Official UK vehicle data. Sourced from DVLA & DVSA records.
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Police & stolen registers

Stolen Car Check — verify against police records

Before you hand over a penny, confirm the vehicle isn't reported stolen. Enter any UK registration to check it against the Police National Computer and national stolen vehicle registers — and to spot the identity mismatches that point to a cloned or stolen car.

Free basic check· No signup needed· Instant results
  • Police stolen marker
  • Plate & VIN identity match
  • Anti-cloning checks
  • Free basic check
Stolen vehicle check
Police register result
AB12 CDE
Police stolen markerClear
No marker
  • Identity (plate ↔ VIN)Matched
  • Reported stolenNo records
  • Recorded as recoveredN/A
Checked vs police registersUpdated moments ago
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The basics

What is a stolen car check?

A stolen car check cross-references a vehicle against the Police National Computer and national stolen vehicle registers. It tells you whether the car has been reported stolen — and whether its identity has been tampered with to disguise one that has.

It's matched against police records

The registration is checked against the registers police forces and insurers feed into when a vehicle is reported stolen. A match raises a stolen marker — your earliest, clearest warning to walk away before any money changes hands.

Register cross-check
Your regPolice stolen register
No match — not reported stolen

Why it matters: you lose the car and the money

In UK law you cannot get good title to a stolen vehicle. If the real owner or their insurer claims it back, the car is taken — and you have no right to a refund from the thief who sold it. A quick check is the only protection.

If you buy a stolen car
Car seized
Money gone
No compensation — no good title in UK law
Inside the check

What your stolen car check shows

Drawn from police and stolen-vehicle data and the vehicle's identity records, so you can confirm in seconds whether a car is safe to buy.

Police stolen marker
Whether the vehicle is recorded as stolen on the national registers police forces feed.
Reported stolen date
If a marker exists, the date the vehicle was reported stolen — context for the listing.
Identity (VIN ↔ plate)
Confirms the registration matches the recorded VIN — the core anti-cloning check.
Recorded as recovered
Whether a previously stolen vehicle has since been recovered and returned.
Insurance theft markers
Theft-related markers placed by insurers, including stolen-and-recovered flags.
Cloned-plate warnings
Mismatches and duplicate-identity signs that point to a cloned number plate.
How it works

Check the stolen marker in three steps

  1. 1

    Enter the registration

    Type the UK number plate into the search box. No account and no card details to run the basic check.

  2. 2

    We check police & stolen registers

    We match the reg against national stolen vehicle data and compare the plate to the vehicle's recorded identity.

  3. 3

    See the stolen marker status

    Get the stolen marker result instantly, then unlock the full report for finance, mileage and write-off checks.

Stay safe

Warning signs & what to do if a car is flagged

A stolen check is your strongest safeguard, but your own instincts matter too. Know the red flags of a stolen or cloned car — and exactly what to do if the check raises a marker.

Red flags of a stolen or cloned car

  • The price is far below the market value for the make, model and condition.
  • The seller won't meet at a residential address or wants to hand the car over somewhere public.
  • The V5C logbook looks altered, has the wrong watermark, or the seller can't produce it.
  • The VIN on the car doesn't match the plate, the V5C, or shows signs of tampering.
  • Only one key is supplied, with a vague explanation about the missing one.
  • The seller is reluctant to share the registration before you commit to viewing.

If the check flags the car

  1. 1
    Do not buy the carWalk away from the sale immediately — a flagged vehicle is not worth the risk, whatever the price.
  2. 2
    Do not hand over moneyMake no deposit or payment. You have no right to a refund once a stolen car is seized.
  3. 3
    Report it to the policeCall 101 (or 999 if a crime is in progress) and pass on the registration and seller details.
  4. 4
    Keep your recordsSave the listing, messages, seller information and your check result in case the police need them.
FAQ

Stolen car check questions

What UK buyers ask about checking a car against police records.

Check if a car is stolen now

Enter a registration to run a free basic check — no signup needed.

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