What happens if you buy a stolen car?
A stolen vehicle still belongs to its rightful owner or their insurer. If police identify it, they can take it from you, and it’s usually up to you to try to recover your money from the person who sold it. That’s rarely possible once a seller has disappeared.
What our stolen check covers
- The vehicle. Whether the VIN is recorded as stolen.
- The number plates. Whether the plates are recorded as stolen. Thieves sometimes put legitimate-looking plates on a stolen car.
- The description on record. Make, model, body and colour, so you can spot a VIN that doesn’t belong to the vehicle in front of you.
These results come with your PPSR certificate, which also shows finance owing and written-off status.
Warning signs of a stolen or re-birthed vehicle
- The VIN on the windscreen, door pillar and build plate don’t match each other or the papers. Where to find every VIN.
- VIN plates or stickers look tampered with, loose, re-riveted or painted over.
- The seller wants to meet somewhere other than their home, or can’t show ID that matches the registration.
- Cash only, a rushed sale, or a price well under market value.
- Missing service history, spare keys or owner’s manual with no good explanation.
More detail: how to spot a rebirthed or cloned car.
If the check shows the vehicle as stolen, don’t confront the seller. Don’t buy the vehicle, and contact your local police.