How to Check if a Car is Stolen in 2025

Michelle Wilson - January 27, 2024

When purchasing a vehicle, many drivers opt for a used vehicle over a new one, thanks to the lower price point. Before buying, it’s paramount to check whether the car has been stolen to avoid any further headaches in the purchasing process.

As car theft continues to rise by more than 2% in the United States in 2023, approximately 500,000 vehicles were victims. To protect your purchase, use extreme caution when buying a car privately. Always trust your gut when making the purchase, run a used vehicle report, and confirm the VIN on the car before handing over money.

Types of Car Theft Purchases

Several types of car theft purchases are commonly found in the United States. Car cloning is a popular diversion when buying a stolen car. Cloning allows a car thief to take the vehicle identification number, license plate, and registration stickers from a legal car and place them on the stolen vehicle. Alternatively, a thief may produce counterfeit documents to sell the car quickly.

Tips to Avoid Purchasing a Stolen Car

To avoid the potential issues of buying a stolen vehicle, implement these steps in the buying process.

Always Check the VIN Thoroughly

Individuals should always verify the VIN with government agencies, including the Department of Motor Vehicles. Some owners will have the VIN etched on the window or inside the engine, as carmakers want to prevent theft. Be thorough with your investigation, as some letters and numbers look similar.

The VIN will occur in multiple places, so always check each to ensure they match. Start by taking a picture of the VIN on the dashboard and use that image as a reference for the rest of the numbers throughout the vehicle. If these numbers don’t match, it may have been tampered with.

What is a VIN?

A VIN is the unique number attached to every vehicle within North America. The VIN is an alphanumeric code manufacturers place throughout the car for ID purposes. A common location for the VIN is on the dashboard. Manufacturers also place the VIN on the driver’s door frame.

Where is the VIN in a Vehicle?

The most common location is on the dashboard of the vehicle. This is normally viewable through the windshield outside the car. Additionally, the VIN should be located on the driver’s door, under the spare tire, in the wheel wells, and under the hood.  

Bring it to a Mechanic

A mechanic knows what to look for in a vehicle, especially hot spots or commonly tampered areas. Always ask the seller to bring the car to your chosen mechanic. Ensure the mechanic knows the pending sale and ask for an itemized list of potential problems. If buying the car from an independent seller, ask the mechanic to confirm the VIN as they inspect it. A reputable seller should understand your need to confirm the purchase, even if you’re buying the car “as-is.” If the seller insists on using their mechanic or refuses to accommodate a request for inspection, walk away from the sale.

Run a Title Search on the Car

A vehicle title search offers a prospective buyer valuable information about the history. The reports will show several details, including maintenance, repairs, or collisions. The title search reviews millions of records to retrieve data.

The vehicle title search offers a complete history of the vehicle, including the following information:

• Vehicle recalls
• Ownership history
• Title changes
• Lien details
• Flood damage
• Repair records
• Accident history
• Criminal records

Prospective buyers will use the VIN to retrieve records from government-provided services. Alternatively, a few third-party networks also offer independent title search options for a vehicle.

Purchase a Vehicle History Report

After the initial inspection, order a vehicle history report using the VIN. Several companies offer this service, although they may cost a small fee to prepare. A vehicle history report will include detailed information, including:

• Liens on the vehicle
• Title information
• Service history
• Previous ownership quantities
• Accident history and damage reports

While the vehicle history report will include previous vehicle owners, it won’t offer the names of these people. When a report is up to the present, it lowers the likelihood of theft. If there are considerable historical gaps or the details seem outdated, it could indicate a potential issue.

Review the Vehicle’s Service Records

Owning a car will require regular maintenance and repair. Ask the owner for maintenance records or receipts to confirm the vehicle isn’t stolen. A thief won’t have these details available, especially if it’s an older vehicle. If the seller offers proof of maintenance, verify the make, model, and VIN on the receipt. If records don’t match the VIN on the car, walk away from the sale.

Confirm with the National Insurance Crime Bureau

The National Insurance Crime Bureau offers free VIN checks for prospective buyers. Enter the VIN into the VINCheck page to confirm the vehicle’s status. Users must accept all terms and conditions to run the screening on the website. All reports will automatically be generated from the screening, including any criminal history on the VIN. A vehicle with a clean history will not show a result.

What Should a Buyer Do if the VINCheck Pulls a Result?

If running a screening with the National Insurance Crime Bureau generates a result, contact local police authorities with the VIN and the report. Immediately stop all communication with the seller, including dealerships and businesses, and find another vehicle.

Talk to an Insurance Company

All insurance companies will hold individual databases on stolen vehicles, including total loss or theft reports. When purchasing a car, contact your insurance company to verify the VIN, including cloning or transferring to a second vehicle. Every company will hold individual databases on the vehicles it insures, meaning they can’t access outside records to finalize the search. To bypass this issue, ask the seller for a current insurance policy on the vehicle.

Take note of the company name, policy number, VIN, make and model of the car, and listed phone number on the policy document. Give the company a call to confirm all information about the policy. If the policy is no longer active, invalid, canceled, or written off, proceed cautiously or move on to another car.

Conclusion

Purchasing a vehicle is a significant financial commitment that requires due diligence. Confirming the car’s details is only a tiny portion of the sale. Prospective buyers should verify the vehicle history, maintenance records, and insurance before the sale. If the seller resists these questions, move on to another seller committed to transparency.