Minnesota Plate Number Search

By Mohamed SkhiriUpdated November 8, 2026Checked against DVS's vehicle records request procedure and form PS2502

Driver and Vehicle Services, part of Minnesota's Department of Public Safety, keeps the state's vehicle records. Minnesota layers its own law on top of the federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act: the record request form cites Minnesota Statutes sections 168.346 and 171.12, and classifies personal information as private data under the state's data practices law, Chapter 13. In plain terms, DVS doesn't hand out owner details on request; it decides case by case whether you're entitled to them.

How to request a Minnesota vehicle record

1. Fill in the Record request form, PS2502. The vehicle section asks for the year and make, the Minnesota plate number and the VIN.
2. State a permissible use if you're asking about someone else's vehicle. The form lists the accepted reasons, including government business, motor vehicle safety, towing notices, insurers and licensed private investigators. Alternatively, attach a Written authorization form (PS2506) signed by the person whose record it is.
3. Pay the fee by check or money order payable to Driver & Vehicle Services. Cash isn't accepted.
4. Submit it. By mail, include a legible copy of your driver's license or government ID, or have your signature notarized. In person, go to the DVS Town Square Building in St. Paul or a full-service deputy registrar office.

DVS then reviews the request to decide whether you're allowed to receive the information.

Fees

The fee table on the published form is hard to read in places, so confirm the amounts on the current form before you pay.

MN license plate lookup owner details

An MN license plate lookup of the owner depends entirely on the DVS review. If your reason is one of the permissible uses, or you have the owner's written authorization, the record can include personal information. If not, it won't. There's no free license plate lookup in MN that gets around this, and a Minnesota license plate lookup for free, with names, isn't something DVS offers.

What to do in common situations

• Crash or hit-and-run: report it to the police with the plate and a description, then give the report number to your insurer.
• A car abandoned on your property: contact local police or a licensed tow operator; towing notices are a permitted use.
• Buying a used car: compare the seller's ID with the title and check the VIN. Minnesota expects ownership to be transferred on the title within 10 days of the sale; our title transfer checklist lists the steps.
• Your own vehicle: request your own record on the PS2502 at the lower fee.

Apps and websites

Phone apps that promise an MN plate lookup with names can't reach DVS's private data without a permitted use; every official request runs through the same PS2502 and the same review. If you see a site offering a free MN license plate lookup with owner names, remember that DVS classifies those details as private.

Tips

• Include the VIN if you have it; it removes doubt about which vehicle you mean.
• Attach proof of your purpose, such as a police report or claim number.
• Use the in-person option at a full-service deputy registrar if you want to avoid mailing a check.
• Choose a certified copy only when a court or agency asks for one. For an insurance claim or your own records, the non-certified version is usually enough and costs a dollar less.
• Keep a copy of the completed form and your payment details until the record arrives.

Minnesota license plate lookup: quick answers

Use form PS2502 and state your permitted use; DVS reviews every request. A free Minnesota license plate lookup won't return owner details, because DVS treats them as private data. After a crash, ask the police.

Minnesota plate lookup FAQ