How to Find Out If a Car Was Stolen in Florida
Before buying a car in Florida, it is important to research the vehicle history. While most people concentrate on checking a vehicle's history for accidents, many forget to check whether or not the vehicle is being sold by its legal owner. Verifying that the vehicle is not stolen will save you a great deal of time, money, and aggravation.
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Things You'll Need
- Vehicle identification number
- License plate number
- Telephone
- Internet access
- Transportation
Instructions
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How to Find Out If a Car Was Stolen in Florida
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Record the vehicle identification number (vin) or license plate number. The VIN number of most vehicles can be found on the dashboard near the windshield or on the inside of the car door. If you have trouble finding and recording the VIN number while viewing the car and/or the seller seems reluctant to provide it, record the license plate number of the vehicle.
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Visit the Florida Crime Information Center website (see reference below). The website is designed to be used by the public to check whether property being purchased is stolen. A visitor to the page must enter the VIN number or license plate number of the vehicle being checked.
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Contact the Florida Department of Law Enforcement directly. In some situations, the crime information center will return incomplete information or will be unable to search for stolen vehicles using the VIN and/or license plate numbers. Some individuals selling stolen vehicles will change the VIN numbers or provide incorrect information to potential buyers. To contact the FDLE directly for information about a suspected stolen vehicle, call 1-850-410-7676 with a description of the vehicle and its location.
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Be on guard for any deals that seem too good to be true or sellers that seem suspicious. If a seller is attempting to sell a vehicle with a state registration or inspection that comes from a different state, or that has been tampered with, record this information. Also, if the seller is not willing to provide references, or has no working phone number or place of business, provide the Florida Department of Law Enforcement with these details when you contact them. In many cases, the FDLE is able to verify a stolen vehicle using small details which you provide.
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