Sadly, South Africa is something of a car theft hotspot. In fact, from the period 2018-2019 alone, the country fell prey to a total of 17,208 carjackings and 48,324 vehicles were reported stolen. The question is, where do all these vehicles go? While many stolen vehicles are stripped and sold for parts, some make their way back to the sales floor, en route to their unsuspecting new owners.

If you want to make sure that any second hand vehicle you buy hasn't made its way onto the market by unsavoury means, read our guide.

How to know if a car is stolen

Car thieves are, unfortunately, often rather good at covering their tracks, and it can often be difficult to work out whether a car has been stolen or not. However, you are less likely to become a victim if you shop for cars at reputable and established dealerships. This doesn’t mean that dealerships don’t end up with vehicles that have fishy histories, it just means they’re less likely to harbour stolen goods than private sellers, for example.

Another good idea is to learn how to do a background check on a vehicle. Luckily, technology has made this process easy and there are many websites that can easily give you the guidance and information you need.

If you do not feel like doing the check yourself, you can request this service from your local SAPS or the Metro Police – who will do the check for you free of charge.

Checking if a car you’re buying is stolen – what information will you need?

If you prefer taking matters into your own hands or if you don’t have time to wait for law enforcement to get back to you with their findings, then a self-check will do.

Before you commence with a successful check to see if a car has been listed as stolen, you will need the following information:

  • The year, make, and model of the vehicle
  • The engine number
  • The VIN/chassis number
  • A registration number
  • The colour of the car
  • The current mileage

You can pass these details onto your local police force or, as we mentioned,  you can streamline the process and administer quick checks at one of the following sites:

The Car Market is quite a useful resource when it comes to digging up data on a car’s history.

Vehicle Check also allows you to verify the VIN, year, make, model and variant of a vehicle. Here, you’ll be provided with background details, including if the car was stolen. The cost involved is roughly R100.

Car Value is endorsed by TransUnion and provides detailed info that includes mention of mileage and its standing with care finance – as well as its status with SAPS. You will have to register an account with Car Value to access this information at an average cost of R150.

Using a VIN number check

To truly determine whether a vehicle has been stolen, you will need to have the car in question’s VIN number on hand. The acronym VIN stands for Vehicle Identification Number and can be considered a car’s unique fingerprint – differentiating it from all other vehicles that have been manufactured.

Where can I find a vehicle’s VIN?

Every vehicle manufactured after 1981 will feature a 17-digit alphanumeric code. This code can be found:

  • On the front of the engine, just below the bonnet
  • Inside the driver's door (side jamb)
  • On the driver or passenger’s side dash (it can be seen through the windshield)
  • In the front end of the frames of older-style vehicles

Why Is A VIN Number Important?

A VIN is important because it’s the easiest and safest way of accessing accurate information of a car. Vehicle registration companies, car manufacturers, and law enforcement use these numbers to create databases that enable them to validate and identify a vehicle and its history correctly. That’s where the true value of a VIN lies.

How can I prevent my car from being stolen?

Once you have bought yourself a vehicle that you know hasn’t come from a criminal origin, then you’ll also want to make sure it doesn’t fall into the wrong hands and end up as stolen property in the future. This means that you must make sure you activate the best car security measures. From car alarm systems to vehicle tracking, there’s a vast selection of options to take your pick from.

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