"Which car was that?" takes too long to answer
Without a plate log, teams scrub through gate or lot footage frame by frame to find one vehicle from a specific window of time.
Smart add-on
Search a plate instead of scrubbing through hours of lot video.
License plate recognition (plate reading) reads plates on vehicles passing compatible cameras at entrances, gates, and lots, then logs each read with a timestamp. When a question comes up about a specific vehicle, teams can search the plate instead of reviewing footage minute by minute.
The problem
Vehicle questions are hard to answer from raw video alone.
Repeat visitors go unnoticed
A vehicle that returns several times a week can be hard to flag manually across separate camera feeds.
Incident reports need proof, not guesses
Property managers and dealership teams often need a documented plate read, not just a description, to support a claim or report.
How it works
How License Plate Recognition works.
Compatible cameras cover the entry point
Plate reading is added to cameras positioned at gates, entrances, or lot lanes where vehicles pass at a readable angle and distance.
Plates are read and logged
Each vehicle that passes a covered camera gets a logged plate read with a timestamp, building a searchable history over time.
Teams search instead of scrub
Search a plate, a date range, or a camera to pull matching reads directly, then jump to the associated video.
Use cases
Where plate reading earns its place.
Gated properties and lots
Log every vehicle that enters or exits through a gate camera to support incident review and access questions.
- Entry and exit lane coverage
- Searchable plate history
- Faster incident lookup
Dealership inventory lots
Track vehicle movement across lots and service lanes with plate reads tied to specific cameras and times.
- Lot and lane coverage
- Service drive tracking
- Inventory movement records
Multi-site property portfolios
Search a plate across multiple covered sites instead of pulling footage location by location.
- Cross-site plate search
- Consistent read logging
- Supports claims and reports
What you get
What License Plate Recognition adds.
Searchable plate log
Every read is logged with a timestamp and camera, so teams can search by plate instead of by memory.
Faster incident documentation
Pair a plate read with the matching video clip to support reports, claims, or follow-up questions.
Works alongside Smart Motion AI
plate reading builds on the same classification foundation used across VideoSafes, so vehicle events are already being tracked.
Camera-by-camera rollout
Add plate reading to the specific entrances or lanes that need it instead of licensing every camera on a site.
Good to know
- Read accuracy depends on camera angle, distance, speed, and lighting at each covered location, and is confirmed during an online demo.
- Plate reading is an optional add-on priced per covered camera, not a default feature on every connected camera.
FAQ
Plate Reading FAQ
Common questions teams ask when evaluating Plate Reading for VideoSafes.
Which cameras can read plates?
Cameras need the right position, angle, and image quality to read plates reliably. An online demo confirms which entrances, gates, or lanes are good candidates.
Is plate reading available on every VideoSafes plan?
Plate reading is an optional add-on available where a site needs it, priced per covered camera rather than bundled into every plan by default.
Can we search by plate across multiple sites?
Yes, for sites and cameras that have plate reading turned on. Teams can search a plate or date range instead of reviewing footage location by location.
How is a plate read stored?
Each read is logged with a timestamp and the source camera, giving teams a searchable history alongside the recorded video.
Related features
Often paired with Plate Reading
Smart Motion AI
Classify motion as people, vehicles, or animals so teams can skip past irrelevant activity and review the moments that matter.
People Counting
Track how many people move through doors, floors, or zones over time to support staffing, capacity, and traffic decisions.
Activity History (Audit Logs)
Review a record of logins and video access so administrators always know who used the system and when.
Confirm which entrances are a fit for plate reading.
Share your gate, lane, or lot camera layout. We’ll confirm which locations are good spots for plate reading during an online demo.