For used car dealers and lots
VIN Check for Car Dealers
Run every trade-in and auction buy through a VIN check before you cut a check. SafeOrStolen decodes the year, make and model, lists open safety recalls, and searches its theft reports and public web results for the VIN. Arizona VINs are also checked against Arizona law-enforcement stolen-vehicle records. It does not cover title brands, odometer or liens, so keep your usual history report for those.
2 free checks · No credit card · Updated October 7, 2026
What a SafeOrStolen VIN check covers
| Record | Included? |
|---|---|
| Year, make and model decoded from the VIN | Yes |
| Open safety recalls | Yes |
| SafeOrStolen theft reports | Yes |
| Public web results that mention the VIN | Yes |
| Arizona law-enforcement stolen-vehicle records | Yes, for Arizona VINs and plates (updated twice a day) |
| NCIC stolen vehicle file | No. Only police can search it. |
| Title brands (salvage, flood, rebuilt), odometer, liens | No. Use an NMVTIS vehicle history report or your usual history provider. |
| State DMV or MVD registration records | No |
The result reads "reported stolen", "possible match" or "no report found in the records searched", and names each source it checked. Plate checks never show owner names.
At the trade-in appraisal
- Read the VIN from the plate at the base of the windshield and from the sticker on the driver-door jamb. They should match each other and the title.
- Look at the dash plate rivets and the door sticker. Scratched, loose or replaced plates, or a sticker cut out, are a stop sign.
- Check the seller's photo ID against the name on the title or registration.
- Run the VIN at /vin-checker. A mistyped VIN is caught before it uses a check.
- Pull your title and odometer history from your usual provider.
- Save the check in the deal jacket: your account keeps the date, and a $1.99 certificate gives you a link to print or share.
After an auction or a wholesale buy
Put the VINs from the run list into a .csv file, one per line. At /bulk-check, choose Vehicles (VIN), upload the file and let it run. Up to 100 VINs go in each run. The results CSV gives you the result, the sources searched and the time of the check for every VIN, which you can file with the bill of sale.
Selling a car and want the buyer to see you checked it? See how sellers share a check. Gun dealers checking serials should start at the pawn shop page, which covers firearm records.
Common questions from dealers
How can a car dealer check if a trade-in is stolen?
Match the VIN on the dash plate, the driver-door sticker and the title, check the seller's ID against the name on the title, then run the VIN on SafeOrStolen (safeorstolen.com/for-dealers). It decodes the vehicle, lists open recalls and searches theft reports and public web results, plus Arizona law-enforcement records for Arizona VINs. Ask your local police if anything looks off.
Does a SafeOrStolen VIN check show salvage or flood titles?
No. SafeOrStolen doesn't search title, odometer, lien or insurance total-loss records. Get those from an NMVTIS vehicle history report or the history service you already use. Use SafeOrStolen for what it adds: the decoded year, make and model, open safety recalls, theft reports and web mentions of the VIN, and Arizona stolen-vehicle records.
Can we check a list of VINs from an auction purchase?
Yes. Sign in, open /bulk-check, choose Vehicles (VIN) and paste up to 100 VINs, one per line, or upload them as a .csv file. A mistyped VIN is rejected without using a check. When it finishes, download the CSV: one row per VIN with the result, the sources searched and the time of the check.
What does it cost a dealership?
The same as anyone else. 2 free checks with a free account, then $0.99 per check or $10 a month for unlimited checks, cancel anytime, with a 30-day refund on the monthly plan. There are no per-rooftop plans or overage fees. If you need something different for several stores, email safeorstolenmail@gmail.com.
Can we give a buyer proof that we checked the car?
Yes. After a check, add a $1.99 verification certificate (free on the monthly plan). It has its own link and shows the date, the last four characters of the VIN, the result and the sources searched. It shows the car was looked up on that date. It is not a title report or a guarantee.
What if the VIN plates on a vehicle don't match?
Stop the deal. A dash VIN that doesn't match the door sticker or the title, a loose or re-riveted VIN plate, or a sticker that has been cut out are classic signs of a stolen or rebuilt vehicle with a swapped identity. Don't buy it, keep copies of the paperwork, and call your local police non-emergency line.
Check the next trade-in
2 free checks, then $0.99 per check or $10 a month unlimited. The free web app at safeorstolen.com/app works from a phone on the lot. Questions: safeorstolenmail@gmail.com.