Vehicle Asset Search: Find Cars, Boats, and Other Vehicles
Identify vehicles owned by judgment debtors, divorcing spouses, or investigation subjects. Vehicle registration records reveal cars, motorcycles, boats, and more.
🚗 Vehicles Are Trackable Assets
Every registered vehicle has an owner on file with state DMV. Vehicle searches identify what someone drives—valuable for judgment collection, asset investigations, and person location.
Vehicles are often the second most valuable asset people own after real estate. Unlike cash, vehicles must be registered and titled, creating records that can be searched. For judgment creditors, vehicles represent potential collection targets. For investigators, vehicle information helps locate people and understand their financial situation.
📑 Table of Contents
📋 What Vehicle Searches Reveal
💡 Vehicle Search Results Include
Vehicle description: Year, make, model, and color.
VIN: Vehicle Identification Number for positive identification.
Registration state: Where the vehicle is currently registered.
Title type: Clear, salvage, rebuilt, etc.
Lien status: Whether a lender has a security interest.
Registration address: Address associated with vehicle registration.
🚗 Types of Vehicles Found
Vehicle asset searches can identify various registered vehicles:
💼 Common Use Cases
Judgment Collection
Vehicles can be levied and sold to satisfy judgments. Vehicle searches identify potential targets. However, consider lien status and equity—a financed car with negative equity isn’t worth pursuing. Learn more in our judgment collection guide.
Skip Tracing & Location
Vehicle registration addresses often provide current location information. The registration address may be more current than credit bureau data. Additionally, knowing what car someone drives helps process servers and investigators confirm identity.
Divorce Asset Discovery
Identify all vehicles owned by a spouse, including those hidden or registered at different addresses. Vehicles are marital property subject to division. See our hidden assets in divorce guide.
Insurance & Accident Investigation
Identify vehicles registered to parties in accidents. Confirm ownership for insurance purposes. Support subrogation claims.
⚖️ Vehicle Collection Considerations
Before pursuing vehicle levy, consider these factors:
Liens: If the debtor owes more on the vehicle than it’s worth, there’s no equity to collect. Financed vehicles often have little or no equity.
Exemptions: Most states protect some vehicle value from creditors. A debtor may be able to claim an exemption protecting all or part of their vehicle’s value.
Practical challenges: Vehicles must be located, seized by sheriff, stored, and sold at auction. This costs money and takes time. Auctioneers don’t maximize prices.
Alternative leverage: Sometimes the threat of vehicle levy encourages payment without actually going through the process. The debtor may pay to avoid losing their car.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Our vehicle searches cover all 50 states. People sometimes register vehicles in states where they don’t live—a nationwide search catches these.
Vehicles can be registered to individuals, businesses, or trusts. We search for vehicles connected to the subject through various ownership structures. Business vehicles may require additional searching if the business name isn’t known.
Registration information is as current as state DMV databases, which update when vehicles are registered or transferred. Recent transactions may not yet be reflected.
Leased vehicles typically show the lessor (leasing company) as owner, though the lessee may appear in registration records. Leased vehicles aren’t owned by the subject and can’t be levied.
📞 Need a Vehicle Search?
Nationwide vehicle asset searches for judgment collection, investigation, and asset discovery.
