4 Ways to Search for Vehicles in InfoX
InfoX gives you four different ways to search for vehicle information, each optimized for different situations and data sources. Understanding when to use each method makes your vehicle research faster and more effective.
The Four Search Methods
1. License Plate (Registration Number)
Format: AB12345 (2 letters + 5 digits)
This is the most common and fastest search method. Simply type the Norwegian registration number into the search field—InfoX automatically formats it as you type, so you don't need to worry about spaces or capitalization.
When to use:
- You have the license plate visible (in person, photo, or document)
- You're doing quick lookups at auctions or dealer lots
- You're researching vehicles from advertisements
- You want the fastest possible search
Best for: Daily operations, quick checks, mobile scanning
Example: Searching "EL12345" returns complete information about that specific vehicle in seconds.
Mobile bonus: Use the OCR scanner to point your camera at the plate instead of typing.
2. Chassis Number (VIN)
Format: 17-character Vehicle Identification Number (international standard)
The chassis number (also called VIN - Vehicle Identification Number) is unique worldwide and never changes, even if the vehicle is re-registered, sold internationally, or gets a new license plate.
When to use:
- You're tracking a vehicle internationally
- The vehicle has been re-registered with a new plate
- You have technical documents (service records, insurance papers) that list the VIN
- You need to verify a vehicle's history across multiple registrations
Best for: International tracking, historical research, technical verification
Example: A 17-character VIN search returns the vehicle's complete Norwegian registration history, current status, and all associated license plates—past and present.
Why it matters: License plates can change, but chassis numbers don't. If you're tracking a vehicle's complete lifetime, the VIN is your anchor.
3. Organization Number
Format: 9 digits (Norwegian business ID)
Want to see all vehicles registered to a specific company? Search by organization number to view an entire fleet in one result.
When to use:
- Fleet management (viewing all company vehicles)
- Supplier vetting (checking a business partner's vehicle assets)
- Company research (understanding fleet size and composition)
- Competitive intelligence (seeing what vehicles competitors operate)
Best for: Business intelligence, fleet overviews, vendor due diligence
Example: Searching organization number 123456789 shows all vehicles owned by that business—perfect for fleet overviews, asset verification, or supplier research.
Integration tip: When you search a vehicle and see it's company-owned, click through to the full company profile. Then use the organization number to see their entire fleet—seamlessly moving from single vehicle to complete portfolio.
4. Person Number (Birth Number + Last Name)
Format: 11-digit birth number + owner's last name
Privacy Note: This search method requires proper authorization and is subject to strict privacy controls. Person numbers are never visible in shareable URLs, and access is logged for compliance.
When to use:
- Owner verification in authorized investigations
- Legal proceedings requiring ownership confirmation
- Authorized due diligence processes
- Compliance-checked business operations
Best for: Authorized investigations, legal verification, compliance-controlled research
Privacy protections:
- Requires proper authorization level in your InfoX account
- Never appears in shareable URLs
- All searches are logged for audit trails
- Results are privacy-protected
Example: An authorized user searching a birth number + last name sees all vehicles registered to that person, but the search terms never leak into URLs or shared links.
Choosing the Right Method
Quick Reference Guide
| Your Situation | Best Method | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Checking a car at an auction | License Plate (with OCR) | Fastest, visible on vehicle |
| Tracking an imported vehicle | Chassis Number (VIN) | Persists across registrations |
| Reviewing a company's fleet | Organization Number | Shows all company vehicles |
| Verifying ownership (authorized) | Person Number | Official ownership records |
| Researching from an advertisement | License Plate | Most commonly listed |
| Service department lookup | Chassis Number or Plate | Either works; VIN is in documents |
| Fleet manager portfolio review | Organization Number | Complete fleet overview |
Real-World Scenarios
Scenario 1: The Auction Researcher
Situation: You're viewing 50 vehicles at an auction. Each has a license plate visible.
Best method: License Plate with mobile OCR scanner
Why: Point and scan each plate in seconds. Typing would take too long; chassis numbers aren't visible; you don't have owner information.
Scenario 2: The International Vehicle Tracker
Situation: You're tracking a vehicle that was sold, exported to Norway, and re-registered with a new Norwegian plate.
Best method: Chassis Number (VIN)
Why: The VIN stays the same across borders and registrations. The license plate changed, so searching by plate wouldn't show historical records.
Scenario 3: The Fleet Manager
Situation: You manage 200 company vehicles and need to check inspection dates, loan status, and specifications.
Best method: Organization Number
Why: One search shows all 200 vehicles. You can review inspection schedules, identify vehicles with outstanding loans, and export the complete list for reporting.
Scenario 4: The Due Diligence Investigator
Situation: You're vetting a new supplier and need to verify their fleet composition and vehicle ownership.
Best method: Organization Number (for fleet), then Chassis Number or License Plate for individual vehicles
Why: Organization search shows the big picture (how many vehicles, what types). Then drill down into specific vehicles to check loans, specifications, or ownership dates.
Combining Methods for Complete Research
The most powerful approach combines multiple search methods:
Example: Complete Vehicle Due Diligence
- Start with License Plate (visible, fastest)
- Note the chassis number from results
- Search by Chassis Number to see full registration history
- If company-owned, click through to company profile
- Search that Organization Number to see their entire fleet
- Cross-reference findings across all methods
Each search method reveals different dimensions of the data. License plates give speed, chassis numbers give history, organization numbers give context, and person numbers (when authorized) give ownership verification.
Search Tips and Best Practices
License Plate Searches
- Let InfoX format: Just type—the system handles spacing and capitalization
- Use OCR on mobile: 10x faster than typing when checking multiple vehicles
- Save to history: Your last 10 searches are saved for quick re-access
Chassis Number Searches
- Copy carefully: 17-character VINs are easy to mistype
- Check the result: Confirm the returned license plate matches your expectations
- Use for records: VIN searches are ideal for permanent documentation
Organization Number Searches
- Export results: When viewing a fleet, use CSV export for reporting
- Set up monitoring: Use Datawash to monitor fleet changes automatically
- Cross-reference companies: Organization numbers link vehicles to business data
Person Number Searches
- Verify authorization: Ensure you're authorized before attempting
- Never share URLs: Person-based search URLs are automatically privacy-protected
- Document compliance: These searches are logged; maintain proper documentation
Integration Across InfoX
Each search method integrates seamlessly with other InfoX features:
- Vehicle → Company: Click company names to see full business profiles
- Vehicle → Tasks: Add any vehicle to your Kanban task board
- Vehicle → Phone Lookup: Click phone numbers to search contacts
- Company → Fleet: Organization searches show all company vehicles
- All Methods → Export: Export results to CSV for external use
Getting Started
Ready to search vehicles using any method?
- Log in to InfoX
- Navigate to Vehicle Lookup
- Choose your search method based on what information you have
- Enter your search term (plate, chassis, org number, or person)
- View comprehensive results instantly
On mobile? Try the license plate OCR scanner for the fastest possible workflow.
Conclusion
Different situations demand different search methods. License plates work for quick daily lookups, chassis numbers track vehicles across borders and time, organization numbers reveal entire fleets, and person numbers (when authorized) verify ownership.
Master all four methods and you'll always have the right tool for your vehicle research needs.
Search any vehicle, any way, anytime.