how can I lookup a number plate owner?

vector · 20-07-2004 1:49pm #1

Is it possible, for a mere civilian, to find out a cars registered owner (name & address) from a number plate?

Maybe at the appropriate county hall, there is a way of checking?

Sleipnir · 20-07-2004 1:56pm

No. Only the gardai are allowed do vehicle searches.

Krusty_Clown · 20-07-2004 2:00pm

I wouldn't think so. I would imagine that even the Gardai would need to call the Department of Environment (or have access to their databases) in order to do this.
I couldn't see this information being made publicly available.

vector · 20-07-2004 2:05pm

I'm looking at a car for sale and I want to do a HPI check like in the UK to establish if the seller is really the owner and if it has been stolen etc. is there anything like that in Ireland.

Sleipnir · 20-07-2004 2:08pm

ask in a Garda station. They obviously won't tell you who the owner actually is but they may say
"it's grand, not stolen and not reported in any crash"

HashSlinging · 20-07-2004 2:10pm

Some financial instutions have access to that list.

HelterSkelter · 20-07-2004 2:15pm

Originally posted by vector
I'm looking at a car for sale and I want to do a HPI check like in the UK to establish if the seller is really the owner and if it has been stolen etc. is there anything like that in Ireland.

Found this in the Used Car Guide on aib.ie...

Another important check for you to make is that the car isn’t still subject to an outstanding hire purchase agreement because, if it is, the car will still belong to the bank or finance company and the seller won’t have any legal right to sell it. If you phone Hire Purchase Information on (01) 260 0905 and give them the registration number, they will check out the car’s ownership for you.

http://www.aib.ie/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=AIB_PersonalPortal%2FAIB_Guide%2Faib_d_guide&c=AIB_Guide&cid=1004321421156&channel=CC

By the way, the Garda do have access to owners name & addresses. I had someone run into me before and leave the scene. I had the reg plate number and the Guards gave me the name & address (somehow I doubt this was legal!!)

FX Meister · 20-07-2004 2:17pm

Gardai can check it straight away. I was nearly knoced off my Hornet a few years ago and I went to the station to report the dude, I mixed up two numbers in the reg and they said the car type didn't match. When I ghave the correct number the correct vehicle came up and they said they would issude him with a warning.

Originally posted by Krusty_Clown
I wouldn't think so. I would imagine that even the Gardai would need to call the Department of Environment (or have access to their databases) in order to do this.
I couldn't see this information being made publicly available.

mike65 · 20-07-2004 6:34pm

I understand that in Swizerland you
can buy a car owners registry which is published every year.

If you get cut up take the drivers number and then visit his home!

It could only work in Switzerland methinks.

Mike.

seaghdhas · 20-07-2004 7:34pm

Isn't a book like that done in Japan as well?

ando · 20-07-2004 7:41pm

Last year I put a deposit down for a 2nd hand Focus in Harmonstown Ford. I got my sister to check out the reg before I bought it (she's in the garda). It turned out the car was involved in a robbery in Blanchardstown, had no tax for months and was eventually repossessed by Ford for non payments. If I didn’t have that info, I would of bought the car. I could of got the address of the original owner aswell but that would of been illegal and my sis could of got into trouble.

note, Everytime a check is made on a reg, a record is made of the check in the garda's database

PBC_1966 · 20-07-2004 7:56pm

I believe that DVLA here in the U.K. will supply details if you can provide them (in writing) with a convincing enough reason, e.g. "the driver collided with my vehicle and drove off and I need to pursue him for damages."

I've also heard about the Swiss publication that Mike mentioned Not certain, but I seem to recall hearing that in Switzerland you can also have one number / set of plates and transfer them between two or more cars at will.

secret_squirrel · 20-07-2004 7:58pm

Yea I think its one of those countries where you get your plates for life, and move them every time you buy a new car.

PBC_1966 · 20-07-2004 8:06pm

Not just a transfer when changing vehicles, but IIRC you can own two cars simultaneously and run them on one set of plates, just putting the plates on whichever car you want to take out on the road at any time.

It was several years ago, so my memory might be a bit fuzzy on that though. I seem to recall Jeremy Clarkson talking about the Swiss publication of all numbers, so I guess it must have been Top Gear.

TommyK · 21-07-2004 11:48pm

Nope, mere civilians can't readily access that information.

Only the Gardai and MTO people (duh!) can. (A Garda can walk into an MTO and get any details he asks for about either vehicles or driving licences).

