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4 min read Published on October 11, 2022.
Writer: Kellye Guinan. Written by personal and Business Finance Contributor

Kellye Guinan is a freelance editor and writer with over five years of experience in personal financial matters. She's also a full-time librarian at the local library in which she assists the community access information about financial literacy, as well as other topics.







Edited by Helen Wilbers Edited by

Helen Wilbers has been editing for Bankrate from late 2022. He is a fan of transparent reporting that allows readers to easily get deals and make best decisions for their financials. He is a specialist in small business and auto loans.









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With new car prices at the record-setting levels, you may be thinking about buying a used car. But be cautious because the theft rate is increasing, and you don't want to purchase a vehicle that has been stolen. In 2021, 932,329 vehicles were reported as stolen, an increase of 10.9 percent over 2020 According to the (NICB). There is also a chance that the vehicle you're considering buying is a replica of the vehicle. Car cloning is when a car-thief steals the license plate and registration stickers from a legal vehicle and then puts them on a stolen car that is similar in make and model. The thief may also use counterfeit documents to sell you a car that is hot. Proceed with caution when buying from a private seller or a dealership. And if something feels off, look elsewhere. There are plenty of second hand automobiles available. 6 steps to find out if the car you're buying is stolen. To avoid the headache of purchasing a cloned car, follow these six steps. 1. Verify the VIN thoroughly You can check the VIN with the government agencies as well as the department of motor vehicle. You can also check the vehicle's VIN by using the NICB's VIN Check service, suggests Renee Valdes, senior advice editor at Kelley Blue Book. This service is free and will inform you of any insurance documents for a stolen car, including a vehicle that has not yet been recovered. "Some vehicles place the VIN inside the front driver entrance or the glass, and some owners may have the VIN written on the window or even inside the engine," Valdes says. Valdes. "Carmakers want to make it harder for criminals to steal VINs and create counterfeit VINs." The VIN could also be etched on the dashboard of the car. Be thorough, especially with letters and numbers that look identical. Since the VIN must be located in multiple locations, look at each one to see if they match. If they don't, they may have been tampered with. 2. Purchase a vehicle history report Get a history report for your car by using the VIN as suggested by Valdes. Companies offering car history reports include . "These aren't expensive and are worth the cost," says Valdes. Reports on the history of a vehicle include things like: Service history Title information Liens held on the vehicle's history of accident and damages Previous owners while the report will list the former owners but won't list the names of the owners. "If the history is correct to date and it's in good condition, then it's in good hands and not taken away," says Valdes. However, if there's gaps in the history or the car isn't up to the current date, it could be a sign that the vehicle has been stolen. 3. Perform a title search can search for a car's title through the . If the person trying to sell you the car doesn't match the name on the title, then you'll know that it's a stolen vehicle. Accessing the car's title can help you detect any discrepancies in what the seller has to say versus what's on the title. For instance, in the case of a and the mileage when it was last sold. 4. Ask the seller for the vehicle's service records If the seller can show the receipts for maintenance you have a better likelihood that it's not a stolen car according to Valdes. Examine the receipts to determine if the VIN, make and model on the receipts correspond to the car. Check the maintenance records against the car's history report and check if they are in line. "A car is typically a consumer's second largest purchase," says Valdes. "I always thought of my car as if I would eventually sell it and that means taking good care of the car and ensuring regular oil change." Also, you should ask whether you can see the previous bill of sale from when the seller first purchased the car. It's not too late to inquire about the seller's contact information and what they originally purchased the car for. A legitimate seller shouldn't hesitate to provide you with the information you need. 5. Request your insurance company to conduct an inspection. Find out if your insurance company it's willing to inspect cars for safety, and for any indications of fraud. It is still recommended to conduct yourself due due diligence, but your insurance company may be able to provide additional details to verify that your vehicle is safe and legal the legal limit. Furthermore, certain states and insurance companies could require an inspection of your car when you . This is usually required prior to when the insurance company is able to approve your auto insurance policy. And usually, it is only required if you are buying certain kinds of insurance like . 6. Take your time if the price is too good to be true, or the seller is incredibly keen to sell you the car and wants you to take a break and go elsewhere, follow your gut. Between other sellers as well as used vehicle dealerships, there are many genuine options available. You may notice differences in what the dealer tells you about the vehicle and what you find out through your research. That's not always a warning sign. Not every car owner keeps detailed records. If the car has been purchased and sold numerous times, there may be an inaccuracy. But if you spot discrepancies that aren't explained, walk away. What do you do if you find that the vehicle you're purchasing is stolen? If you discover if the car you're buying is missing, you must file an investigation with the police. Give your sales receipt as well as any relevant documents and information. In the unfortunate event that the vehicle you purchased was stolen or is a "cloned vehicle," it was never truly yours. That means that you're not the car's legal owner, and it will be confiscated and then returned to the rightful owner. If a theft claim has already been issued to an insurance firm, the car will be returned to the insurance company. Any will be a loss. If you're not buying the car yet, just walk away from the car and do not look back, advises Valdes. Once it's safe to do so, file a police report. The bottom line As criminals are becoming more clever Be aware of possible risks and study the car thoroughly, suggests Valdes. This means doing a Google lookup of the VIN, ordering a vehicle history report, and requesting additional documents and details to determine if the car is stolen. "Don't be afraid to take every precaution, even in this hot used car market," says Valdes.


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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 finances. She's also a full-time librarian at the local library where she helps her community get information about financial literacy, in addition to other subjects.



Editor: Helen Wilbers Edited by

Helen Wilbers has been editing for Bankrate since the end of 2022. He is a fan of the clarity of his reporting, which helps readers successfully find deals and make the best choices for their finances. He specializes in auto and small business loans.











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