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4 min read. Published October 11, 2022
Written by Kellye Guinan. Written by Personal and Business Finance contributor

Kellye Guinan is a freelance editor and writer with more than 5 years experience working in the field of personal finance. She also works full-time as a worker at her local library which she assists her local community to gain access to information on financial literacy, in addition to other topics.







Edited by Helen Wilbers Edited by

Helen Wilbers has been editing for Bankrate since late 2022. He is a fan of clear reporting that helps readers successfully land deals and make the best choices for their finances. He specializes in small and auto loans.









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With the cost of new cars hitting record highs, you might be thinking about purchasing a used car. But be careful because car theft is spiking and you shouldn't to purchase a stolen ride. In 2021 932,329 cars were reported as stolen, which is up 10.9 percent from 2020 According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB). There's also the possibility that the car you are looking to buy is a cloned vehicle. Cloning a car is when a car-thief steals the license plate and registration labels from a legitimate vehicle and then puts them on a stolen car with a similar model and model. The criminal may also use counterfeit documents to sell you a car that is hot. Be cautious when purchasing from a private seller or a dealer. If something seems off, look elsewhere. There are a lot of used vehicles available for sale. 6 steps to check whether the car you're considering buying is stolen To avoid the hassle of buying a cloned car, take these steps. 1. Check the VIN thoroughly. You can verify the information with government agencies or your state's department of motor vehicle. You can also check the vehicle's VIN via the NICB's VIN Check, which is recommended by Renee Valdes, senior advice editor at Kelley Blue Book. This free service can inform you of any insurance records of a stolen car, including a vehicle that has not yet been recovered. "Some vehicles place the VIN inside the front driver door or on the windshield and some owners may have the VIN printed on the windows or inside the engine," states Valdes. "Carmakers want to make it harder for criminals to steal VINs and create fraudulent ones." The VIN may also be stamped on the dashboard of the car. Be careful, particularly with numbers and letters that appear similar. Because the VIN must be located in multiple locations, check each to ensure that they are in line. If not, they may have been altered. 2. Buy a car history report Request a report on the history of your vehicle by using the VIN, suggests Valdes. Businesses that provide vehicle history reports include or . "These reports aren't too expensive, and they're worth it," says Valdes. Reports on the history of a vehicle include things such as Service history, title information Liens on the vehicle's history of accident and damage Previous owners But although the report will show the previous owners, it will not include the names of the owners. "If the history is up to the present it's likely that it's been well-maintained and not stolen," says Valdes. However, if there are gaps in the history or it's not up to date, that could be a sign that the vehicle has been stolen. 3. Perform a title search can search for a car's title using the . If the person trying to sell you the car isn't the person listed as the owner on the title you'll know it's a stolen car. Accessing the title of the car can help you detect any discrepancies in what the seller is saying against what's written on the title, like in the case of one and what the mileage was at the time it was last sold. 4. Ask the seller for the car's service history If the seller has you maintenance receipts There is a greater chance it is not a stolen vehicle as explained by Valdes. Check to see whether the VIN the make, model and year on the receipts match the vehicle. Review the maintenance logs with the vehicle history report and check if they are in line. "A vehicle is usually the second biggest purchase for consumers," says Valdes. "I always thought of my vehicle as if I'd be selling it one day and that means taking good care of the car and getting regular oil changes." In addition, inquire whether you are able to see the previous bill of sale when the seller first purchased the vehicle. It's not a bad idea to ask the contact information of the seller as well as what they originally purchased the car for. An honest seller should not hesitate to supply you with this information. 5. Ask your auto insurance company to inspect your car. Find out if your insurance company it is willing to examine cars for safety, and any red flags of fraudulent activity. It is still recommended to conduct the necessary due diligence but your insurance company may be able to provide additional information to confirm that your vehicle is safe and legal the legal limit. In addition, some states and insurance companies might require an inspection of your car when you . This usually happens prior to the insurance company has approved your insurance policy for autos. In most cases, it's only needed if you're buying certain kinds of insurance like . 6. Take your time if the price seems too good to be true, or the seller is overly eager to sell you the car and wants you to skip the deal, go with your gut. There are many sellers, as well as used vehicle dealerships, there are plenty of legitimate options out there. You may notice differences in what the dealer informs you about the vehicle and what you discover in your study. That's not necessarily a sign of a problem. There are many car owners who keep detailed records. If the vehicle was purchased and sold numerous times, there could be some missing information. However, if you find any irregularities with no reasonable explanation, walk away. What should you do if the vehicle you're purchasing is stolen? If you discover that the vehicle you're purchasing is missing, you must file an official police report. Give your sales receipt along with any other pertinent documents and information. If the vehicle you purchase was stolen or is a "cloned vehicle," it was never actually yours. That means that you're not the legitimate owner of the car and it is confiscated and then returned to the owner who is rightfully entitled. If a theft claim has already been issued to the insurance company, the car is returned to the insurance company. If it is not, it will be considered a loss. If you haven't purchased the car yet, walk away from the car and do not look back, suggests Valdes. When you're sure to do so, file an official police report. The most important thing to remember is that thieves are getting craftier, stay alert about potential risks and study the car thoroughly, says Valdes. This includes doing a search of the VIN or requesting a car history report and asking for additional information and documents to help you spot whether the vehicle has been stolen. "Don't let yourself be swayed from taking every precaution, even in the booming used car marketplace," says Valdes.


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Written by a Personal and Business finance contributor

Kellye Guinan is a freelance editor and writer with over 5 years experience working in the field of personal finances. She also works full-time as a worker at her local library where she helps her community access information about financial literacy, among other topics.



Edited by Helen Wilbers Edited by

Helen Wilbers has been editing for Bankrate since late 2022. He values transparent reporting that allows readers to easily land deals and make the best choices for their finances. He is a specialist in auto and small business loans.











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