Why check if a car is stolen?
If you buy a stolen car, it can be taken back and returned to its owner or their insurer, and you could lose what you paid. Stolen cars are sometimes given the identity of a similar legitimate car (cloning), so the check is worth making even when the paperwork looks right.
What the stolen check shows
- Whether the car is recorded as stolen on police records
- Theft records held by insurers, including the insurer and whether the record has been removed
- Plate changes, so you can see if the car has had other registrations
The stolen check is part of the full history check (£9.99), with outstanding finance, write-offs, safety recalls, taxi use and a valuation.
Check the car matches its paperwork
Compare the VIN on the car (at the base of the windscreen and on the chassis) and on the V5C logbook. Our report shows the last characters of the VIN to compare. Our guide Cloned cars and plate changes explains what to look for.
Questions
What if the report says the car is stolen?
Don't buy it. If you're worried a seller is offering a stolen car, contact the police on 101.
Is the check guaranteed?
No. The report shows the records held at the time it's produced, and a theft reported very recently may not appear yet. We don't offer a financial guarantee.