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Don't Risk It - Check for Stolen Cars Now

Run a stolen car check in seconds. With about 342,496 vehicles stolen between 2022–2025, it’s crucial to get a full car check to avoid buying a stolen car unknowingly. Protect your investment, enter the registration number now.

What is a Stolen Car Check?

A stolen car check is a search that tells you if a vehicle has ever been reported stolen to the police or insurance companies. It’s one of the most important checks to do before buying a used car. If you buy a stolen vehicle, you could lose both the car and your money as it will be legally taken back from you.

The stolen vehicle check gives you peace of mind by confirming the car’s identity, registration, and records match official databases. By running a stolen car check, you protect yourself from fraud, avoid legal issues, and make a safe purchase.

Why Should You Check if a Vehicle is Stolen Before Buying?

Running a stolen car check protects you from scams, financial loss, and legal issues. It’s one of the safest ways to confirm a car’s history before buying in the UK market. Here are reasons to get a car theft check:

Avoid Buying a Stolen Car

Without a stolen car check, you might unknowingly purchase a vehicle reported stolen. Once discovered, the car can be seized by authorities, leaving you without the vehicle or your money.

Protect Your Investment

Buying a stolen vehicle means you cannot legally keep or resell it. Running a stolen vehicle search ensures your investment is secure, giving you confidence that the car truly belongs to the seller.

Prevent Legal Problems

Purchasing a stolen car can lead to serious legal consequences, including investigations and financial loss. A stolen car check helps you stay on the right side of the law and avoid stress.

Verify True Vehicle Identity

A stolen car VIN check confirms the VIN number, chassis, and registration match official records. This ensures the car isn’t cloned, where stolen vehicles are disguised with false details to trick unsuspecting buyers.

Gain Peace of Mind

Buying a car should be exciting, not worrying. A stolen car check reassures you the vehicle is legitimate, letting you drive away with confidence knowing there are no hidden risks.

Detect Insurance Fraud

Some stolen cars are fraudulently insured or sold on the black market. A stolen vehicle lookup exposes suspicious links, protecting you from unknowingly purchasing a car tied to insurance scams.

What’s Included in a Stolen Car Check Report?

Our accurate stolen car check report typically includes information on whether the car has been reported stolen, as well as a full breakdown of the vehicle’s stolen history, so you can make a truly informed decision.

Here is a list of what you can find in a stolen vehicle check report:

Number of stolen records

Find out the total number of times this vehicle was reported as stolen.

Current stolen status

The report shows whether the vehicle is still listed as stolen right now.

Stolen date

View the exact theft date when the case was added to the police database.

Stolen contact number

Find out who to call to report or verify the theft.

Stolen police force

Learn the exact police force where the theft was recorded.

Date of entry

View the date the stolen vehicle record was first entered into the database.

Date of loss

The report shows the exact date the vehicle was officially declared stolen.

Type of loss

You’ll see whether the vehicle’s loss was due to theft, fraud, etc.

Loss category

Check the insurance/theft classification used by authorities.

Aside from the stolen records, you will also get a full breakdown of the vehicle’s full history, so you can make a truly informed decision.

Here is a list of other records you’ll find in a stolen car check report:

Outstanding finance

Written-off records

Stolen records

High-risk records

Vehicle specifications

Scrapped records

Auction history

Plate/colour change

Ownership records

Imported records

Exported records

Logbook history

MOT history

Road tax

VIC Inspected Records

VIN Number Check

How to Check if a Car Is Stolen?

Our stolen car check is a simple and easy-to-use tool that allows you to check whether a vehicle has been reported as stolen.

Here’s how to check if a vehicle is stolen or has records of theft:

Fact 1

Step 1: Enter the Vehicle Registration Number

Enter the vehicle registration number into the form on this page. You can also check if a car is stolen by VIN number.

Fact 2

Step 2: Click “Search”

Click on the “Search” button to initiate the search.

