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License Plate Statistics: Nationwide Data & Research Hub

License plates are the primary means of vehicle identification in the United States. When a driver flees a crash scene, commits a crime using a vehicle, or abandons a stolen car, the license plate is almost always the first — and sometimes only — piece of evidence available to law enforcement, victims, and investigators. Understanding the scale of vehicle-related crime and the role plate identification plays in solving it has never been more important.

This hub compiles nationwide statistics on hit-and-run crashes, vehicle theft, automated license plate reader effectiveness, and state-by-state data into a single reference resource. All data is drawn from federal agencies, independent research organizations, and law enforcement sources including the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, the FBI, and the National Insurance Crime Bureau.

Each topic below links to a dedicated statistics page with full data tables, interactive charts, state-by-state breakdowns, and sourced data points. This hub is updated as new federal data becomes available.

Key statistics at a glance

682K+

Annual hit-and-run crashes

2,872

Hit-and-run fatalities in 2023

700K+

Crimes solved via ALPR annually

70%

Of all crimes involve a vehicle

1M+

Vehicles stolen in 2023

13%

Of U.S. drivers are uninsured

Statistics by topic

Select a topic below to view the full data report including tables, charts, state-by-state breakdowns, and sourced statistics.

Available now

Hit-and-run statistics

Nationwide hit-and-run crash data including annual fatality trends, state-by-state rates, contributing factors, and the role license plate lookup plays in driver identification.

Key stat: Fatal hit-and-runs increased 89% over 10 years

View full report

Coming soon

Vehicle theft statistics

Annual vehicle theft rates by state, most stolen vehicle makes and models, recovery rates, and the financial impact of auto theft on American drivers and insurers.

Key stat: Over $8 billion in vehicles stolen annually

Coming soon

License plate lookup laws by state

A comprehensive state-by-state breakdown of license plate lookup regulations, DPPA exemptions, permissible purposes, and penalties for unauthorized access to motor vehicle records.

Key stat: DPPA violations carry up to $2,500 per offense

Coming soon

Stolen vehicle recovery rates

Data on stolen vehicle recovery rates by state, recovery method, vehicle type, and timeframe — including the impact of ALPR technology and GPS tracking on recovery outcomes.

Key stat: ALPR-assisted recovery takes hours vs. days

Coming soon

License plate reader crime data

Comprehensive ALPR effectiveness data including crimes solved by category, deployment rates by state, hit rates, privacy considerations, and coverage gap analysis.

Key stat: 700,000+ crimes solved via ALPR annually

Coming soon

Why license plate data matters

Every 43 seconds a hit-and-run crash occurs somewhere in the United States. Every 32 seconds a vehicle is stolen. In the overwhelming majority of these incidents the license plate is the single most important piece of identifying information available — and yet millions of victims each year are unable to access the registered owner data tied to that plate number due to privacy restrictions, slow law enforcement response times, or simply not knowing where to look.

The data compiled across this hub tells a consistent story: vehicle-related crime is pervasive, plate identification is the most reliable investigative tool available, and the gap between law enforcement ALPR coverage and civilian access to lookup services leaves a significant portion of victims without recourse.

Understanding this data is the first step. Taking action is the second. If you have a license plate number from a hit-and-run, a suspicious vehicle, or any vehicle-related incident, an instant license plate lookup can return registered owner data within minutes — legally and compliantly under DPPA permissible purpose guidelines.

Who uses this data

The statistics compiled across this hub are used by a range of professionals and individuals navigating vehicle-related incidents and investigations:

Hit-and-run victims use this data to understand their legal options, identify the scope of the problem, and learn how license plate lookup can help identify a fleeing driver. The hit-and-run statistics report is the most relevant starting point.

Personal injury attorneys and insurance adjusters reference this data when building cases involving unidentified drivers, uninsured motorists, and vehicle-related liability claims. The state-by-state penalty tables and DPPA compliance information are particularly relevant for legal professionals.

Researchers and journalists use this hub as a consolidated reference for vehicle crime statistics drawn from primary federal sources. All data points are linked inline to their original source publications for verification and citation.

Law enforcement and investigators reference ALPR effectiveness data and state coverage gap analysis when evaluating plate reader deployment and civilian lookup options for active investigations.

Data sources

All statistics published across this hub are drawn from the following primary sources:

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Conducted legally under DPPA permissible purpose guidelines