PNC data · £20k guarantee

Stolen car check — don't buy someone else's car.

Check if a used car is reported stolen on the Police National Computer. Experian PNC data included in CarVouch's Full Vehicle Check. £20k guarantee.

Free scan shows MOT + mileage + advert red flags. Stolen check requires Full Vehicle Check (£9.99).

What CarVouch's stolen check includes

CarVouch queries Experian's database, which includes Police National Computer (PNC) stolen markers.

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Stolen status

Clean or stolen — instant verdict from Experian PNC data.

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PNC marker

If the vehicle is marked as stolen on the Police National Computer.

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Marker date

When the stolen marker was added (if applicable).

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VIN cross-check

Vehicle identification number matched against DVLA and PNC records.

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£20k Experian guarantee

If Experian data is wrong and you lose money, claim up to £20,000.

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PDF report

Download a shareable certificate with the stolen check result.

Why check if a car is stolen before buying?

If you buy a stolen car — even unknowingly and in good faith — you do not become the legal owner. The police can seize the vehicle at any time and return it to the rightful owner or insurer. You lose the car, you lose your money, and you have no automatic right to compensation.

Thousands of stolen cars are sold in the UK every year. Professional criminals make them look legitimate with cloned plates, fake V5C logbooks and plausible stories. The seller may meet you at a genuine address, have keys that work, and provide convincing paperwork. A stolen check is the only way to know for certain.

Free checks do not reveal stolen status. The Police National Computer is not public. Only paid history checks that query Experian or HPI data can access PNC stolen markers.

Red flags: how to spot a potentially stolen car

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No V5C logbook

Seller claims it's "in the post" or "lost". Genuine sellers can order a replacement online in days.

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Only one key

Many stolen cars have one key because the thief made a copy. Genuine sellers usually have both keys.

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Unusual meet location

Seller insists on meeting at a car park, petrol station, or "friend's house" instead of their own address.

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Rushed sale

Seller wants cash immediately and discourages a history check or inspection. Pressure is a warning sign.

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Too cheap

Price significantly below market value with no credible reason (e.g. emigrating, divorce, repossession).

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Mismatched VIN

VIN on the V5C doesn't match the VIN stamped on the car (windscreen, door pillar, engine bay).

Stolen car check — FAQs

A stolen vehicle check queries the Police National Computer (PNC) to see if a car has been reported stolen and not yet recovered. If a car is marked as stolen, you cannot legally own or drive it.

If you buy a stolen car, the police can seize it and return it to the rightful owner or insurer. You lose both the car and the money you paid, with no automatic compensation. The seller may have disappeared.

A stolen vehicle check queries Experian's database, which includes Police National Computer (PNC) stolen markers. CarVouch's Full Vehicle Check includes this data. Free DVLA and DVSA checks do not reveal stolen status.

Yes — this is called "ringing" or VIN cloning. Criminals register a stolen car with the identity (VIN, registration) of a legitimate vehicle. A history check on the VIN, not just the plate, can help spot this fraud.

Yes. CarVouch's Full Vehicle Check (£9.99) includes Experian stolen records, sourced from the Police National Computer. If a vehicle is marked as stolen, the report shows the stolen marker and date.

Yes. Many buyers of stolen cars had no idea — the seller seemed credible, had keys and documents, and the car looked legitimate. A stolen check costs £9.99 and takes seconds. The risk of losing thousands is not worth skipping it.

Check for stolen status now

£9.99 Full Vehicle Check. Experian PNC stolen, finance and write-off data. £20k guarantee. Instant PDF report.

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