Prospective Purchaser Inquiry (PPI)

A used vehicle can be a mystery. Has it ever been totaled and rebuilt? How about water damaged?

Before you buy, give Prospective Purchaser Inquiry (PPI) a try. You provide the vehicle's make, model and vehicle identification number (VIN), and DMV produces a PPI summary about the vehicle. The PPI summary comes from Virginia DMV records only and does not contain personal information about the vehicle's previous owners.

The fee for the service is $12 per vehicle.

Report Details

Below are details that may be available in the requested report:

  • Vehicle description including color, weight and fuel type
  • Current vehicle information, including special notes about the vehicle like water damage
  • Vehicle history
  • Vehicle sold date and state where sold
  • Disclosure statement 

Get a PPI Report

You can get a PPI report in three ways:

  • Online
  • By mail. Submit a "Request for Vehicle Information by a Prospective Purchaser" (form CRD-01) and mail it along with your payment (no cash) to:

Department of Motor Vehicles
Attention: Customer Records Work Center
P. O. Box 27412
Richmond, VA 23269

Please allow up to 15 days from the date of your request for your report to arrive by mail.