How to Locate a Missing Car

Reporting a missing car quickly to law enforcement is crucial.

If you parked your car in an airport and forgot where you left it, finding it can be a stressful experience. What's worse is if someone stole it. A missing/stolen car can become part of a crime-related incident or it may be salvaged and stripped for parts. Being calm and patient while applying a few tried and true techniques can help you find your missing automobile.

Things You'll Need

• Vehicle Identification Number

Instructions

1. Gather documents that have the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) of the car. These include the car manual or car insurance documents. If you don't have these documents, call your car insurance provider and ask them for the VIN number. You will need this number to find the missing automobile.

2. Report the missing car at a police station. Provide police the color, model, make and VIN of your car. You will need this information to file a missing/stolen vehicle report.

3. Visit the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) website to search for a missing vehicle. Click on the tab that says "VINCHECK" and enter the VIN in the search box. VINCHECK will find cars that have been reported as salvaged or stolen.

4. Contact your GPS vehicle tracking system provider. If the vehicle has a GPS tracking system such as OnStar or LoJack, the service provider will work with the police to help find the missing vehicle via GPS tracking.

References

• VehicleIdentificationNumber.com: VIN Numbers
• Department of Motor Vehicles: Stolen Vehicles Guide

Resources

• National Insurance Crime Bureau: VIN Check