How to Check the VIN Number for a Stolen Vehicle

You can use the VIN to find out if a car is stolen.

Using the vehicle identification number (VIN) on a vehicle to check if it was stolen can be done by visiting Carfax.com. Conduct research before buying a car or purchase vehicles from a large dealership to avoid the complications that can result from the purchase of a stolen vehicle.

Things You'll Need

• Vehicle identification number (VIN)

Instructions

1. Contact the Department of Motor Vehicles to see if the VIN is registered to another vehicle.

2. Use Carfax.com to find out if the car was ever stolen and recovered. You also can find out the original color and the year of manufacture.

3. Purchase a vehicle from a large dealership. If multiple VINs or the purchase of a stolen vehicle has occurred, most dealerships will make an effort to resolve the problem to avoid tarnishing their image.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Carfax