Stolen Car Check
Enter the registration to check if a vehicle is stolen.
If you buy a stolen car, you could lose both the vehicle and the money you paid for it, even if you bought in good faith.
Protect Yourself From Buying a Stolen Vehicle
Every year, thousands of unsuspecting buyers purchase stolen vehicles without realizing it. This can lead to significant financial losses and legal trouble as the police may seize the stolen car, leaving you with nothing. Getting a Stolen Car Check is the fastest way to ensure that the vehicle you're looking at has a clean history and isn’t recorded as stolen.
Police National Computer Stolen Check (PNC)
When a vehicle is reported stolen to the police, the details are added to the Police National Computer.
This database contains the vehicle registration, make / model and VIN along with the name of the police force and date on which it was stolen.
Insurer Stolen Check (MIAFTR)
Vehicles that are reported stolen to an insurance company are added to the Motor Insurance Anti-Fraud & Theft Register (MIAFTR).
This database was set up to motor stolen vehicles and is also used to record vehicles that have been written off.
Other Important Checks
Our reports include a number of other important checks that should be completed before buying a used vehicle.
Enter the vehicle registration to check if a vehicle has outstanding finance, been written off, scrapped, imported, exported and more with our full or partial checks.
It's becoming increasingly important to complete a Stolen Car Check before purchasing a used vehicle due to the significant number of vehicles stolen in the UK. A full car history check can help to flag up potential serious issues that could cost you money or result in you losing the vehicle altogether.
What should I do if my vehicle is stolen?
In the unfortunate event that your vehicle is stolen, you should complete a number of steps urgently to increase the likelihood of your vehicle being traced and prevent someone from unknowingly purchasing your stolen vehicle.
Contact the police: You should contact the police on 101 and report the vehicle as stolen. You'll need to provide the vehicle registration along with other details requested and will receive a crime reference number to pass on to your insurer.
Contact your insurer: Contact your insurance company to start the claims process and provide the insurer with the crime reference number to get the process started.
Update the DVLA: You'll need to tell the DVLA if the insurance company pay out on the claim as they will become the owner of the vehicle.
What happens if I buy a stolen vehicle?
Buying a stolen car can have serious and expensive consequences:
The car could be seized: The police are likely to collect the vehicle and return it to the lawful owner.
You might not get your money back: You are unlikely to get a penny back if you have fallen victim to a stolen car scam.
Legal headaches: There could be other details to handle with the police and your insurers if you've bought a stolen car.
To avoid these risks, always perform a Stolen Car Check before buying any used vehicle. With our instant online vehicle history report, you’ll know the status of the car in minutes and can make an informed decision.
How do I check if a car is stolen?
A stolen car check is part of a comprehensive vehicle history report. By simply entering the car’s registration number, you’ll receive a detailed report instantly.
1. Enter the Registration
Check the make, model, year, colour and engine are correct to ensure you've entered the registration correctly.
2. Select a Report Type
Depending on your needs, you can select a full or partial report. All of our reports include a stolen car check.
3. Review the Report
Instantly see if the vehicle is reported stolen, or has any other serious warnings before continuing with a purchase.
A Stolen Car Check provides additional protection against purchasing a stolen vehicle that you won't get with a free car check service. A quick check can help prevent you from purchasing a stolen vehicle and save the hassle and cost that comes with it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if a car has been stolen?
You'll need to purchase a full vehicle history check to find out if a vehicle is reported stolen.
It's also important to complete additional checks on the VIN and V5C to avoid the risk of buying a vehicle on a false plate.
Can I check if a car is stolen for free?
While there are some free stolen check services available, there may be limitations as they are likely to only complete a check of the Police National Computer (not insurers), and often won't come with any sort of data guarantee.
For additional protection, a paid vehicle history check is more suitable before handing over payment for a used vehicle.
How long does a stolen car check take?
After payment, your report will be available immediately. You'll instantly be able to check if the vehicle is recorded as stolen by police or insurers.
What should I do if I find a stolen vehicle?
You should walk away from the purchase and don't hand over any money to the seller.
You may also wish to contact the police on 101 to report that you have found a stolen vehicle.
Ready to Buy?
It's not worth the risk! A stolen car check takes just seconds but can save you thousands of pounds and lots of hassle in the long run.
Buy a Full CheckProduct Highlights
Want to see a sample?
View our sample reports to see real-world examples of a Car History Check report.
Compare the data included in a full or partial report and view examples of vehicles that have passed and failed.
Sample ReportsHave a question before purchasing?
If you'd like to know more about the reports before purchasing, please send us a message.
Alternatively, you can look through our frequently asked questions page for common queries.
Contact Us1 Send us an email within 24 hours if you're not happy and we'll provide a full refund.
2 Details of the data guarantee are included in our terms and conditions.