How to check if a car is stolen

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. Ultimately, it’s up to you, the buyer, to do a background check on the vehicle. Fortunately, there are several ways of doing this.

What will a vehicle history check tell me?

As well as telling you whether a car is stolen, a thorough vehicle history check will also tell you about other aspects of the car, including whether it has any outstanding finance and whether it’s been written off. You’ll be given a report about the car, including:

• 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 owing on the car.
• Vehicle identity – if the car’s details, 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 marked scrapped by the DVLA
• Mileage check – data from the National Mileage Records (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 14 cars on UK roads could be clocked.
• 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:

• Check the address of the seller. Ask to see the V5C log book and make sure it matches their address.
• Never agree to meet in an isolated location like a pub car park or a lay-by.
• If the seller doesn’t have a V5C log book, walk away. Never buy a car without the V5C log book.
• 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 to BG9999030, or BI2305501 to BI2800000. The log book might be stolen if it is.
• Ensure that the VIN/chassis number on the car matches with that in the log book.
• 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, and you’d be wise to walk away.
• The same advice goes if the seller wants cash. If the car does turn out to be stolen, you won’t have proof of purchase.
• Spend a few pounds on a vehicle history check to confirm the sale is legit.

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.

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 not likely that a car brought 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.