Fact 3

Step 3: View Stolen Car Check Report

Within seconds, you’ll receive a detailed car history report showing whether the vehicle has been marked as stolen or not. Other important records, like finance, write-off records, and more, are also provided.

What are the Risks of Buying a Stolen Car?

Buying a stolen car puts you on the wanted list of the police, and you might face legal consequences and lose your money and the car. Here are some risks associated with buying a stolen car

Losing Your Money

Once a car is confirmed stolen, authorities return it to the rightful owner or insurer. Buyers lose both the vehicle and the money spent, with little chance of recovery.

The police can legally take a stolen car at any time, even if you purchased it in good faith, leaving you without transport or compensation.

Owning or unknowingly driving a stolen car may involve police investigations, questioning, and even legal action. It creates unnecessary stress and puts your reputation at risk.

Insurers won’t cover a stolen vehicle, and if you make a claim, it will be denied. You also risk higher premiums in the future due to association.

Stolen cars may have tampered VIN numbers, altered parts, or unsafe modifications to hide their identity. This can make the car dangerous to drive and difficult to maintain.

A stolen car cannot be sold legally. Even if you try, checks will reveal the history, and you could face penalties for attempting to sell it.

Buying a Used Car? Get a Stolen Vehicle Check Now

Protect yourself from car scams by getting a stolen vehicle lookup now. Instantly confirm a vehicle’s theft status, avoid costly mistakes, and buy with total confidence.

Explore Other Car History Checks

Get our Smart Car Check Mobile App

Are you looking for the best car history check UK? Make a smart decision with Smart Car Check App. Perform a Reg. number check in the UK to uncover any past problems and hidden history that the seller will not tell you.

FAQ About Stolen Car Check

To check if a car is stolen for free, use the DVLA’s free online vehicle enquiry service. They provide a free car check to know if a vehicle has been stolen or has the records. If you’re looking for detailed car check records like outstanding finance,  write off, mileage, and more, you should get our full car check report by making the necessary payment.

To verify stolen records by license plate, enter the licence plate or reg no plate into the stolen car check form on this page, submit the form, and get a detailed report with theft records, and other important records like outstanding finance, write-off history, MOT history, logbook history, and more.

Yes, the law enforcement agencies can locate stolen cars through GPS tracking systems, public CCTV, ANPR cameras, and other devices. If your car is stolen, call the police immediately, provide the registration number and other required information to the police to trace the car and attempt to recover it.

When you think that a car is stolen, do not purchase or drive it. Report immediately to the police to obtain a crime reference number.  Once that’s done, also report the theft to your insurance company and the DVLA. Prior to purchasing a used car, make sure you get a stolen car check to confirm the theft status and decide whether to buy or not.

No, it’s not legal to purchase a stolen car, even if you didn’t know it was stolen at the time of purchase. If you end up buying a stolen car, you can face legal consequences and lose the vehicle without compensation. Call the police the moment you realise that you’ve bought a stolen car. But to avoid this kind of nightmare, always get a stolen car check before buying a used car.

Yes, you can get a free stolen car check service online, but many of them are unable to provide the full bike history for free. Our motorbike history check tool allows you to verify a bike theft status and get the complete history report, helping you to make a confident buying decision. Just enter the motorcycle registration number to get a full report within seconds.

Yes, you can check if a car is stolen by VIN using our VIN check service. Our tool searches the police databases and insurance records for theft records, finance check, write-offs and any mileage discrepancies. This prevents you from buying a car with legal and hidden issues.

To conduct a DVLA stolen car check online, use the Smart Car check stolen vehicle check service. Just enter the vehicle’s registration number to access a full DVLA stolen vehicle check, including insurance writeoffs, outstanding finance and more.

To spot a stolen car, look for tampered VIN plates, ignition scratches, and mismatched paperwork. Watch for dodgy sellers offering suspiciously low prices. Always run an online vehicle theft check using the registration or VIN before buying.