Pennsylvania License Plate Lookup
PA License Plate Lookup powered by NHTSA. The PA license plate lookup tool above returns make, model, year, trim, recalls, and crash ratings for any Pennsylvania-registered vehicle in seconds.
PA License Plate Lookup: Quick Facts
| Agency | Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) — Bureau of Motor Vehicles |
| Issuance year | 1906 |
| Current format | ABC-1234 — Standard passenger plates use three letters, a dash, and four digits on the gold and dark blue Pennsylvania design. |
| Plates required | One (rear only) |
| Replacement fee | $13 |
| Registration validity | 1 year |
| Registered vehicles | 10.4M (approx.) |
| DMV contact | 1-717-412-5300 · www.dmv.pa.gov |
How do I look up a Pennsylvania license plate?
Three steps to a complete pa license plate lookup. The PA license plate lookup workflow below works for any Pennsylvania-registered plate.
- 1Enter the Pennsylvania license plate number in the search field above. Spaces and dashes are optional.
- 2Confirm PA is selected in the state dropdown — plate numbers can repeat across states, so the state is required for accurate matching.
- 3Press Search Plate. You'll see make, model, year, trim, engine, open recalls, and NHTSA crash safety ratings in seconds.
What does a Pennsylvania license plate lookup reveal?
Free Pennsylvania plate searches return vehicle-level data: make, model, year, recalls, and NHTSA crash ratings. Personal information (driver name, address, contact) is protected under the DPPA and is not available here.
This Pennsylvania license plate lookup returns vehicle information only — make, model, year, recalls, and safety ratings from NHTSA's public database. We do not return the registered owner's name, address, phone number, email, driving record, or any other personal information about the driver. Personal driver and owner information is protected under the federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act of 1994 (18 U.S.C. § 2721) and is not lawfully accessible through any free public lookup.
- check_circleMake, model, year, and trim
- check_circleBody style, doors, curb weight
- check_circleEngine size, cylinders, fuel type
- check_circleTransmission and drivetrain
- check_circleOpen NHTSA safety recalls
- check_circleNHTSA crash test ratings
- check_circleEPA fuel economy (MPG)
- check_circleManufacturing plant & country
- boltTitle brand history (salvage, flood, rebuilt)
- boltReported accident history
- boltOdometer rollback detection
- boltNumber of previous owners
- boltLien and loan history
- boltAuction & insurance records
- boltState of registration history
- boltTheft / total-loss records
Registered owner name, address, contact details, and driving records are protected under the federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act (18 U.S.C. § 2721) and are not returned by this site or any other free public lookup. This tool provides vehicle-level data only — make, model, year, recalls, safety ratings, and EPA fuel economy — sourced from NHTSA and EPA public databases.
What does a Pennsylvania license plate format look like?
Standard passenger plates use three letters, a dash, and four digits on the gold and dark blue Pennsylvania design. The Pennsylvania license plate number lookup tool above accepts spaces, dashes, and historical Pennsylvania plate formats.
Pennsylvania license plate number lookup: format history
| Era | Format | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1906–1956 | Numeric | 12345 |
| 1957–1971 | Alphanumeric (county-coded) | 12A-34 |
| 1971–1977 | 3 letters + 3 digits (blue/yellow) | ABC-123 |
| 1977–1999 | 3 letters + 4 digits (yellow/blue) | ABC-1234 |
| 1999–2022 | 3 letters + 4 digits (keystone / You've Got A Friend) | ABC-1234 |
| 2023–present | Dark blue keystone refresh | ABC-1234 |
Pennsylvania license plate laws you should know
Below are the four laws that most often trip up Pennsylvania drivers. Rules are enforced at the stop, the inspection station, and at registration renewal.
Single plate state
PA is a single-plate state. Only a rear plate is issued to passenger cars under 75 Pa.C.S. §1332.
Front plate rule
There is no front plate requirement. Decorative front plates are allowed so long as they are not obstructive.
Registration stickers & display
Pennsylvania eliminated the annual registration sticker on December 31, 2016. Registration is now verified electronically — only the registration card must be carried.
Inspection / smog check
Annual safety inspection is required statewide. Emissions inspection is required in 25 PA counties for most 1975-and-newer gasoline vehicles under 9,000 lb GVWR.
Types of Pennsylvania license plates
Pennsylvania issues dozens of plate designs. These are the main categories you'll encounter on the road or see at the DMV counter.
Standard passenger
Default keystone plate on a dark blue background.
