The stolen check
Run a stolen car check with the registration before you pay anything. It searches police records for cars reported stolen. It's included in our Full Check (£9.99), or you can get the Finance & Stolen Check for £4.99. The free check doesn't cover stolen records, so don't rely on it alone. Find out more on our stolen car check page.
Then match the car to its paperwork. Check the 17-character VIN is the same on the windscreen, the door pillar and the V5C. Check the name and address on the V5C match the seller's ID. The V5C shows the registered keeper, not the legal owner, so if the name doesn't match the seller, ask why before going further.
If the check flags the car, stop. Don't pay, don't drive it away, and don't confront the seller. Contact the police, tell them what you found, and keep the seller's details and any messages.
Warning signs
Run a stolen car check with the registration to search the police records, then make sure the VIN, V5C and seller all match the car in front of you. Our Finance & Stolen Check costs £4.99, and it's worth doing before you pay anything.
Some warning signs mean stop and check again: - A price well below similar cars - A seller who wants to meet somewhere away from home - Cash only, with pressure to pay today - No V5C, or one that looks newly issued - A VIN that doesn't match the V5C or the car, or one containing the letters I, O or Q
The V5C shows the registered keeper, not the legal owner, so check the name and address match the seller's ID. Find the VIN on the windscreen, the door pillar and the V5C, and make sure all three match. If anything doesn't add up, walk away, and you can check the VIN first with our VIN check.
If you think it's stolen
If a check shows the car may be stolen, don't confront the seller and don't hand over any money. Walk away calmly and call 101 to report it to the police. Tell them the registration, the VIN and where the car is.
Confronting someone can be risky, and a thief may simply move the car on. Your job is to report it, not to sort it out yourself. While you wait, keep the evidence safe:
- Photos of the car, its VIN and the V5C
- The advert and any texts, emails or call logs with the seller
- The seller's name, phone number and address, if given
If you've paid a deposit, check with Citizens Advice about getting it back. Don't let a record check delay your call, but a Finance & Stolen Check (£4.99) will show whether the registration is flagged as stolen.