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4 min read. Published on October 11, 2022.
Written by Kellye Guinan. Written by Personal and Business Finance contributor

Kellye Guinan is a freelance editor and writer who has more than five years of experience in personal financial matters. She also works full-time as a worker at her local library where she helps her community gain access to information on financial literacy, in addition to other subjects.







Editor: Helen Wilbers Edited by

Helen Wilbers has been editing for Bankrate since the end of 2022. He is a fan of the clarity of his reporting, which helps readers easily get deals and make best decisions for their financials. He specializes in small and auto loans.









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With prices for new cars at new highs, you may be considering purchasing a used car. Be cautious that car theft is spiking and you don't want to buy a car that was stolen. In 2021, 932,329 vehicles were reported as stolen, which is up 10.9 percent from 2020 according to the (NICB). There's also a chance that the car you're considering buying is a replica of the vehicle. Car cloning occurs the process where a car burglar steals the license plate and registration stickers from a legal car and places them on a stolen car that is similar in make and model. The thief may also use counterfeit documents to sell you a hot car. Proceed with caution when buying from a private dealer or from a dealer. And if something feels off, look elsewhere. There are plenty of used vehicles available for sale. 6 steps to find out whether the car you're considering buying is stolen To avoid the hassle of buying a fake car, make sure you take these steps. 1. Check the VIN thoroughly. You can verify the VIN with the government agencies as well as your state's department of motor vehicles. You can also check the car's VIN by using the National Insurance Crime Bureau's VIN Check, recommends Renee Valdes, senior advice editor at Kelley Blue Book. This service is free and will inform you whether there are insurance records of a stolen car, or even one that has not yet been recovered. "Some vehicles have the VIN inside the front driver doors or even on their windshields, and some owners may have the VIN printed on the windows or inside the engine," says Valdes. "Carmakers would like to make it harder for criminals to steal VINs and make counterfeit one." It is possible that the VIN can also be stamped on the dashboard of the car. Be careful, particularly with numbers and letters that appear like each other. Because the VIN is required to be found in several locations, check each to make sure they match. If they don't it could be because they were altered. 2. Buy a car history report Order a vehicle history report using the VIN, suggests Valdes. Businesses that provide report on the history of a vehicle include . "These aren't expensive and are worth the cost," says Valdes. The reports on vehicle history include details such as Service history, Information on the title Liens that are held on the car Accident history and damage Previous owners although the report will show the number of former owners but won't list the names of the owners. "If your history goes correct to the present it's likely that it's in good hands and not stolen," says Valdes. However, if there's holes in the history or it's not up to the current date, it could be a sign that the vehicle has been stolen. 3. Perform a title search can look up a car's title using the . If the person who is trying to sell you the vehicle doesn't match the name in the document, you'll be able to tell that it's a stolen vehicle. Having access to the car's title can help you determine any differences between what the seller is telling you against what's written on the title. For instance, when the vehicle is an and the mileage was when it was sold last. 4. Ask the seller for the vehicle's service records If the seller can show the receipts for maintenance There is a greater likelihood that it's not a stolen vehicle according to Valdes. Verify if the VIN the model, make and year on the receipts correspond to the car. Review the maintenance logs with the history of your vehicle report to check if they are in line. "A car is often the second most expensive purchase for a consumer," says Valdes. "I always treated my car as if I would be selling it one day, which means taking proper care of it and ensuring regular oil change." In addition, inquire to see if you can get the previous bill of sale from when the seller bought the car. It can't hurt to request the contact information of the seller as well as what they originally purchased the car for. A legitimate seller shouldn't hesitate to give you this information. 5. Request your insurance company to conduct an inspection. Find out if your insurance company they're willing to check the vehicle for safety and any red flags of fraud. However, you should conduct the necessary due diligence, however, your insurance provider may be able to find additional details to verify that your vehicle is safe and legal all requirements. Furthermore, certain states or insurance companies may require an inspection of your vehicle before you . This typically happens before the insurance company has approved the auto insurance policy. And usually, it is only necessary if you're buying certain kinds of insurance like . 6. Take your time if you think the price is too great to be real, or the seller is too eager to sell you the car and wants you to take a break , trust your instincts. In between other sellers and used car dealerships, there are many trustworthy options to choose from. You may notice differences from what the vendor tells you about the vehicle and what you learn through your study. It's not always a warning sign. Some car owners don't keep precise records. And if the vehicle was purchased and sold several times, it could have certain information that is not there. If you notice any discrepancies with no reasonable explanation then walk away. What to do if the car you're buying has been stolen? If you learn if the car you're buying is stolen, make an investigation with the police. You must provide your purchase bill as well as any relevant documents and other information. If the vehicle you bought was stolen, or is an "cloned car," it was never truly yours. This means that you're not the car's legal owner and the vehicle is taken away and given to the owner who is rightfully entitled. If a claim for theft has already been issued to an insurance firm, then the car will go to the car insurance company. The loss will be the same. If you haven't bought the vehicle yet, simply walk away from the car and do not look back, suggests Valdes. Once it's safe to do so, you can file a police report. The most important thing to remember is that criminals are becoming more clever and more sophisticated, be aware of potential dangers and research the car thoroughly, advises Valdes. This means doing a Google lookup of the VIN and requesting a vehicle history report, and requesting additional documents and details to identify if the car is stolen. "Don't back down from taking every precaution, even in the booming used car market," says Valdes.


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Written by a Personal and Business finance Contributor

Kellye Guinan is a freelance editor and writer who has more than 5 years experience working in the field of personal finance. She is also a full-time worker at her local library where she helps her community gain access to information on financial literacy, in addition to other subjects.



Edited by Helen Wilbers Edited by

Helen Wilbers has been editing for Bankrate since late 2022. He values clear reporting that helps readers easily land deals and make the best choices for their finances. He is a specialist in small and auto loans.











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