Is This Car Stolen? Stolen Car Check (Police PNC)

How to check if a car is stolen

1. Enter the registration in the search box above and run the free check: make sure the make, model and colour match the car in front of you.
2. Compare the VIN on the car with the V5C log book, and check the seller's name and address match the V5C.
3. Get the full report, which checks the Police National Computer for a stolen marker and the high risk register.

What a stolen car check shows

A stolen car check searches the Police National Computer (PNC) for a stolen marker against the vehicle. If a car is recorded as stolen, the police can take it back, and the buyer loses the car and the money paid for it. The check is part of every full car history report.

The high risk register

The full report also checks the high risk register. A high risk marker means a finance company, an insurer or the police has registered an interest in the vehicle, for example a suspected theft not yet on the PNC or a dispute over the car. It is not the same as a stolen marker, but you should treat it just as seriously and not buy until the interest has been removed. Read what the high risk register means.

Cloned cars: why the VIN matters

A cloned car is a stolen car wearing the number plates of a legitimate one, so a check on the registration alone can look clean. Always compare the VIN on the car with the V5C and the vehicle record. Our VIN check and guide to cloned cars explain how.

Warning signs of a stolen car

• A price well below similar cars.
• No V5C log book, or the seller's name and address do not match it.
• The seller wants to meet somewhere other than their home.
• VINs on the windscreen, door pillar and body that do not match each other or the V5C.
• Only one key, or keys that look newly cut.

If the check shows a stolen marker

Do not buy the car or pay a deposit. Leave and report it to the police on 101. If you have already bought a car that turns out to be stolen, contact the police straight away and keep your receipt and payment records. See common used car scams.

Stolen car check FAQs

Is a stolen car check free?
The police stolen marker and the high risk register are included in the full report. The free check shows MOT history, mileage and DVLA details.

Can I check if a car is stolen with the police?
The police do not offer a public check by registration. If you think a car for sale is stolen, call 101, or 999 if a crime is happening.

Does the DVLA show if a car is stolen?
No. The DVLA's free vehicle enquiry shows tax and MOT status, not police markers. The stolen marker comes from the Police National Computer, which the full report checks. A police marker check explains the other markers.

What happens when a stolen car is recovered?
The stolen marker is removed when the police record the car as recovered. If the insurer paid out for the theft, the car may also have a write-off record.

What else should I check?
Outstanding finance and write-off records, which the full report checks at the same time.