Oklahoma VIN Lookup

Buying used cars in Oklahoma can be a smart way to save money while getting a reliable ride. Pre-owned cars are cheaper, with lower insurance premiums, than new vehicles. However, they may come with hidden issues such as accidents, damage, or a stolen history. With over 360 used car dealerships across the state, there is a wide range of selections when considering purchasing used cars in Oklahoma. Similarly, the average cost of purchasing used vehicles in the state is around $25,128, relatively cheaper than buying new cars.

While used cars in Oklahoma can save you money compared to new cars, buyers should understand that Oklahoma’s Lemon law does not cover pre-owned vehicles. The law primarily protects new car buyers. The lack of protection means buyers need to do their due diligence by performing thorough checks before purchasing pre-owned vehicles. Therefore, it is the buyer’s responsibility to conduct VIN lookups to uncover important vehicle details at the vehicle’s such as lien issues, salvage titles, and theft history.

Why Performing an Oklahoma VIN Check Is Important?

VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) is a unique 17-character code that serves as your car’s identification. A VIN provides detailed information about the vehicle’s history, including its make, model, and year of manufacture. Performing VIN checks is crucial to avoid purchasing a car with hidden issues. A VIN check provides you with the complete history of the vehicle, including:

• Registration and Title Details: Oklahoma Statutes, Title 47-1115, require that all motor vehicles be registered with the Oklahoma Tax Commission before being driven on public roads. Failure to register a vehicle within the stipulated period can lead to penalties, including fines and impoundment. Performing VIN checks will reveal whether the car is legally registered and titled, avoiding potential legal battles.
• Auto Fraud Prevention: Auto fraud occurs at about 179.9 incidents per 100,000 residents in Oklahoma. Ranking 33rd for auto fraud in the U.S. involves deceptive practices, such as altering title documents to hide the damage history of the vehicle. A thorough VIN check will reveal inconsistencies in the vehicle’s records, protecting you from potential scams.
• Odometer Verification: Odometer fraud occurs when someone deliberately rolls back a vehicle’s mileage to make it appear less driven than it is. According to the NHTSA, over 450,000 automobiles are sold yearly with manipulated mileage. Performing a VIN lookup can identify discrepancies in the car’s recorded history.
• Theft History: With 272 car thefts per 100,000 residents and over 10,000 reported car theft incidents annually, vehicle theft is a concern in Oklahoma. Therefore, it is crucial to perform VIN checks to see if the vehicle you are considering buying has ever been reported stolen.
• Title Brands: Title brands are labels indicating a vehicle’s status, such as salvage, rebuilt, or flood damaged, which can negatively impact its value and safety. Vehicles with these titles may be structurally damaged or unsafe to drive, requiring extensive repairs. A VIN check will tell you if the car has any of these title brands, ensuring you are informed before making a purchase decision.

How To Perform an Oklahoma VIN Check

Persons interested in performing an Oklahoma VIN check can utilize state and federal resources to access information on their vehicle’s history. These resources include:

Service Oklahoma:

Although Oklahoma does not have an online repository to perform VIN checks, intending car owners may still perform VIN checks by mailing written requests to Service Oklahoma. Include the vehicle's VIN and license plate, along with any required personal identification. Service Oklahoma provides information on the title status, registration details, and lienholder information.

The NHTSA VIN Decoder:

The NHTSA VIN Decoder permits users to conduct Oklahoma VIN checks using full or partial VINs. The tool also allows for the inclusion of the vehicle's model year to narrow the search. The NHTSA provides details on vehicle specifications, including the make, model, year of manufacture, safety recalls, and other information about the car’s build and features.

The NICB VINCheck Lookup:

The NICB VINCheck Lookup allows you to check if a vehicle has a history of theft or salvage. The tool provides information on theft status, salvage or rebuilt titles, and signs of auto fraud or tampering with the VIN.

Free vs. Paid VIN Check Services in Oklahoma

In Oklahoma, there are two main options for performing VIN checks: free services provided by government and nonprofit sites or paid premium services. Free VIN lookup tools offered by government agencies give essential details. However, they are less detailed and lack comprehensive histories of the car. Paid VIN check services offered by reputable companies like iSeeCar, GoodCar, and CarMat, provide a detailed report. These providers gather data from multiple sources, offering a complete picture of the vehicle’s history. Information typically included in these detailed reports includes:

• Vehicle information
• Title history
• Ownership records
• Registration history
• Odometer readings
• Accident history
• Lien information
• Theft records
• Title brands
• Recall information
• Service and repair history
• Market value trends
• Rebuild records
• NHTSA crash test ratings, and much more!

