How to check if a car is stolen

What happens if I buy a stolen car?

Police and insurance databases will soon show if a car has been reported stolen. As soon as you take it out on the road and it’s spotted by an Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) camera, the police will be alerted. They then have the authority to seize your vehicle and return it to its rightful owner.

You might also find yourself in legal trouble. It will be up to you to prove that you didn’t know the car was stolen to avoid being prosecuted for handling stolen goods.

To avoid losing thousands of pounds and save yourself a lot of hassle, it’s vital to do some research before buying a second-hand car from a private seller.

Is it easy to tell if a car is stolen?

When you buy a second-hand car, it can be almost impossible to spot whether it has a hidden history simply by inspecting it. While you can look for signs of tampering near the locks, ignition and number plates, there may not be anything immediately obvious.

Ultimately, it’s up to you, the buyer, to do a background check on the vehicle.

How can I find out if a car is stolen?

Fortunately, there are several ways to investigate whether a car is stolen.

Do a basic DVLA check

You can do some checks for free using the GOV.UK website. This lets you check the details of the vehicle to see if they match the ones you’ve been given by the seller, including:

• Information held by the DVLA

• MOT status and history

• Safety recalls because of a serious issue and whether recall work has been carried out.

Check the V5C log book

The car’s official registration document can be very revealing.

• Check the V5C document against the MOT documents and service history. Be wary of a service history that’s not complete or is inconsistent

• Make sure the V5C log book has a DVLA watermark

• Check that the log book serial number isn’t between BG8229501 and BG9999030, or BI2305501 and BI2800000. The log book might be stolen if it is

• Make sure the VIN/chassis number on the car matches that in the log book.

Use a vehicle history check service

There are a number of motoring organisations, including the AA, RAC and HPI, that offer a more thorough vehicle history check. All you need is the vehicle’s registration number.

It typically costs around £8 to £15 for a single vehicle check, depending on the provider and level of detail you want. You can pay extra to check more than one vehicle.

What will a vehicle history check tell me?

As well as telling you whether a car is stolen, a detailed vehicle history check will also tell you about other aspects of the car. You’ll receive a comprehensive report about the car, which will include details on the following:

• Stolen car check – if the car is marked as stolen on the Police National Computer

• Outstanding finance – if there’s any outstanding loan or finance still owed on the car

• Vehicle identity – if the car’s make, model, colour and engine match those recorded by the DVLA

• Number plate and VIN – if the number plate (also known as the vehicle registration mark or VRM) and vehicle identification number (VIN) match those recorded by the DVLA

• Number plate changes – if the number plates have been changed at all. There could be an honest reason, but it could also be vehicle identity theft, known as car cloning

• Scrapped car check – if the car’s been recorded as scrapped by the DVLA

• Mileage check – data from the National Mileage Register (NMR) to find mileage discrepancies – in other words, if the car has been 'clocked'. Tampering with mileage is on the rise. It’s estimated that as many as one in seven used cars on UK roads could have false mileage

• Insurance write-off – if the car has been written off and declared a total loss by the insurance provider, it could be a ‘cut-and-shut’ job – two cars welded together

• Log book check – if the V5C log book is genuine or has been stolen

• Previous owners – how many previous owners/registered keepers are recorded by the DVLA.

Tips to avoid buying a stolen car

While most private sellers are the real deal, it’s always worth being cautious when buying a used car:

• Meet the seller at their home address, not an isolated location like a pub car park or a lay-by

• Ask to see the V5C log book and make sure the address on it matches the seller's address. If the seller doesn’t have a V5C log book, walk away

• Be very wary of a car that’s offered for sale well below the market value for that make, model and year. If the deal seems too good to be true, it probably is

• Be cautious if the seller wants cash only. If the car does turn out to be stolen, you won’t have proof of purchase.

If you’re buying a car online, also be aware of ‘virtual vehicle’ scams. These involve selling a non-existent car. The scammer will copy a genuine ad and post it online. They’ll then ask potential buyers to contact them directly, and persuade them to hand over their bank details. The car will never arrive and the buyer’s details will be compromised.

Read our checklist for buying a used car.

What should I do if the car I bought is stolen?

If you didn’t do a stolen car check but now realise you have a dodgy car, call the police on 101 straight away. Don’t try to return it to the seller, and avoid driving it as this could cause legal problems. Give the police the car details and they’ll provide you with a crime reference number. You’ll need this when you contact your insurance provider.

Once you’ve spoken to the police, tell your insurance provider about the situation. They’ll let you know if you can make an insurance claim.

Can I get my money back if I bought a stolen car?

The police won’t give you any compensation for confiscating the car because it’s stolen property and you’re not the legal owner. If your car insurance covers ‘purchase of stolen vehicles’ you might get some compensation, but there’s no guarantee you’ll get your money back.

It’s unlikely that a car bought from a dealership would be stolen, but if this happened, you’d be entitled to a full refund from the seller under the Consumer Rights Act.