In the market for a used car? Careful! Before you close the deal on that online ad. If it’s too good to be true, you’ve got some checking to do. Here’s how to check if a car is stolen.
National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) reported a 16.5% increase in nationwide auto theft in their stolen database last year. The stats for top cities are worse. For example, New York is looking at a 286% increase in 2021 compared to 2019. The FBI pegs the losses due to motor vehicle theft at $7.4 billion! If you are interested, the Ford full-size pickup truck is the most stolen vehicle in the country, followed by the Chevrolet full-size pickup.
So, where do these stolen cars go? Thieves are getting extra creative these days, whether stealing a car or later reselling it. So, keeping an eye out for shady deals is a bigger challenge than you think. Here’s how to save yourself from trouble.
No Title? Be Careful
Can you buy a car without a title? It is illegal in most states, but most people get away with it. ‘No Title’ is a big red flag, and the term ‘scam’ should be at the back of your mind while dealing with it. However, sometimes it is a genuine case of a lost or missing title. It’s best if you don’t try to replace it yourself – ask the seller to do it before finalizing the deal.
Not happening? The seller’s got a stellar story, but it doesn’t quite add up. Either walk away, or if you really… really want that car, it’s time to confirm if it is not a stolen vehicle.
Step 1: Check the VIN
Every car has a 17-character VIN (Vehicle Identification Number). It’s like your car’s social security number. It is also a stolen car lookup entity. So, if you need to track down a stolen vehicle, a simple VIN check will get the ball rolling. The NICB has a VIN database of stolen vehicles that it maintains with the help of law enforcement and insurance companies. NICB’s VINCheck is a public, free national stolen vehicle lookup service that can help you find out if a car may have a record of an insurance theft claim.
The NICB VINCheck is a free online service. You can perform up to five searches per IP address within 24 hours. But first, you’ll need the VIN. Don’t take the seller’s word for it if you have even the slightest doubt that you are dealing with a stolen car. Look for the VIN on the car while you or your mechanic inspects it. A stolen VIN check can provide a conclusion to all your mounting worries.
Where to look for the VIN on a car
Most cars have the VIN label at one of these places:
- In front of the engine block
- Near the windshield washer fluid container, in front of the car frame
- In front of the steering wheel, on the lower left corner of the dashboard
- Inside the doorjamb on the driver’s side
- In the rear wheel well, which is directly above the tire
- Under the spare tire
How Do I Check If a Car Is Stolen – VIN Checklist
Make sure the VIN label on the car is not tampered with:
- The label must not have any loose corners and must be fastened securely.
- VIN label must not have any scratches, tears, or other marks that indicate tampering
- Screws or plugs on the VIN label might imply the seller is trying to hide the number.
- Run your fingers over the label to make sure it is smooth
If the seller shares the car’s service records with you, make sure the VIN on the car matches the VIN on these records. Again, the seller may tamper with the service record, too. For about $100, you can order a copy of the service records through any online vehicle history service. This is a reliable way to check if my vehicle has been stolen and sold.
How to check if a car is stolen using the VIN
Log on to the NICB website, and navigate to the ‘Search VINCheck’ page. Enter the VIN into the space provided; you can also update a photo of the label. Click on ‘Search VIN,’ and you are in. This is a public stolen car database maintained by NICB.
How to check if a car is stolen by its license plate
You can get information on a vehicle’s license plate by requesting a search from your local DMV or police department.
Ask for Your Insurance Provider’s Help
Insurance companies have their own database of vehicles with previous theft records and other red flags. You can ask them to analyze a car’s title and check for possible clones. Car cloning is an illegal practice where thieves remove the VIN from a car and replace it with another label, often from another stolen car.
Head to the DMV
If you are looking for an answer to ‘How to check if a car is stolen for free,’ stop at the online VINCheck on the NICB website. But you can always be thorough with a trip to the DMV and submit the VIN for the report. This will take some time, but the report will list the vehicle’s complete history and rule out all possible issues. Make sure to check whether the information on the title matches the information the seller provides. This won’t be much of a trouble since they maintain the stolen vehicle registry.
While it is mostly safe to buy used cars online, you need to be a bit more alert when checking the details. Instead of making a hasty decision based on what you imagine is a sweet deal, take your time to check through all possible issues that could land you in trouble. An official stolen car lookup report fetched from the police stolen vehicle database can always come to your rescue.
More Points to Know
What happens if the VIN check reveals that the car is stolen?
After finding the VIN switch, the car you paid for will be taken away. And given back to the owner or the insurance company if a claim for theft has already been paid. VIN check is the easiest stolen car lookup to date. The DMV stolen vehicle check can reassure the case.
Are there any other ways to check if the car is stolen besides the NICB VINCheck?
Aside from a stolen car VIN lookup, you can resort to these steps: Check the car’s VIN with the right government office or the motor vehicle bureau in your state. Check the vehicle’s title. Look at the history of ownership for any new or recently released car that doesn’t have a lien holder (i.e., no open car loans; the seller says the car is “paid off”).
What should I do if the seller refuses to provide the car’s title?
If the seller refuses, the buyer can sue in court for breach of contract. The bill of sale can act as proof in court. The court can tell the seller to give the title to the new owner. If the seller says no, the court can find them in contempt of court.
Renée Martin is a travel and car expert who focuses on road and air travel in the U.S. For the past 6 years, she’s been helping make driving and trip planning easier and budget-friendly for everyday travelers.
