VIN check and VIN inspection by state

Decode any VIN for free, then see what each state asks for when you bring a vehicle from another state: whether a VIN inspection is needed, who does it and which form to use.

State	Inspection for out-of-state vehicles	Agency
Alabama	Required	Alabama Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Division
Alaska	Ask the agency	Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles
Arizona	Only in some cases	Arizona Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division (MVD)
Arkansas	Ask the agency	Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, Office of Motor Vehicle
California	Required	California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
Colorado	Required	Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles
Connecticut	Required	Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles
Delaware	Required	Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles
Florida	Required	Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV)
Georgia	Required	Georgia Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Division
Hawaii	Ask the agency	County motor vehicle offices (for Oahu: City and County of Honolulu, Department of Customer Services)
Idaho	Required	Idaho Transportation Department, Division of Motor Vehicles
Illinois	Ask the agency	Illinois Secretary of State, Vehicle Services
Indiana	Required	Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV)
Iowa	Only in some cases	Iowa Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division (titles at the county treasurer)
Kansas	Required	Kansas Department of Revenue, Division of Vehicles
Kentucky	Required	Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Division of Motor Vehicle Licensing
Louisiana	Ask the agency	Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV)
Maine	Ask the agency	Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles (Secretary of State)
Maryland	Required	Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA)
Massachusetts	Required	Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV)
Michigan	Ask the agency	Michigan Secretary of State
Minnesota	Ask the agency	Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS)
Mississippi	Ask the agency	Mississippi Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle (titles at the county tax collector)
Missouri	Required	Missouri Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Bureau
Montana	Ask the agency	Montana Motor Vehicle Division (Department of Justice)
Nebraska	Required	Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles (titles at the county treasurer)
Nevada	Required	Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles
New Hampshire	Only in some cases	New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles (first registration at the town or city clerk)
New Jersey	Ask the agency	New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC)
New Mexico	Required	New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division (MVD)
New York	Required	New York State Department of Motor Vehicles
North Carolina	Ask the agency	North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV)
North Dakota	Ask the agency	North Dakota Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division
Ohio	Required	Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (titles at the county clerk of courts)
Oklahoma	Required	Service Oklahoma
Oregon	Required	Oregon Driver and Motor Vehicle Services (DMV)
Pennsylvania	Ask the agency	Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), Driver and Vehicle Services
Rhode Island	Required	Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles
South Carolina	Ask the agency	South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV)
South Dakota	Ask the agency	South Dakota Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Division (titles at the county treasurer)
Tennessee	Ask the agency	Tennessee Department of Revenue, Vehicle Services (titles at the county clerk)
Texas	Required	Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV)
Utah	Only in some cases	Utah Division of Motor Vehicles
Vermont	Required	Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles
Virginia	Ask the agency	Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles
Washington	Only in some cases	Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL)
West Virginia	Required	West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles
Wisconsin	Ask the agency	Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Division of Motor Vehicles
Wyoming	Required	Wyoming Department of Transportation (titles at the county clerk)

Written by VinGear from official state pages, checked 12 November 2026. Rules change: always confirm with the agency before you go.

VIN inspection questions

Does every state require a VIN inspection?

No. Many states inspect the VIN of every vehicle coming from another state, some only in special cases (for example salvage, rebuilt or imported vehicles), and some ask for a safety inspection instead. Open your state for details and the official source.

Is a VIN inspection the same as a vehicle history report?

No. A VIN inspection only confirms that the VIN on the vehicle matches the papers. A history report shows title brands, accidents and odometer records from databases.