Up-to-date stolen car check by reg
See if a vehicle is stolen with CarVeto database.
Enter the registration number of the vehicle
(Number plate or vehicle’s registration)
Check if a car is stolen from its rightful owner and recorded with the Police National Computer or National Insurance Database.
Vehicle check theft alerts from Police records or motor insurance claim to pay out.
Police National Computer (PNC) lost (including destroyed and potentially cloned) car check investigation.
Avoid buying a stolen vehicle or taking ownership of one, as this usually results in losing the vehicle and the money paid to buy it.
The stolen vehicle check record means the car must be returned to the legal owner or their insurance company (if they have already filed an insurance payout).
CarVeto stolen car check lets you know if a car is held with a live theft status.
Reports are carried out by registration number and let you know if a vehicle is legal to buy.
This database searches and returns detailed, accurate information from police records and the national insurance system.
It includes insurance pay-outs to policyholders for theft and permanent loss of their vehicle via insurer databases.
As part of CarVeto best practice, a theft alert equals a FAILED result.
This means our customers will not buy a stolen car.
[Image displaying a segment from a CarVeto stolen check result]
What is a stolen car recovered?
A car is stolen, but the insurer is yet to pay out the policyholder
As the description suggests, a car recovered from theft is previously stolen, later recovered (found), and logged on the Police National Computer and National Insurance Bureau databases.
The time taken to find a stolen vehicle and its condition after retrieval play essential roles in what happens next.
Statistically, stolen vehicles are found quickly, with little damage (used for joyriding), and without insurance fraud.
In such cases, a car is returned to its owner or registered keeper (individual recorded on the registration certificate or V5C).
When a stolen vehicle is recovered in damaged condition, the insurance company inspects it and determines whether it is worth repairing.
If repairs exceed the value, the car may be considered a write-off and sold on a salvage auction.
Typically, the vehicle check will hold theft-recovered status and be given one of six ABI (Association of British Insurers) Write-Off Categories: Cat A, B, C, D, S, or N.
Car history checker services like HPI Check and CarVeto will report that the car was stolen.
When a car is found and recovered after an extensive period, and the insurance company has already processed a claim, it retains the vehicle and sells it for salvage.
Although a stolen vehicle might have sustained little damage and be in good general condition, it will have a stolen car check theft marker. Despite being in good condition, this impacts its value and how easily it can be sold.
Some motorists are willing to buy because stolen cars sell for much less.
Buyers must calculate the amount of money they save by buying a previously stolen vehicle while considering the difficulty of selling it in the future.
Another risk of buying with a stolen car check record is excessive gearbox and engine wear that may be significant and difficult to detect at the point of purchase.
Both are expensive to repair or replace and will likely outweigh potential savings.
Can I use CarVeto for a theft car check?
Head to our free Vehicle History Check and enter the car registration number into the field provided.
The check will present you with necessary car information derived from the DVLA and Motor Insurance Bureau (MIB).
This initial result is a free check that helps confirm some essential details.
Car checks are carried out and processed using the current registration number.
CarVeto’s initial report does not include a free stolen car check.
See below for what is included:
- Vehicle information – this includes make, model, engine type, brake horsepower, date of registration, vehicle colour and the location where the car is currently registered with the DVLA (otherwise known as V5C logbook detail)
- MOT history and status
- Road tax status
- Road tax costs
- askMID car insurance companies check
- Export status
After confirming the registration number you are providing matches with the used car, you can choose to access a stolen car check.
A Car Check costs £8.90 for CarVeto Gold or £12.90 for Platinum.
Look for the clear red or green marker that indicates if the vehicle has been recorded as stolen via the DVLA, Police, or MIB Motor Insurance Database.
Keep in mind that buying a stolen car results in the loss of both the vehicle and the money used to buy it.
Theft markers also severely impact resale value.
What is included in a used car check?
A car check report includes all available online information about the vehicle.
Each report includes:
- Outstanding finance data (read this article about Outstanding Finance Check types, including Stocking Loans),
- Mileage issues
- Write off warnings
- VIN ID check
- Number plate changes recorded with DVLA,
We also ensure you are not buying a stolen car.
Aside from cloning, buying a vehicle that has a stolen car check insurance payout will result in a substantial personal financial loss.
The police have the authority to reclaim stolen vehicles and return them to their rightful owners.
The £8.90 you spend on a CarVeto VIN Check certificate can be a wise investment, especially if you buy.
Common Questions
CarVeto service uses the Police National Computer (PND) Vehicle Operator Services Agency (VOSA) and the MID, which holds a record of all vehicles currently insured in the UK. MID is managed by MIB (Motor Insurance Bureau) and DVLA access to enforce car insurance law.
Without a CarVeto report, you can mistakenly buy a stolen vehicle.
You can take additional steps alongside a car check. Insist on seeing the registration certificate (V5C logbook).
Make sure the registration number matches the car.
See that the registered keeper details (name and address) match the location where you are viewing the vehicle.
Fraudulent V5C docs exist. In particular, look for logbook serial numbers between BI2305501 to BI2800000 or BG8229501 to BG9999030 that indicate a stolen car.
Also, check that the VIN and documentation are identical to the car. A CarVeto car check includes the last four digits of the VIN together with the engine number.
Before contacting local police services, ensure the council did not tow the vehicle away due to illegal parking. TRACE is a London locating service that pounds reported or found cars parked illegally.
Unless you are sure your car has been stolen, contact TRACE Online or by telephone at 0300 077 0100. They also have a text phone service on 0300 123 2050.
Gov.uk have further guidance.
Reporting theft: Call the Police by dialling 101. Provide your name, address, registration number, make, model, colour, and vehicle status the last time you saw the car.
Collect a unique crime reference number and then contact your insurance company, which will direct you to the stolen check and help you make a claim.
Please check this recent guide on how to Notify DVLA of changes in vehicle details (including if a vehicle is stolen) and personal circumstances.
The Police will inform the DVLA, but we recommend telling them immediately. If the stolen car is not recovered, your insurer will buy it from you as an insurance payout. This equals the Sale or Transfer of a Motor Vehicle, and you must Notify DVLA.
A few services offer a free stolen vehicle check service, but some have limitations.
Free stolen check services can be annoying as you must provide a lot of information.
The CarVeto stolen car check service is as cheap as £8.90 and includes an instant HPI check report.