What the stolen check looks at
Two records are checked against the registration, and the report shows a clear pass or a warning for each:
- The police stolen-vehicle marker, set when a theft is reported and removed when the car is recovered
- Insurers' theft records, which show a car an insurer has paid out on as stolen, even if it was later recovered
Why it matters: a stolen car is not yours to keep
In the UK a thief cannot pass on ownership. If you buy a stolen car, it generally still belongs to the person it was taken from, or to the insurer that paid their claim. The police can seize it, and you are left to recover your money from whoever sold it to you, who is often impossible to trace.
Paying a fair price, having a receipt and holding the V5C log book do not change that. The V5C names the registered keeper, not the legal owner.
Warning signs before you run the check
A history check is the only way to see the stolen marker, but these are worth noticing first:
- The seller will not show the V5C, or its details do not match the car
- The VIN on the car (windscreen, door pillar, under the bonnet) does not match the V5C, or looks tampered with
- You are asked to meet somewhere other than the address on the V5C
- The price is well below similar cars for no clear reason
- Only one key, or a key that does not match the car's make
- Pressure to pay cash or to decide quickly
Cloned plates: when a clean check is not the whole answer
A cloned car carries the registration of a legitimate car of the same make, model and colour, so a check on the plate returns the innocent car's clean record. Guard against it by matching the VIN on the car to the V5C, and by checking that the make, colour, engine size and year in the report are exactly what is in front of you.
The free DealerPricing vehicle check shows the DVLA details for any registration, which is a quick first test of whether the plate belongs on the car.
If the check shows a stolen marker
Do not buy the car, and do not hand over a deposit. Leave without confronting the seller, keep the advert and any messages, and report it to the police on 101 or to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.