Personalized
Up to 7 characters on a standard or organization plate; $104 initial fee.
Disability plates
Wheelchair symbol plates for qualifying drivers, valid for accessible parking.
Disabled Veteran
Free for qualifying veterans with a service-connected disability.
Special fund plates
Conservation, Zoo, DARE, Save Wild Animals — fees support the cause.
Organization plates
Pro teams, universities, fraternal orders, and hundreds of approved groups.
How much does a Pennsylvania license plate cost?
Typical Pennsylvania DMV fees for plates, registration, and related services. Always confirm current amounts on the official DMV site before paying.
| Annual registration (passenger) | $45 |
| Replacement plate | $13 |
| Personalized plate | $104 (initial) |
| Title fee | $67 |
| Transfer plate to another vehicle | $11 |
| Duplicate registration card | $6 |
Source: Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) — Bureau of Motor Vehicles — https://www.dmv.pa.gov
What if my Pennsylvania plate is lost, stolen, or damaged?
Follow these steps to replace a Pennsylvania license plate. Do not keep driving with a missing plate — it is a citable offense in most states.
- 1Report stolen plates to local police and obtain a report number.
- 2Complete Form MV-44 (Application for Duplicate Registration, Replacement Plate, Decal, or Sticker).
- 3Mail the form along with the $13 replacement fee to PennDOT.
- 4If the plate was damaged, surrender the old plate with the form.
- 5New plate is mailed from PennDOT, typically within 2–3 weeks.
Pennsylvania DMV contact & privacy
Personal information tied to a Pennsylvania license plate — driver name, address, date of birth, phone number, email, and driving record — is protected by the federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act (18 U.S.C. § 2721) and is not returned by this site. This page and the lookup tool provide vehicle-level data only: make, model, year, trim, recalls, and safety ratings from NHTSA's public database.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Pennsylvania license plate lookups, DMV rules, and plate replacement.
Does Pennsylvania require a front license plate?
How do I run a Pennsylvania license plate lookup?
How much is a replacement plate in Pennsylvania?
Do I still need a PA registration sticker?
Does Pennsylvania require an inspection?
Does a Pennsylvania license plate lookup show driver or owner information?
How do I get a personalized Pennsylvania plate?
How often do I renew my Pennsylvania registration?
Beyond PA plate lookup
Have a 17-digit VIN, want recall info, or need a full title history? Use any of these free tools — same NHTSA-grade data behind each one.
The bigger picture on Pennsylvania drivers
Statewide statistics and trend reports compiled from NHTSA, FBI UCR, IIHS, and CDC data — the same sources behind every PA plate lookup result.
Car Recall Statistics (2026)
30M+ US vehicles recalled in 2025 (Ford led with 12.9M via 153 campaigns). ~1 in 4 US cars has an open recall — but only 72% ever get fixed. Ranked & explained.
Car Ownership Statistics (2026)
92% of US households own a car — 22% own three or more. The 1.83-per-household 'average' hides a bimodal split geography, not income, decides.
Electric Vehicle Statistics (2026)
6M plug-in EVs on US roads. 1.28M sold in 2025 — the first-ever YoY decline. Tesla's share fell from 79% to 44%. California alone drives 35% of the national total.
Used Car Market Statistics (2026)
38M used vehicles sold in 2025 (~$1T market) — 2.4× the new-car market by units. Prices are 46% above 2020 baseline and unlikely to fully reverse.
Car Accident Statistics (2026)
16,700 crashes a day. 6.1M a year. 94% caused by human error. Motorcycles are 24× as deadly as cars per mile.
Self-Driving Car Statistics (2026)
71M+ Waymo miles, 6M+ Tesla FSD vehicles, 88% fewer injury crashes — but 61% of Americans still afraid.
Road Rage Statistics (2026)
80% of US drivers report rage. Gun-involved incidents up 160% since 2018.
Car Crash Statistics (2026 US Data)
42,795 annual deaths broken down by state, age, gender, and cause.
Car Theft Statistics (2026)
1M+ stolen cars per year — top models, worst states, recovery rates.
Drunk Driving Statistics (2026)
13,524 annual DUI deaths, arrest rates, BAC averages, state rankings.
Distracted Driving Statistics
Texting kills 3,300+ a year — phone use multiplies crash risk by 23x.
menu_bookMore US state license plate lookups
View all 51 statesarrow_forwardPlate numbers repeat across state lines. Pick the correct state of registration for the most accurate result.