What Used Car Scams Are Common in Oklahoma?

Fraudulent individuals use a variety of tactics to hide a vehicle’s true history. Presently, a multi-county investigation is ongoing regarding a high-dollar car scam involving a stolen car, which was reportedly listed for sale with counterfeit VIN. The investigation began when the car’s legitimate owner discovered the same VIN being advertised on a classic car auction site. Authorities say the scam involves fraudulent VIN cloning to misrepresent the vehicle's identity and value. Here are some of the most common used car scams in Oklahoma:

Curbstoning:

Unlicensed sellers pose as private individuals on the street or online, offering cars at reduced prices without proper documentation, often leading to hidden problems and no legal remedy for the buyer.

Odometer Rollbacks:

By tampering with the odometer, fraudsters make a car’s mileage appear lower than it is, misleading buyers into paying more for a car that has been used extensively.

VIN Cloning:

In this scam, fraudulent individuals take the VIN from a legally registered vehicle and use it on a stolen or salvaged car to give it a fake, clean history.

Fake Documentation:

Here, dishonest sellers present forged titles, registration papers, or maintenance records to hide the car's condition, leading unsuspecting buyers to believe the vehicle is in better shape than it is.

Title Washing:

Scammers alter or wash the vehicle’s title records to remove negative histories like flood damage or salvage branding, making a damaged car seem like it has a clean, clear title.

Unfortunately, these scams are prevalent in Oklahoma, resulting in financial loss and sometimes legal consequences for unsuspecting buyers. Therefore, it is crucial to be cautious and take the following precautions to avoid used car scams in Oklahoma:

• If the deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
• Buy from reputable licensed dealerships or trusted individuals with a good reputation.
• Ask the seller additional questions about the car’s history.
• Do your research. Know the going price of the vehicle in your area.
• Verify all documentation. Look for inconsistencies or missing details.
• Get a reliable mechanic to examine the car before you buy it.
• Perform a thorough VIN check using trusted online resources like GoodCar to uncover a vehicle's complete history.

How Do I Check the Status of My Vehicle's Title in Oklahoma?

Checking the status of your vehicle’s title is essential to ensure that your car’s paperwork is in order. Whether you're unsure about your vehicle’s current status, need to verify lienholder information, or want to sell your car, knowing how to check your title can save you a lot of trouble. Service Oklahoma, a division of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES), allows car owners to check the status of their vehicles to ensure there are no hidden issues and that they legally own their cars.

To check the title status of your vehicle, complete the Vehicle Information Request form. The form requires the VIN, license plate, registration decal, year and make of the car, vehicle type, and title number to facilitate the search. Additionally, the vehicle owner must provide their driver’s license or state-issued ID to verify their identity.

There is a $1 fee to access current ownership lienholder information, $5 for a computer-generated title history listing ownership, lien, and registration information, and $1 for certified title history. Completed request forms may be mailed to any motor license agency or Service Oklahoma, Motor Vehicle Services at:

Service Oklahoma
PO Box 26940
Oklahoma City, OK 73126–0940

How To Register a Brand New Car in Oklahoma

When you buy a new car in Oklahoma, you need to officially title and register it before you can legally drive it. Titling means obtaining an official Certificate of Title that proves you are the legal owner of the vehicle, while registering the car involves submitting the required paperwork to receive license plates and record the car into the state’s system. Service Oklahoma is in charge of registering and titling every automobile in the state.

In Oklahoma, you generally have 60 days to register and title your vehicle without incurring penalty charges. When new cars are purchased from licensed dealers in Oklahoma, the dealer typically submits the title and registration paperwork on behalf of the buyer. The dealer handles the administrative work but may require the buyer to furnish some paperwork, such as insurance contracts.

What Are the Requirements for Registering a New Car in Oklahoma?

