Stolen Vehicle Check – How can we find out if a car was stolen?

January 31, 2022 by Zoe Hicks – 11 mins read

How can you be confident that you are now not shopping for a stolen vehicle when shopping for a used car from a personal seller?

It is possible. You may be thinking how? By carrying out a stolen vehicle check you can conclude whether it is safe to purchase a used car.

You can rely on more than one way to check a stolen vehicle earlier than purchasing. Performing assessments on car registration and MOT check number can assist you to be sure the seller is genuine. UK regulation protects clients when shopping for a vehicle from a garage dealer or registered trader. So, there is much less importance in understanding how to test if a car is stolen if you purchase a brand-new car.

Why is a stolen vehicle check important?

If you are going to purchase a used car, you want to be more cautious and be certain that you are now not shopping for one that anyone stole from its rightful owner. As a rule, consumers will have fewer protection rights when they purchase a used car from a private seller. That is why you have to use the DVLA-free stolen vehicle check to make certain it has now not been nicked.

How can we find out if a car was stolen?

In most cases, there will be 4 duties on consideration if you purchase a used car from a private seller. First and foremost, you want to do some primary assessments on the documentation before you purchase it! Then, assuming it is an actual sale, you would want to pay for it and register yourself as the new owner with the DVLA. The third task will be getting a sufficient vehicle insurance plan to drive it legally on the road. The ultimate step is to tax the car earlier than you use it on public roads and highways.

Follow the steps in this stolen vehicle checklist. A stolen vehicle check can assist to minimize the chance of you shopping for a nicked or recalled used car.

DVLA Free Stolen vehicle Check

Contact the seller and request some facts about the vehicle. You will need a few basic details to use the free DVLA stolen vehicle checker. Get the make, model, registration number, and car registration number. You want these important points to lift out a car identification check. Cross-check the data to suit the use of the DVLA online automobile inquiry service. Check the MOT records of an automobile online to affirm that it is up to date. Ensure the facts you have fit the MOT history.

How to check if a car is stolen?

When it comes to discovering if a car has been stolen. It’s not as challenging as you may think. It’s very convenient and easy with a motorscan vehicle check. Our record will inform you precisely when a vehicle used to be mentioned stolen and if the insurer paid out on a claim. Our data are reliable and are collected from the Police National Computer and Motor Insurance Database.

How to report your car was stolen?

What you have to do is to call 101. Don’t call 999, as finding a stolen vehicle is no longer an emergency. Calling hundred and one will put you thru to the police to record a crime or to give facts on a crime such as discovering a stolen vehicle. 

Do I have to bother a stolen vehicle check?

A stolen vehicle check offers you the peace of mind that what you are shopping for isn’t anyone else’s rightful property. If it is anyone else’s vehicle, the police will recover it and you will lose your cash. It’s also not possible to inform if a car is stolen by just searching. It may also want to have a smooth and clean interior and out like any other car for instance – however, what lies under can solely be determined with a paid data check. This kind of record is NOT reachable for free anywhere, so be conscious of services claiming to provide a ‘free stolen vehicle check’.

What is checked with a Police Stolen Vehicle Check?

Motorscan, takes data from Police National Database and VOSA and different sources to verify whether a car is a stolen vehicle. For this only, the registration number is required.

All vehicle stolen tests will check amongst different things, the following:

  • Check using registration or chassis number
  • Logbook Verification Check
  • Live Tax Status Check
  • Live MOT Status Check
  • Report to DVLA for NO Tax or SORN where the automobile is on the road.
  • Link to MID asking to see if an automobile is insured
  • and over 50 different checks!

Stolen Motor Vehicle Database

The INTERPOL Stolen Motor Vehicle (SMV) database is a necessary system in the battle towards global automobile theft and trafficking. It consists of records on stolen vehicles such as cars, trucks, motorbikes, trailers, caravans, buses, and their components.

A global database of this nature is fundamental as motors are regularly trafficked throughout countrywide borders, now and again ending up lots of miles away from the place they have been stolen. In 2020, around 248,976 motor vehicles internationally had been recognized as stolen, thanks to the SMV database. Some hundred thirty-five international locations shared their country-wide stolen car facts and carried out greater than 256 million searches.

There is a vehicle stolen every 5 minutes in the UK and the modern-day records suggest that automobile theft is increasing. There had been over 114,000 motor automobile thefts in England and Wales in 2018/19, an increase of over 8,000 offenses when in contrast with the preceding year and a 9 year high for this kind of crime.

Police Stolen Checks

On average, 225 new thefts are brought to the database on each day’s groundwork making it an extraordinarily essential check for a motor dealer to raise out earlier than shopping for a vehicle.

How to check insurance Stolen car check

The Motor Insurer Anti-Fraud and Theft Register (MIAFTR) additionally provides information on incidents of theft for its members. A flag for ‘Stolen’ on this database will additionally show up in the stolen vehicle check.

What you must do to avoid buying a stolen vehicle?

In the UK, the responsibility to test if a car is stolen falls on the customer, yes that’s you. Remember if the stolen vehicle was once bought, it can be recovered by the police and money-lenders can demand the money as in the finance deal this is legal.

