Quick Answer
Warning signs a car may be stolen include a price that's too good to be true, a seller who won't meet at their home address, a missing or photocopied V5C, a VIN that doesn't match the paperwork, and pressure to pay cash quickly. A stolen check confirms it against police records.
Behavioural and paperwork red flags
- Price well below market value with a rushed sale
- Seller won't meet at the registered keeper's home address
- No V5C logbook, or only a photocopy
- Seller's name doesn't match the V5C
- Cash-only, and pressure to complete immediately
- Two keys missing or freshly cut keys only
Physical red flags
Check the VIN (visible at the base of the windscreen and on a plate in the engine bay or door pillar) matches the V5C exactly. Signs of tampering — re-stamped numbers, scratched plates or mismatched screws — suggest a cloned or ringed vehicle.
Check if a car is stolen
Query police records for a theft marker before you buy — check any reg instantly.
Check if a car is stolenFrequently Asked Questions
What is a cloned car?
A cloned car wears the identity — number plate and VIN — of a legitimate car of the same make and model, to disguise that it's stolen. Cross-checking the VIN against the V5C helps expose it.
How do I be certain a car isn't stolen?
Run a vehicle history check. It queries the Police National Computer for a theft marker, which is the only reliable confirmation beyond the visual and paperwork checks.