should provide you with the out-of-state title document itself so you can review it before you buy. After you buy the car, you will need to explore for a new title in your state. Your state's DMV will request the out-of-state title from the seller or lienholder and issue you a new title. This process usually takes 4 to 8 weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I search a title if I only have the license plate number?
Most states allow you to search by plate number, but some require the VIN. If your state's online tool does not accept plate numbers, use the VIN instead. The VIN is always the safer choice because it is unique to that specific car, whereas plate numbers change when a car is sold.
What does it mean if the title search shows "no record found"?
No record found usually means the VIN or plate number you entered does not match any vehicle in that state's database. Double-check the VIN for typos—even one wrong digit will return no results. If the car is new or was recently purchased, the title may not have been processed yet. If the car is from another state, search that state's DMV instead.
Can I get a title search for a car I do not own?
Yes. Title records are public information in most states, so you can search any vehicle. Some states require you to provide a reason for the search or may limit what information is returned to non-owners, but you can usually get at least the basic ownership and lien information.
How often should I check a title if I already own the car?
You do not need to check your own title regularly unless you suspect fraud or have concerns about a lien. If you are financing the car, your lender holds the title and will monitor it. Once the loan is paid off, you receive the title and own it outright. At that point, a title search is only necessary if you are selling the car and want to confirm the title is clean.
What if the title search shows a lien but the seller says it is paid off?
Do not buy the car. A lien on the title means the lender still has a legal claim, regardless of what the seller says. The seller must provide a lien release letter from the lender before closing. If the seller cannot produce it, the deal is not safe. Your state's DMV can tell you how to verify that a lien has been released.