More information about stolen vehicles
The PNC
The Police National Computer (PNC) is updated whenever a vehicle is reported stolen. If you check a vehicle that’s on the PNC, we are obliged to inform the police. Our Service Support Team will contact you with any further information.
Why this matters
Stolen vehicles remain the property of the true owner or their insurance company. They are entitled to reclaim their vehicle, even if you bought it in good faith. Your only option if you unwittingly bought one would be to sue the seller - if you can find them (which is unlikely, given they are selling a stolen vehicle).
Cloned or ringed vehicles
A clone or ringer is a vehicle that has been given a false registration number and VIN - to hide the fact that it’s been written off after an accident, for instance. When this happens, the rest of this report will be for a different, but identical looking, vehicle. AutoCheck insurance does not cover clones or ringers. You can reduce the risk of buying a vehicle like this by following our buying advice.