Check a vehicle while you read
Enter a UK registration to see what ServiceLad holds for it.
Vehicle Risk Check £9.99 · Complete History Report £16.99 · one-off payment, no subscription. See what each one includes.
What a stolen marker actually records
When a vehicle theft is reported to police, the registration can be flagged on the databases that insurers and check providers reference. A marker staying on a car's record means it was reported stolen and, as far as those records show, not confirmed recovered or resolved.
Why this matters more than it might seem
Buying a stolen car, even unknowingly, doesn't give you legal ownership of it. If a vehicle you've bought turns out to carry a stolen marker, it can be seized, and getting your money back from the seller afterwards isn't guaranteed, especially with a private sale and no paper trail. A quick check before paying is far cheaper than untangling that afterwards.
- A seller unwilling to meet at their own address, or reluctant to show ID
- A price noticeably below what similar cars are selling for
- Paperwork that doesn't match the seller's name, or a recently reissued V5C without a clear reason
- Pressure to complete the sale quickly, in cash, with no time to check anything
Running the check
A stolen marker sits alongside finance and write-off data as one of the checks worth running before any money changes hands. MOTCO's stolen vehicle check looks up the registration against the relevant databases and reports back whether a marker is recorded. A ServiceLad report covers the same marker, and ServiceLad's ongoing V5C alerts keep watching the registration after you buy, in case anything changes later.
Stop the transaction and report it. Don't confront the seller alone, and don't hand over any money in the meantime.
Common questions
Can I check if a car is stolen for free?
Some basic databases are searchable for free, but coverage is limited. A paid check that combines stolen status with finance and write-off data gives a more complete picture in one search.
What do I do if I've already bought a stolen car unknowingly?
Report it to the police immediately and keep all your purchase paperwork. Acting quickly and keeping records is the best protection if the sale is later disputed.
Check the car you are looking at
Enter a UK registration to see what ServiceLad holds for it.
Vehicle Risk Check £9.99 · Complete History Report £16.99 · one-off payment, no subscription. See what each one includes.