Can you look up a licence plate in Ontario?

You can't look up who owns a car from its plate for free in Ontario. Owners' names and addresses are protected by provincial privacy law. Here's what you can do.

Order a certified plate search from the MTO

The Ministry of Transportation sells a certified plate search for $18. It shows the most recent registered owner's name, the vehicle description and the registration status, but no address. It's meant for legal uses, like a court case or an insurance claim.

Buy a used vehicle information package

If you're buying a used car, ServiceOntario's Used Vehicle Information Package (UVIP) shows the vehicle's ownership history in Ontario and any liens. The seller usually has to give it to you.

Check a plate's driving history on BadDriver.ca

BadDriver.ca won't tell you who owns a car. It shows dashcam reports other drivers have posted about a plate. Type a plate and results show up as you type, including plates that look alike, like D, O and 0, or 5 and S. That helps when a plate in a video is hard to read.

Reports are unverified claims from anonymous users. Use them to stay alert, and never to confront a driver. If someone is driving dangerously, see how to report dangerous driving in Ontario.