US Car Check

Theft

Stolen vehicle check: how to tell if a car is stolen

Buying a stolen car usually means losing both the car and the money. A free stolen vehicle check and a few minutes of looking closely make that very unlikely.

The free NICB VINCheck

The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), a not-for-profit organization funded by insurers, offers VINCheck free at nicb.org/vincheck. It searches records supplied by participating insurance companies for:

  • Vehicles reported stolen and not recovered.
  • Vehicles reported as a total loss (salvage) by a participating insurer.

The service limits how many searches you can run in a day, so have your VINs ready.

What VINCheck can't tell you

  • It only sees data from insurers that take part. A theft or total loss reported elsewhere may not appear.
  • An uninsured vehicle that was stolen may never have been reported to an insurer.
  • It doesn't show accidents, title brands from state agencies or recalls.

A "no record" result is good news, but it doesn't clear the car. Pair it with an NMVTIS title check and the physical checks below.

What VIN cloning is

Thieves sometimes copy the VIN from a legitimate car of the same make, model and colour onto a stolen one, with forged paperwork to match. A VIN check on a cloned car comes back clean, because the number belongs to a real vehicle that hasn't been stolen. Matching the VIN in several places on the car is how you catch it. The guide to where to find the VIN lists those places.

Physical checks for a stolen or cloned car

  1. Dashboard plate. Should be firmly fixed, with factory rivets and no scratches or glue around it.
  2. Door-jamb label. Present, intact and matching the dashboard. A missing or replacement label needs explaining.
  3. Other VIN locations. Many vehicles also carry the VIN or part of it on the frame, engine or body panels. A mechanic can find them.
  4. Keys. Ask for all the keys. A single key, a key that looks new, or a damaged ignition or door lock is a warning.
  5. Paperwork. The name on the title should match the seller's ID, and the title VIN should match the car exactly.

Warning signs from the seller

  • Price well below similar cars, with pressure to decide fast.
  • Seller wants to meet somewhere other than their home or business.
  • Cash only, or an unusual payment method.
  • Title just issued, from another state, or "on its way."
  • Seller can't answer basic questions about the car's history.

What to do if you think a car is stolen

Don't confront the seller. Walk away and report what you know to local police, with the VIN, plate, advert and any messages. If you've already bought a car that turns out to be stolen, contact the police and your state motor vehicle agency straight away.

For the rest of the pre-purchase checks, see the used car buying checklist.

Stolen vehicle check questions

Is NICB VINCheck free?

Yes. It is free, with a limit on how many searches you can run in a day.

Can a stolen car pass a VIN check?

Yes, if its VIN has been cloned from a legitimate car, or if the theft was never reported to a participating insurer. That's why the physical checks matter.

Does VINCheck show title brands?

No. It shows thefts and total losses reported by participating insurers. Title brands from state agencies come from an NMVTIS report.