A number plate search in South Africa is a way of how to trace someone by car registration. If you are searching for the owner of a certain vehicle license plate. You can look at online or offline options. Know what the procedures are upfront. There are a few reasons as to why someone would want to search for a vehicle owners details using their number plates.
For instance when a motor vehicle accident has occurred people often panic and may fear incrimination. Or worry about having to pay out large sums of money. Because they may not have any adequate car insurance cover.
For this reason some people end up providing fake contact details. Make sure you always take down the number plate correctly. In case of fake contact numbers.
Another reason for wanting to track the owner of a vehicle with a number plate search is if you witness a serious contravention of the rules of the road.
If you spot an obviously drunk driver or see a vehicle owner behaving recklessly. Your duty as a responsible citizen in South Africa would be to take down the number plate and then to report the driver to the authorities.
Witnessing a crime or hijacking is the third reason to trace the owner of a vehicle through a number plate search.
This may also interest you: Performing a Criminal Record Check
South Africa Number Plate Checks
The South Africa Police force do their best to keep criminals and bad drivers off the roads. But it is also the responsibility of every citizen in the country to assist them in tracking down criminals.
In conducting a number plate search, there are online bodies which offer such a service. Marisit.co.za offers this service, which is quick and easy. Here you input the number plate into a search function and pay a fee through EFT or credit card.
The search then takes between 2 – 5 working days. And will return contact details for the registered owner of the vehicle.
There are also regional traffic departments which offer this service. For registered vehicles within that region only.
Number Plate Search Facility Abuse
There are some risks and safety issues with searching for owner details via number plates in South Africa. Unfortunately there are sick people in the world who would abuse this system. To find contact details of people who would not normally give out this information to these people.
However there are things you can put in place to avoid becoming a victim of this open search facility.
Firstly always put down a postal address as opposed to a physical address when registering a new vehicle in your name.
While you do usually need to give at least one phone number, try to put down an office number if at all possible. Bear in mind that you could always put your office address down as an alternative as well.
Some Good Advice Regarding Number Plate Searches
This advice is for people who have been in a vehicle accident and the other car owner drove away.
It might not be what you are looking for in your search for tracing a vehicle number plate but it’s good advice.
- Lay a charge at your local Police Station.
- Lodge a claim with your car insurance company.
- Get your vehicle fixed and let your insurance company deal with the person that caused the accident before driving away from the scene.
Going after a person that has caused an accident and fled is not going to help you. It can be dangerous and will not help matters other than give you the satisfaction of revenge. That is not worth it.
You pay car insurance. They can sort it.
This handy list of questions includes how to report a Motor Vehicle Accident at the SA Police Service: https://www.saps.gov.za/faq.php
In Conclusion
To conclude, while it is easy to find the owner of a vehicle using a license plate there are risks with this as well.
Make sure that you know how to find a number plate in a hurry should you witness a crime or be the victim of an accident. On the other hand you also need to protect your own information. Knowing that anyone can get hold of the contact details you have provided to the traffic department.