General Chat
Q:
Is there any way to find a person's name by their license plate number? There was this 280zx for sale in Marshall, Michigan, with a number in the window obviously. I didnt try to call it until today, but it turns out that this number was a cell phone number and it is now being used by some other people in no relation to the seller. What doesnt make sense to me about that is that he has a factory up for lease with that same number posted but obviously nobody would be able to reach him. I would like to get a hold of this guy somehow, but I have no number. In the pictures I took of the car, I got his plate number, so I thought perhaps there may be a way to get it that way? It's really creepy to go all P.I. on this stuff but I still want to get a hold of this guy.
1976 280Z
Draw-Through Turbo, 10 PSI, 4 Bbl Holley, E88, L28 (Flat), 10:1 CR, 5 Spd
1974 Corvette Stingray:
350, 400 Automatic, T-Tops, 8.5:1 CR, 78,000 Miles
1994 Acura Integra:
1.8L, 5 Spd, 189,000 and Counting!
A:
DMV maybe...
"The Z's disease won't make anything turn black, wither, and fall off, nor turn cancerous." - Tony D
"Take it to a track where BOTH drivers mean business or it's just one sided mechanical masterbation." - Hybrid77z
A:
Due to modern privacy laws and statutes, virtually no state will release ownership information to an outside party. This is of course a good thing for every owner, particularly the ladies, who often got stalked in the old days via this information, but it does make it very hard to track a car if you are not the legit owner. And, if you are the legit owner, you don't need the information.
I have been trying to trace the ownership trail for my 57 Chev, but the only help WA state will offer is the dates of title transfer (which is what CarFax does), and they will also drop mail your blind requests if you send them the blank stamped envelopes to all owners of record in WA state.
If you search Google though, you will discover some "services" or "agents" who offer to run searches for any VIN or any tag number. The cost of course could be high, since they will charge hourly or by the page for their effort, just as your neighborhood gumshoe Guy Noir does.
Best bet is to try to find the car again, or someone who is familiar with it and knows the owner. Have you checked the local Z shop to see if he services it there?
Good Luck!
It's Crackers to slip a Rozzer the Dropsy In Snide - MAD magazine, 1956
90 Nissan 300ZX NA, Pearl Gold
89 Saab 900 Turbo SPG, Black
57 Chevrolet Bel Air hdtp, Onyx Black
Dave of Everett, Washington, USA
A:
Yep, even if the state’s DMV knows who the owner is, they're not going to divulge the information to you. Law enforcement agencies can look up a car owner’s identity but not you as an individual.
The factory for lease might be your best bet to locate the car’s owner. If the car owner and factory owner is the same person, then you could send a letter to the factory’s address using “Owner” as the addressee and hope that it somehow gets forwarded and reaches him. Also, the factory might be listed with a realtor. Is there a realty firm listed on the “For Lease” sign? If so, call them.