Stolen automobiles are commonly exceeded on with their identity changed, however, there are some golden regulations to assist minimize the hazard of shopping for a stolen vehicle:

  • See the original V5C registration record – additionally recognized as the logbook – and check at it its DVLA watermark.
  • Check the car’s registration plate and Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is recorded on the logbook.
  • Don’t purchase an automobile except for its logbook. Stolen vehicles are frequently offered this way, with the seller claiming it has been despatched to the DVLA for updating. It might also be the case, however, there’s no way of checking.
  • Ensure the seller’s area on the logbook suits the one on their user license or bill.
  • Inspect and ask without fear.

What happens if my vehicle is stolen whilst on paying finance?

Your vehicle has been stolen, you are paying finance. Don’t panic in this situation. Let’s see what you should do next. Information about your stolen vehicle is very disturbing, however, there are a few steps that you can follow to come out of it. If you suspect your vehicle has been stolen, you ought to name the police and your insurance plan business enterprise as quickly as possible. But, earlier than you do, it’s better to make certain there has not been a mix-up and a buddy or household member has taken it besides you realizing.

If it has been stolen, then it’s time to inform the police. When you inform the police, make certain that you have some primary important points to hand, such as the registration, make, model, and color. If any changes would make it stand out, such as spoilers, uncommon alloys, or a customized paint job, inform the police about these too. A crime reference number will be given. Make a word of this, as you will want it when you name your finance and insurance companies to record your stolen vehicle. The police will inform DVLA of the theft, so that’s one much less issue to fear about. They will additionally inform DVLA if the vehicle is recovered.

The subsequent step is to let your insurance plan organization understand so they can begin placing the wheels in action on any declaration you make. If you have sold the vehicle on finance and you are nevertheless making repayments, you will additionally want to inform your finance provider.

What is Vehicle Ringing?

A ‘Ringer’ is a stolen vehicle that has had its identification numbers changed by using a set from some other written-off model and is provided with faux documentation. Ringers have their VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) replaced, so it seems like proof of tampering around the place where the number is recorded. If you purchase a ringer, it doesn’t legally belong to you and will be recovered and given to the owner or insurance organization if and when it is traced back to you. Follow these steps to keep away from buying a ringer vehicle. 

  • Ensure the V5C registration report (logbook) is genuine, with a DVLA watermark jogging via it.
  • Check for tampering around the VINs.
  • Make certain regarding the paperwork

Cut and shuts – Stolen Cars

A ‘Cut and shut’ is the title given to an automobile in which the remains of two or greater cars have been welded collectively to create a ‘new’ model. The structural integrity of such motors is significantly compromised and can lead to serious accidents in a crash. Follow these suggestions to keep away from placing yourself in danger:

  • Examine the windscreen pillars and the center area of the car for signs and symptoms of welding. Also, pull away from the carpets and trim for symptoms of hidden welds.
  • Look for less paintwork or colorings that don’t suit properly; and, test for paint by accident sprayed on glass seals and trim.
  • Watch out for bad fitting or mismatched trim.
  • A car check will spotlight if a car has been stolen or written-off – a cut and shut maybe both.

How can we confirm if a car was stolen?

The vehicle is stolen every seven minutes as per the DVLA and 72% of stolen vehicles are by no means given to their owners. What would you do if your chosen model is one amongst the list of stolen vehicles in the UK? Thus, do your specialist recommendation of carrying out the stolen vehicle check earlier than shifting on to the fee process.

Even the car has a full security system, however, is no longer as smart as burglars as they can ruin the barrier pretty easily. We normally decide upon automobile monitoring systems as GPS trackers, however, in contrast, the use of signal jammers and relay assaults can block the signals throughout the scene. Then, how to know if the automobile is stolen in the course of your vehicle purchase?

Track stolen vehicle with VIN

To find a stolen vehicle with a VIN. Nowadays, websites and a few more permit you to trace the car’s important details via VIN. However, most online car check offerings grant the automobile whole records via the registration number. Reviews can inform when your chosen automobile was once stolen earlier than and its description sourced from the PNC database. Other than this, you can verify the car is stolen or not with the remaining 5 digits VIN given on the report. Compare the file with the vehicle VIN (find the place the car VIN is present) to affirm it.

Why you should use a VIN check?

 It is not possible to steal the car via VIN. However, understanding the full VIN would possibly be effortless for the burglars to follow for the duplicate records used for theft of cars.

You have the automobile title. But your automobile used to be stolen. An automobile title is a legal record (V5C document) to show that you are the automobile owner. The logbook is proof of ownership. When you lose the title for any reason, do request the new registration file from DVLA as quickly as possible.

Summary

In conclusion when you select to purchase the car without carrying out a stolen vehicle check, then your selection may go wrong. Most customers are no longer conscious of the penalties of shopping for such motors as it is a loss of the money paid and the car itself. It is due to the fact you want to return anybody’s vehicle. We gave all the vital inspections you want to elevate out to keep you alert about the stolen vehicles. But understanding stolen vehicle status is no longer sufficient to determine your investment; take a look at the car records and decide if it is well worth the investment. Stolen motors are very confusing to spot, so make certain you are no longer any other victim!

 

 

 

 

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