Stolen Car Check: Verify a Chassis Number Isn't Reported Stolen
A stolen car check matches a chassis number against theft records so you can confirm the Chinese vehicle you're about to pay for isn't reported stolen.
Have the chassis number? Run a free chassis number check to decode it now, or get the full vehicle history report from China Vehicle History.
How theft records get attached to a chassis number
When a vehicle is reported stolen, the chassis number is flagged in national and insurer databases. That flag stays attached even if the vehicle is later recovered, resold, or exported, unless it's formally cleared.
Steps to run a stolen car check
Confirm the chassis number is valid and matches the vehicle's plates and paperwork, then run it through a vehicle history report that includes theft records. Do this before wiring any deposit, especially on a cross-border purchase.
What to do if a chassis number shows a theft flag
Stop the transaction and don't send funds. A theft flag can mean the vehicle is legally unsellable in your destination market regardless of how the seller frames it.
How to spot a tampered or cloned chassis number
Stolen cars are often given a fake or copied chassis number. Check that the number is identical on the registration card, the windscreen plate, the door-pillar label and the body stamping. Warning signs include fresh paint, welding or grinding marks around the stamping, characters that look uneven or in a different font, a windscreen plate or label that looks replaced, and any letter I, O or Q in the number. Then run the free check: if the brand, model or year it returns doesn't match the car in front of you, the number may be cloned from another vehicle.
FAQ
Will a stolen chassis number show up in the free preview?
The free preview confirms the vehicle's brand, model and year. Theft records are part of the vehicle title section in the Standard and Premium reports.
How can I tell if a chassis number has been tampered with?
Compare the number in every location — registration card, windscreen plate, door pillar and body — and look for fresh paint, welding or uneven characters around the stamping. If the free check returns a different model or year from the car you see, don't buy it and report it to the police.
Verify before you buy
Decode the chassis number free, then unlock the full vehicle history report for accident, mileage, and China registry records.
Get the full history report →