It's possible to get the information if you do it through your solicitors in relation to a legal matter.

Other than that, you can't . . . good job too - too many psychos out there!

Than, and you wouldn't be able to splash pedestrians and scare Granny's off their bikes still sleep soundly at night!

Tommy.

Imposter · 22-07-2004 8:01am

Originally posted by PBC_1966
Not just a transfer when changing vehicles, but IIRC you can own two cars simultaneously and run them on one set of plates, just putting the plates on whichever car you want to take out on the road at any time.

It was several years ago, so my memory might be a bit fuzzy on that though. I seem to recall Jeremy Clarkson talking about the Swiss publication of all numbers, so I guess it must have been Top Gear.

It's similar over here in Austria. The only thing is both cars must be listed on the insurance so you end up paying the insurance for the most powerful or more expensive car. It's very common here with people who have a convertable.

The plate for life thing is also here. YOu can also get a customisable plate but that might cost you every year (I'm not really sure about that).

Another nice thing is that it's the car that's insured so anyone with a licence (no provisionals here) can drive it providing the owner gives them permission and the relevant papers.

And yet another nice thing is that the registration is done by the insurance company for you and they hand you out the plates at the time you register. The Car tax is also included in your insurance payments.

mike65 · 22-07-2004 5:31pm

Originally posted by Imposter
Another nice thing is that it's the car that's insured so anyone with a licence (no provisionals here) can drive it providing the owner gives them permission and the relevant papers.

And yet another nice thing is that the registration is done by the insurance company for you and they hand you out the plates at the time you register. The Car tax is also included in your insurance payments.

Civilisation is in, of all places Austria!

Mike.

Imposter · 22-07-2004 8:07pm

Originally posted by mike65
Civilisation is in, of all places Austria!

Well I wouldn't go that far but in terms of Roads, insurance and anything transport related I suppose it applies.:D

milltown · 22-07-2004 8:59pm

Also worth bearing in mind that the Garda database can be 6 to 12 months out of date. Wifes mother traded in her car and got a call from the Gards to say it had been in an accident months later.
When she told them she sold the car months ago they just said sorry for bothering you, never doubting that their info was poo.

Blitzkrieger · 23-07-2004 10:22pm

Originally posted by mike65

It could only work in Switzerland methinks.

.........where everybody does time in the army and has an M16. It think giving too much information to people like that could be dodgy

Victor · 25-07-2004 12:37am

Originally posted by milltown
Also worth bearing in mind that the Garda database can be 6 to 12 months out of date.

Not really. While the Garda database is behind the motortax data base, it is never more than 1-4weeks (apparently that was a gross exception).

Originally posted by milltown
Wifes mother traded in her car and got a call from the Gards to say it had been in an accident months later. When she told them she sold the car months ago they just said sorry for bothering you, never doubting that their info was poo.

Is she sure she completed the paperwork?

Cruicie · 21-09-2012 4:40pm

I know this is resurrecting an old thread but just wondering does anyone know how is there any other way to legally find the name and address of a person from a licenese plate without going to the guards?

Reason being that a young traveller ran out and hit the side of my car a month ago and now I'm being sued by the father, a well known young man known locally for various crimes and who is in and out of jail. They said everything was fine at the time i.e no injuries and headed off. However,they took my licence plate number, sourced my home address where my parents in their late 60's are living and sent a solicitors letter sueing. This guy never met me in my life and vice versa so I don't know where he found the information. On giving a statement to the local garda later that day, they asked me where he had gotten this information because they never gave it to him. In fact, even though he said to the guard that he knew nothing but my first name, the letter was posted that day to my home address.

So essentially, it appears to be entirely possible for a man with a extensive criminal record ( he's been in the papers more times than Lindsey Lohan) to find all my personal details and home address without requiring any garda assistance. He doesn't appear to be the sort of man who has friends in the department of the the Environment either.

Seems to me that his "no win no fee" solicitor might have. I'm just pretty upset about this whole situation overall but I didn't think freedom of information extended to a situation in Ireland when your average Joe can't get these details but my friend the kingpin of assault, carrying a knife, resisting arrest etc, can.

On a side note, I think i'm being completely taken for a ride here. There was no negligence on my behalf but that's another story.

TestTransmission · 21-09-2012 4:52pm

Please don't drag up old threads, feel free to start a new one.

how can I lookup a number plate owner?

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