Download Article
Download Article
Thousands of cars are stolen each year, often with the intent of turning around and selling them. If you’re in the market for a used car, then perform a VIN check to see if the car has been stolen. You should also call your insurance company and carefully analyze the vehicle’s title and service history. There are also many red flags that you might be buying a stolen car, which you should be aware of.
Steps
-
Find the vehicle identification number (VIN). Every car has a VIN, which you should check so that you can perform a search. The VIN is made up of 17 characters and is like the car’s Social Security Number. Don’t just accept whatever VIN the seller gives you. Instead, thoroughly inspect the vehicle yourself to find the VIN. [1] X Research source You can find the VIN in the following places: [2] X Research source
- bottom-left hand side of the windshield
- lower-left corner of the dashboard in front of the steering wheel
- where the hood latch mounts to the top of the hood
- inside the driver-side doorjamb
- in the rear wheel well directly above the tire
- in the front of the car frame, near the container that holds windshield washer fluid
- the front of the engine block
- underneath the spare tire
-
Check that the VIN hasn’t been tampered with. [3] X Research source The entire VIN label should be securely fastened to the vehicle without any loose corners. Also check for scratches, tears, or gouge marks.
- Also run your fingers over the VIN label. It should be smooth to the touch. If it is scratchy, then it may have been tampered with.
- The VIN label should not be obscured with a screw or plug. If so, the owner might be trying to hide the VIN.
Advertisement -
Search the VINCheck website. The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) has a VINCheck database which collects the VINs for vehicles reported as stolen. [4] X Research source Enter the VIN at the NICB website. You can perform five searches within 24 hours.
-
Report fraud. If the vehicle has been stolen, call the police and report the vehicle. In the U.S., you should call the NICB at 800-835-6422 or submit an anonymous tip to TIP411. [5] X Research source
- You can also call your local police. Share as many details about the seller as you can: name, address, and appearance.
Advertisement
-
Contact your insurer. Your insurer has their own database which you can ask them to check for possible clones. [6] X Research source Car cloning occurs when the thief pries the VIN plate off the stolen car and replaces it with a different one. The new VIN is often stolen from another car. [7] X Research source
-
Perform a title search. [8] X Research source You can perform a title search by contacting your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or an equivalent office and provide the car’s VIN. The report should list whether the car was ever salvaged or declared as a total loss by an insurance company. [9] X Research source
- It costs money to run a title search, so contact the DMV ahead of time to check the price and acceptable methods of payment.
- Make sure the seller’s information matches the information on the title. [10] X Research source If there’s a discrepancy, then the car was probably stolen.
-
Ask your mechanic to inspect the vehicle. Your mechanic might be able to spot that the VIN has been tampered with. [11] X Research source Furthermore, your mechanic can check the overall condition of the car so that you aren’t buying a clunker. Don’t buy a used car without having your mechanic look at it.
-
Review the car’s service records. The car’s VIN should also appear on service records, which the owner might share with you. Make sure the VIN on the service records matches the VIN on the car. If not, then the car has probably been stolen.
- Of course, the car’s owner might fudge service records to hide the fact that the car has been stolen. Accordingly, you might want to order your own copy of the service records through Carfax or AutoCheck for under $100. You’ll need the VIN. [12] X Research source When you get the reports, compare the description of the car in the service reports with the car you want to buy.
Advertisement
-
Proceed cautiously if the seller uses a cell phone. Thieves move around a lot, so they prefer to do business using a cell phone. They also probably don’t have a fixed address, either. [13] X Research source When you go to look at the car, ask the seller where they live and work. If they hesitate, then you may be buying a stolen car.
-
Be careful of cars advertised online or in the newspaper. [14] X Research source Although many legitimate sales occur this way, most stolen vehicles are also advertised online or in the newspaper. It’s always better to buy from a reputable dealer or from someone you know personally.
- Check a dealer’s reputation at the Better Business Bureau website.
-
Demand a bill of sale. You want some sort of document that establishes you bought the car. If the seller hesitates to give this to you, then you should walk away. Typically, you’ll want a bill of sale, which should include the following information: [15] X Research source
- car’s make, model, and year
- VIN
- seller’s name and address
- your name and address
- amount of the sale
- seller’s signature and date
-
Be wary of any deal that is too good to be true. [16] X Research source If you’re shocked at what a great deal you’re getting, then chances are something is amiss. Ask questions about why the seller is trying to sell the vehicle so cheaply. If the story doesn’t add up, then walk away.
Advertisement
Community Q&A
Search
-
QuestionCan I find out if a car is stolen by the license plate number?Community AnswerYes. You can go to your local DMV or police station, and have them run the license plate numbers through their system.
-
QuestionWhat happens if you can't find the VIN number?Community AnswerThe VIN number of a car is usually located on the bottom-section of the windscreen, near the wipers, or in the gap between the driver-side door and the frame of the car. Take it to your mechanic if you cannot locate it yourself.
-
QuestionCan I check on the internet with just the plate info? Beautiful expensive car has been in my apartment parking lot for over a month, hasn’t moved and has out-of-state plates.Community AnswerYes you could use cartaxcheck.com to see the state of the car. If this does not give the right info, search up a free car check in any search engine. Or, contact the police.
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement
Video
Tips
Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Name
Please provide your name and last initial
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
References
- ↑ http://www.dmv.org/vehicle-history/vin-fraud.php
- ↑ http://www.dmv.org/vehicle-history/find-vin.php
- ↑ http://www.txdmv.gov/how-do-i-motorists/avoid-buying-a-stolen-vehicle
- ↑ https://www.nicb.org/theft_and_fraud_awareness/vincheck
- ↑ http://www.dmv.org/vehicle-history/vin-fraud.php
- ↑ http://www.dmv.org/vehicle-history/vin-fraud.php
- ↑ http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/People-Sell-Stolen-Cars-Through-Car-Cloning-Detectives-379743191.html
- ↑ http://www.dmv.org/vehicle-history/vin-fraud.php
- ↑ http://www.txdmv.gov/motorists/buying-or-selling-a-vehicle/title-check-look-before-you-buy
- ↑ https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170328005175/en/GEICO-Consumer-Fraud-Alert-5-Tips-Car
- ↑ https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170328005175/en/GEICO-Consumer-Fraud-Alert-5-Tips-Car
- ↑ https://www.edmunds.com/car-buying/which-vehicle-history-report-is-right-for-you.html
- ↑ http://www.txdmv.gov/how-do-i-motorists/avoid-buying-a-stolen-vehicle
- ↑ https://www.nicb.org/newsroom/news-releases/stolen-vehicle-clones
- ↑ http://www.dmv.org/images/bill-of-sale.pdf
- ↑ http://www.txdmv.gov/how-do-i-motorists/avoid-buying-a-stolen-vehicle
About This Article
Article Summary
X
To check if a car is stolen, look for the vehicle identification number (VIN), which will be located near the dashboard in front of the steering wheel, on the inside of the driver-side door, in the rear wheel well above the tire, or somewhere else on the car. Once you've located the VIN and checked to make sure it hasn't been tampered with, look it up using the National Crime Insurance Bureau's VINCheck database, which will tell you whether or not the car has been reported as stolen. To learn how to recognize red flags when buying a used car, scroll down!
Did this summary help you?
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 210,156 times.
Advertisement
