How to check if a stolen car has been found?
Asked by: Nathaniel Borer MD | Last update: June 7, 2025Score: 4.8/5 (46 votes)
How do I know if my stolen car was found?
The easiest way to find the stolen car back is through VIN's number. At the same time, if you want to find a stolen car without a tracker, you can check the car security camera's video or contact the insurance company.
How to check status of stolen vehicle?
Use NICB's Free VINCheck® Service
NICB's VINCheck is a free service provided to the public to assist in determining if a vehicle has been reported as stolen, but not recovered, or has been reported as a salvage vehicle by cooperating NICB member insurance companies.
Can I track my car after it has been stolen?
Locating your vehicle
After reporting the vehicle stolen to law enforcement, contact an OnStar Advisor at 1.888. 4ONSTAR (1.888. 466.7827) to begin the process of locating and recovering your vehicle. Built-in GPS technology can help the Advisor find your vehicle and relay its location to the proper authorities.
Is there a public database for stolen vehicles?
The California Highway Patrol operates the Vehicle Theft Information System (VTIS) under the Vehicle Theft Control Program. These two directories are the sources of what we can consider a database of stolen vehicles in California.
How to Check if a Car is Stolen (Stolen Car Check)
Can police locate a stolen car?
Locate a Stolen Car By License Plate Number
When a car is reported as stolen, the police will request the vehicle's make, model, and license plate number. It's flagged to local patrol cars and surveillance cameras for them to spot if it passes by.
Is there a free VIN lookup?
NICB's VINCheck is a free lookup service provided to the public to assist in determining if a vehicle may have a record of an insurance theft claim, and has not been recovered, or has ever been reported as a salvage vehicle by participating NICB member insurance companies.
What happens if your car is stolen and never found?
Your car insurance will cover a stolen car if you carry comprehensive insurance; you will have to pay the deductible. If your car is not recovered within 30 days, the insurance company will declare it a total loss and pay you its actual cash value.
How long does it take police to find a stolen car?
If you report your car as stolen immediately to police, there's a better chance it will be recovered. In fact, according to NICB data, 35% of recovered stolen vehicles are recovered on the same day as the theft, and 45% are recovered within two days.
Is there an app to find stolen cars?
TheftPatrol Connected Car App gives you real-time location information nationwide using any PC, tablet or cell phone. You can access our hotline 24/7 and our team of recovery specialists will work with your local police department to recover your car within minutes.
Does insurance cover a stolen car?
Car Theft Insurance: When Am I Entitled to Coverage? Downey drivers whose cars are stolen in Califonia will have car theft insurance if they have comprehensive coverage. That should cover you up to the Actual Cash Value (ACV) of your vehicle. If your car is damaged due to a break-in, you'll also be covered.
Can a dealership track a stolen car?
GPS tracking devices allow dealerships to monitor these vehicles, ensuring they know where each asset is at all times. In cases where vehicles are stolen, dealerships can rapidly recover them thanks to SVR (Stolen Vehicle Recovery) systems.
What can I do if someone sold me a stolen car?
What to do if the car you're buying is stolen. If you find out if the car you're buying is stolen, file a police report. Provide your bill of sale and any pertinent documents and information. Unfortunately, if the car you purchase was stolen or is a “cloned car,” it was never really yours.
Are stolen cars usually recovered?
According to the Insurance Information Institute, cars reported stolen in the first 24 hours have a 34 percent same-day recovery rate. More than 85 percent of stolen vehicles are eventually recovered. Once you've provided information to the police, they can create a report.
How can I find my stolen car online?
The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is a critical tool in locating a stolen car. Services like AutoCheck and NICB's VinCheck enable you to monitor activity related to your vehicle. VIN tracking is particularly effective if the thief attempts to resell the car or if it's taken to a mechanic for repairs.
Can I track my car after it's been stolen?
It's a question we hear a lot — “can OnStar locate my car?” We sure can. Once law enforcement confirms your vehicle has been stolen, our Advisors use GPS to help authorities find your vehicle.
What is the average time to find a stolen car?
On average, law enforcement typically finds a stolen vehicle within 48 hours of it being reported missing. But the process can also take much, much longer. So be patient as law enforcement searches for your vehicle.
How are most stolen cars found?
Police Notification: The police are generally the ones who locate and recover stolen vehicles. They will contact you to inform you that your car has been found. The condition of your car when it's found can vary.
What to do if I found my stolen car?
If the claim has already been paid, then your insurance company owns the vehicle. You must report the recovery of your vehicle right away and let your insurance company know. According to the FBI, approximately 810,400 vehicles were stolen in 2020.
What happens if they never find your car?
If your lender can't locate your vehicle to do a "self-help" repossession, they can still sue you for the vehicle. This will involve a small claims case, where the judge will order you to give the car to the lender. You might even be compelled to Court to provide testimony about the location of the vehicle.
Will the police call me if they find my stolen car?
As a rule, yes, they let the car's owner know that they have found their car. If you've reported your car stolen and the Police have located it, they're GOING to inform you of that.
How to locate a stolen car by VIN for free?
The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) offers a free online service to check a vehicle identifcation number - or VIN - against its own database of reported stolen vehicles which have not been recovered.
Is bumper free to use?
Bumper is a car dealership website that has its own VIN checking tool. It is probably the most common web tool that is used to check a VIN for free. It provides a free trial service as well from which you can check a specific vehicle's history from the legitimate sources.
Can you run a VIN number to find owner?
VIN owner lookup is a service that provides detailed information about the registered vehicle, its owner, and other related records. The service utilizes advanced search technology to access public and private databases that compile valuable information about the vehicle and its owners.