Checking a VIN in Ohio is an important step to purchasing a used vehicle. Vehicle identification numbers are 16 digit combinations of letters and numbers that identify a specific vehicle. The number is used to track events that involve that car. The information is logged and tracked with various vehicle, insurance and law enforcement organizations to help protect the driving public and to promote safer driving conditions on U.S. roadways.

Motorists can lookup VIN numbers online, by mail or by phone in Ohio. Complete VIN number checks, which provide a vehicle’s complete history, are not available through the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicle (BMV). Drivers who require more information than what is included in an OH BMV title search, are encouraged to use trusted online VIN lookup services such as those provide by DMV.com for faster results.

How to Conduct an Ohio VIN Number Lookup Online

For a complete VIN number check and full vehicle history, DMV.com offers an instant search that provides a detailed vehicle history. The service is quick and very simple. Just enter the vehicle’s VIN number. DMV.com’s service checks multiple sources to gather a full history of your vehicle starting with the manufacturer’s specifications and options, to insurance claims placed on the vehicle, inspections, accidents, theft and more.

If you own or are considering the purchase of a previously owned car, running a complete history check f will provide the confidence you need to make the right purchasing decision.

How to Request an Ohio VIN Code Lookup in Person

Looking up VIN numbers through the state of Ohio’s BMV will give you a title history of the vehicle. Motorists or car buyers who prefer to conduct business in person, may visit a local BMV office to get more information on a vehicle’s title history. Be aware, however, that long wait times are possible and BMV clerks may refer you to the online search function.

Ohio motorists titling a vehicle in the state for the first time are required to provide VIN inspection reports. These are available from many car dealerships or from the state deputy registrar license agency. Deputy sites are located in the cities of Cincinnati, Harrison and Stow.

How to Request an Ohio VIN Lookup by Phone

While Ohio does not provide a VIN number check for a complete vehicle history, you can petition the BMV by phone for title search assistance. Motorists who want more information about an OH vehicle title search can call the Title Support Section.

Be advised that calling the BMV for assistance with a vehicle title search will not yield immediate search results. You may be required to provide an email address or mailing address to receive your search results, or you may be directed to the BMV website.

What info is in an Ohio VIN history report?

Using a VIN number check, you can obtain a comprehensive record of a vehicle. DMV.com’s service pulls data from multiple sources and compiles it in one easy-to-read report. The vehicle information found on a DMV.com Ohio VIN history report includes:

• Vehicle specifications – including the original manufacturer sticker and original option package.
• Salvage events – if the vehicle was ever auctioned at salvage, acquired by a junkyard or taken to a recycling station.
• Insurance total loss event – if the vehicle was ever flooded, involved in an accident or in any way declared “totaled” by an insurance agency.
• Manufacturer defects and recalls – notices issued by the manufacturer or by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
• Title brand history.
• Current or open lien – including loan information.
• Active theft status.
• Odometer readings and inspection history.
• Minor accident information – from state agencies and DMVs.

Why would I need to perform a VIN check in Ohio?

VIN history reports are vital to consumers considering the purchase of a used car. A vehicle history report such as those provided by DMV.com can alert car buyers to lien issues, title and ownership problems, defects and recalls as well as to any damage the car may have sustained over time.

If you are considering buying a used car or if you have recently purchased one, an OH VIN number report will protect you from potentially buying a problematic car. It can also save time when registering a vehicle for the first time in the state, by alerting you to potential lien or title issues that need to be resolved.

How do I locate my vehicle’s VIN number?

VIN numbers were developed to provide a method to track and record the events that occur with a specific vehicle. The purpose of recording this information is to promote better safety on our roadways, prevent theft, and to protect buyers and sellers of used cars. Part of the method to prevent theft is to post the VIN in various places around the car. Some of those places include:

• Dashboard near the windshield.
• Tag on the front of the engine.
• Support bracket on the radiator.
• Steering column.
• Driver’s side door.
• Vehicle’s firewall.
• Left instrument panel.
• Components parts list and maintenance book.

VIN history reports are the perfect way to protect yourself from buying a used car that is sure to become an expensive problem. Locate a few VIN numbers around your vehicle and compare them to verify that they match. Then run a VIN number check from DMV.com to learn the history of any car you own or are considering purchasing.

Vehicle History Report Fees in Ohio

The Ohio BMV charges a separate $5 fee for title records and vehicle registration records.