LookupAPlate Logo

Searching for a Minnesota license plate is something you may need to do for various reasons, and it’s something you rarely do often. So it can be tricky and overwhelming to navigate and find the correct information to get started. To help make it easier, we’ve put together this comprehensive guide highlighting the regulations pertaining to vehicle records searches and your options for accessing them in the state of Minnesota.

License plate search Minnesota

Rules & Regulations

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety - Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) maintains the records of all registered vehicles in the state. However, Minnesota adheres to Federal privacy laws DPPA (Driver’s Privacy Protection Act), which restricts who can access the information and what data can be shared. Only authorized individuals, such as law enforcement, businesses with a valid purpose, and owners of the vehicles themselves, can access vehicle records.

Search Options

There are three ways to conduct a Minnesota (MN) license plate.

1) Minnesota Department of Public Safety

As already mentioned, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DVS) is the official keeper of vehicle records in the state. To request a vehicle record, you need to fill DVS request form and mail it to the following address:

Driver and Vehicle Services Records
Unit 445 Minnesota, St., Suite 161
St. Paul, MN 55101-5161

You can read more about the records request procedure here. Only the vehicle’s owner, legal representative or law enforcement agency can request vehicle records.

2) Online Databases

If you don’t meet the DVS requirements, you can try searching for one of the many online databases. Such services usually have access to public, private and proprietary databases. There is no guarantee that you will find the desired information, but all it takes is to enter a license plate number and a couple of clicks to see what data is available. In most cases, you can expect to find technical specs of the vehicle, VIN, service history, odometer history, recall-related information and ownership history (only for DPPA-compliant reasons).

Most services aren’t free, and you can expect to pay anywhere from $2 to $25 for the search. Feel free to use our service if you’re after a free option. LookupAPlate.com allows you to search for any license plate in Minnesota and the rest of the US states for free. You can view vehicle specs, recall history and technical parameters. You can also request a comprehensive report from our partner data vendor.

3) Private Investigator (PI)

Hiring a private investigator is the way to go if you want a foolproof way to conduct a license plate search. Although it’s a more expensive option, a PI is authorized to run license plates in Minnesota and you can expect to get quick and up-to-date information.

Do note that the PI also require a valid reason or cause to run the search and you may need to provide valid proof for such a request. Typically PI’s charge $100 to $700 for a license plate search in Minnesota.

How to identify a Minnesota license plate

Minnesota license plate sample

Identifying a Minnesota license plate is easy if you know what to look for. The plate has a white background with a graphic of a lake at the top. The state’s name is also printed on the plate. The letters and numbers on Minnesota license plates follow a certain format.

The top of the plate has “Explore Minnesota” printed in the dark blue against a blue and green background, while the bottom has the text “10,000 lakes” in dark blue against a blue background. The center of the plate features a solid map of Minnesota. The license number is screen printed in black at the center. The month of expiration tab is shown on the lower left part of the plate, while the year of expiration is displayed on the lower right.

In Minnesota, the vehicle license number is six characters long and is made up of both letters and numbers. The first three characters are letters, while the last three are numbers.

Minnesota license number format: ABC 123

Minnesota license plate types:

There are a few different types of Minnesota license plates, including:

  • Standard plates
  • Specialty plates
  • Commercial plates
  • Motorcycle plates
  • Disability plates
  • Personalized plates
  • and more.

Standard plates: These are Minnesota’s general issue license plate with white and blue lettering.

Specialty plates: Specialty license plates are available for an additional fee and have different designs to show support for a cause, profession, college or organization. 

Some specialty plates have eligibility requirements that must be met.

Some specialty plates options are:

  • Amateur (HAM) Radio and Citizen Band Radio
  • Collector
  • Collegiate
  • Critical Habitat
  • Military/Veteran
  • Remembering Victims of Impaired Drivers
  • Support Our Troops
  • Volunteer Ambulance Attendant
  • Volunteer Firefighter
  • MN Golf
  • State Parks and Trails

Leave a comment about a bad driver on LookupAPlate.com.

If you encounter a bad driver or want to share any incident against a license plate in Minnesota, you can leave your comments and upload images and videos on our website. Your experience may help others to identify a bad driver and take the necessary care when driving.

All the comments are moderated, and personal information is struck out.

Recent searches
NNR183  license plate in MN
NNR183
2015 SUBARU Outback
vehicle logo
Driver merged suddenly and unsafely into the left lane, causing me to slam on my brakes to avoid ... Posted on May 14, 2025
ZAN150  license plate in MN
ZAN150
2002 HONDA CR-V
vehicle logo
Road rage: would not let cars merge when construction caused the two-lane road to merge into one ... Posted on May 14, 2025
ASX063  license plate in MN
ASX063
2013 TOYOTA PRIUS
vehicle logo
Driving very aggressively. Cutting people off, no turn signals. Incredibly dangerous, not sure wh... Posted on May 12, 2025
LCG541  license plate in MN
LCG541
2011 JEEP Grand Cherokee
vehicle logo
LCG-541 Road rage. Watch out for this car if you live in MN. Posted on May 11, 2025
LCG541  license plate in MN
LCG541
2011 JEEP Grand Cherokee
vehicle logo
LCG-541 Road rage. Watch out for this car if you live in MN. Posted on May 11, 2025
PLX727  license plate in MN
PLX727
2017 TOYOTA RAV4
vehicle logo
Toyota Rav 4 speeding recklessly through intersection. Used left-turn-only lane to pass in inters... Posted on May 9, 2025
PGL377  license plate in MN
PGL377
2017 JEEP Grand Cherokee
vehicle logo
5-8-2025 6:40 AM. She backed out of her driveway almost hitting me on my bicycle. Then she chased... Posted on May 8, 2025
JUN022  license plate in MN
JUN022
2003 CHEVROLET Suburban
vehicle logo
Bearded guy came up behind me in the middle lane going 20 over the limit. The passing lane was wi... Posted on May 7, 2025
KGR370  license plate in MN
KGR370
2013 VOLKSWAGEN Jetta
vehicle logo
The driver almost hit my car! The driver might’ve been drunk. Posted on May 7, 2025
GEB250  license plate in MN
GEB250
2021 VOLKSWAGEN Atlas
vehicle logo
While merging for two lanes, this car forced itself in with only a few inches to spare. It forced... Posted on May 6, 2025
For more license plates in Minnesota click here.