In Oklahoma, registering and titling your car is not only a legal requirement but an essential step in proving your ownership while ensuring the vehicle’s title is recorded accurately. With over 3.3 million vehicles registered annually, it is necessary to keep your car’s paperwork up-to-date to avoid fines and legal penalties. Generally, the requirements for titling and registering your new car in Oklahoma involve the following steps:

• Complete the Application for Oklahoma Certificate of Title for a Vehicle form.
• Manufacturer Statement of Origin (MSO)
• Proof of Oklahoma auto insurance
• Complete the Declaration of Vehicle Purchase Price form to establish the bill of sale or purchase contract
• A valid Oklahoma driver’s license or state-issued ID
• Odometer Disclosure Statement (required for vehicles manufactured from 2011)
• The registration and titling fees

Oklahoma registration and titling fees vary by vehicle age, type, and number of tires. Generally, expect to pay a registration fee of $96 and $11 for a vehicle titling fee. Additional fees include an excise tax of 3.25% for new cars, an insurance fee of $1.50, a transfer fee of $17, and $4 for VIN inspection fees. The tire tax fee varies by vehicle but typically starts around $27.50. Submit the completed application to any Driving and Auto locations of Service Oklahoma.

Oklahoma requires vehicle owners to renew their vehicle registration annually. You may renew your vehicle's registration online using the Registration Renewal portal. You will need your VIN, license plate number, valid Oklahoma insurance policy, and driver’s license to renew your vehicle's registration. The renewal fee depends on the registration year. All renewals within the first 4 years attract $96, then decrease to $86 for years 5 to 8. The fee is reduced every 4-year cycle. There is also a $1.50 insurance fee.

Does Oklahoma Mandate Vehicle Inspection?

No. Oklahoma does not mandate regular safety or emission inspections for vehicles. Oklahoma discontinued its compulsory vehicle inspection program in 2001 through House Bill 1081. The bill aimed to eliminate costly inspections that burden vehicle owners. While Oklahoma does not require regular safety inspections or emission testing, certain situations may still require vehicle inspections in Oklahoma, including:

• VIN and Odometer Verification: A VIN inspection is required when registering a vehicle to verify the vehicle’s identification number and odometer reading. This is especially true when registering out-of-state vehicles.
• Law Enforcement Inspections: If law enforcement officers have reasonable cause to believe a vehicle is unsafe or not properly equipped, they may mandate and conduct a vehicle inspection.

How Do I Get a Replacement VIN in Oklahoma?

VIN serves as a unique identifier for every vehicle, playing a crucial role in registration, ownership verification, and tracking of a vehicle’s history. There are certain instances where obtaining a replacement VIN is necessary in Oklahoma, these include:

• Damaged, Missing, or Altered VIN: Over time, a vehicle’s VIN plate may become damaged, illegible, or detached due to accidents or unauthorized modifications. In such instances, a replacement VIN is required to ensure the vehicle can be properly identified and legally registered.
• Homemade Vehicles: Vehicles constructed from scratch or assembled using various parts lack a manufacturer-assigned VIN. To register and title these homemade vehicles, the state assigns a unique VIN.
• Rebuilt or Salvaged Vehicles: Vehicles declared a total loss and later rebuilt may have their original VINs compromised. Assigning new VINs ensures that rebuilt cars meet safety standards and may be legally operated.

Service Oklahoma provides replacement VINs when the original VIN is missing, damaged, or altered. To get a replacement VIN, complete the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) Inspection Request Form. Provide necessary documents, including the Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin (MSO), to establish ownership and the vehicle’s history.

Pay the $4 fee for the physical inspection. Present the vehicle for a VIN inspection at Service Oklahoma or any licensed operator’s location. There are other fees associated with the issuance of replacement VINs. The fee varies based on vehicle type. Once approved, Service Oklahoma assigns a new VIN and attaches it to the vehicle. A certificate of title reflecting the assigned VIN is issued.

Does Oklahoma Require a VIN Inspection for Out-of-State Vehicles?

Yes. Oklahoma requires a VIN verification when registering out-of-state automobiles. The VIN inspection is necessary to confirm the vehicle’s identity and prevent fraud. VIN inspections ensure that the vehicle’s VIN matches the information on the title and registration document. The inspection is typically carried out by a licensed Oklahoma law enforcement officer or an authorized motor license agency.