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How to tell if you're buying a stolen car Advertiser Disclosure Advertiser Disclosure We are an independent, advertising-supported comparison service. Our aim is to assist you make better financial decisions by providing you with interactive financial calculators and tools as well as publishing honest and original content. This allows users to conduct research and compare information for free to help you make informed financial decisions. Bankrate has agreements with issuers such as, but not limited to, American Express, Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, Citi and Discover. How We Make Money The offers that appear on this site come from companies that pay us. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this website, for example, for example, the sequence in which they appear in the listing categories, except where prohibited by law. Our mortgage or home equity products, as well as other home loan products. However, this compensation will not influence the information we provide, or the reviews you see on this site. We do not contain the universe of companies or financial deals that could be available to you.



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4 min read Published 11 October 2022
Written by Kellye Guinan Written by Personal and Business Finance Contributor

Kellye Guinan is a freelance editor and writer with over five years ' experience within personal finances. She also works full-time as a employee at the library in her town where she helps her community access information about financial literacy, as well as other subjects.







Edited by Helen Wilbers Edited by

Helen Wilbers has been editing for Bankrate since the end of 2022. He is a fan of transparent reporting that allows readers to successfully find deals and make the most appropriate choices regarding their finances. He is a specialist in small and auto loans.









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With new car prices at new highs, you may be considering buying a used car. But be careful because car theft is on the rise and you don't want to buy a car that was stolen. In 2021, 932,329 cars were reported as stolen, an increase of 10.9 percent from the year before According to the (NICB). There is also a chance that the vehicle you're trying to purchase is a cloned vehicle. Car cloning occurs when a car-thief steals the license plate and registration labels from a legitimate car and places them on a stolen car of a similar make and model. The thief also might use counterfeit documents to sell you a brand new car. Be cautious when purchasing from a private dealer or from a dealer. If something seems odd, consider a different source. There are plenty of used automobiles available. 6 steps to find out whether the car you're purchasing is stolen. To avoid the headache of purchasing an unoriginal car, you must take these steps. 1. Make sure to check the VIN thoroughly You can check the information with government agencies or the department of motor vehicles. You can also check the car's VIN by using the National Insurance Crime Bureau's VIN Check service, suggests Renee Valdes, senior advice editor at Kelley Blue Book. This service is free and will inform you whether there are insurance documents of a lost vehicle, which includes one that is not yet recovered. "Some vehicles put the VIN inside the front driver's doors or even on their windshields and some owners may have the VIN etched on the window or inside the engine," Valdes says. Valdes. "Carmakers would like to make it more difficult for thieves to steal VINs and create fake one." The VIN could also be etched onto the dashboard of the vehicle. Be cautious, especially when it comes to numbers and letters that appear similar. Because the VIN should be in multiple locations, look at each one to see if they match. If they don't then they could have been altered. 2. Buy a car history report Get a history report for your car by using the VIN and suggests Valdes. Businesses that provide vehicle history reports include or . "These aren't very costly and are well worth the investment," says Valdes. Vehicle history reports include information such as Service history, title information Liens on the vehicle's history of accident and damage Previous owners although the report will show the prior owners of the vehicle, it won't provide the names of owners. "If your history goes complete to the present it's likely that it's in good hands and not stolen," says Valdes. However, if there are holes in the history or it's not up to the present, it could indicate the car is stolen. 3. Conduct a title search can search for a vehicle's title by using the . If the person who is trying to sell you the vehicle doesn't match the name in the document, you'll know it's a stolen car. The car's title can help you determine any differences between what the seller is telling you versus what's on the title, like if the car is an and the mileage was when it was sold last. 4. Request the seller's vehicle's service records If the seller has you maintenance receipts, there is a better likelihood that it's not a stolen car, explains Valdes. Verify whether the VIN, make and model on the receipts match the vehicle. Review the maintenance logs with the car's history report and determine if they're in alignment. "A car is typically the second biggest purchase for consumers," says Valdes. "I always treated my vehicle as if I'd be selling it one day, which means taking proper care of it and ensuring regular oil change." Additionally, ask to see if you can see the previous bill of sale from the time that the seller purchased the car. It's not too late to inquire about the contact details of the seller and what they originally purchased the car for. A legitimate seller shouldn't hesitate to supply you with this information. 5. Request your insurance company for an inspection Find out if your insurance company they're willing to check a car for safety and any signs of fraudulent activity. However, you should conduct yourself due due diligence, but your insurance company might be able to find additional details to verify that the car is legal the legal limit. Furthermore, certain states and insurance companies could require an inspection of your vehicle when you . This usually happens prior to the insurance company is able to approve your insurance policy for autos. And usually, it is only required if you are purchasing certain types of coverage, such as . 6. Be sure to trust your gut. If the price seems too good to be authentic, or the dealer is too eager to sell the car and is urging you to skip , trust your instincts. Between other sellers as well as used vehicle dealerships, there are many trustworthy options to choose from. There may be a difference from what the vendor tells you about the vehicle and what you discover during your investigation. It's not always a warning sign. Not every car owner keeps precise records. And if the car has been purchased and sold several times, there may be certain information that is not there. However, if you find any irregularities that aren't explained, walk away. What should you do if the car you're buying has been stolen If you find out whether the vehicle you're purchasing is missing, you must file a police report. Provide your bill of sale as well as any relevant documents and details. In the unfortunate event that the vehicle you bought was stolen, or is an "cloned vehicle," it was never truly yours. This means that you're not the car's legal owner and the vehicle is taken away and given to the owner who is rightfully entitled. If a claim for theft has been made the insurance company, the vehicle will be returned to the insurance company. If it is not, it will be considered a loss. If you haven't bought the car yet, walk away and don't look at it, suggests Valdes. Once it's safe to do this, file the police report. The bottom line As thieves are getting craftier Be aware of possible dangers and research the car thoroughly, advises Valdes. This means doing a Google lookup of the VIN or requesting a car history report, and requesting additional documents and details to identify whether the vehicle has been stolen. "Don't let yourself be swayed from taking every precaution, even in this hot used car market," says Valdes.


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Written by Business and personal finance Contributor

Kellye Guinan is a freelance editor and writer with over five years ' experience within personal finance. She also works full-time as a librarian at the local library where she helps her community get information about financial literacy, as well as other subjects.



Editor: Helen Wilbers Edited by

Helen Wilbers has been editing for Bankrate since late 2022. He values the clarity of his reporting, which helps readers confidently get deals and make best decisions for their financials. He specializes in small business and auto loans.











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