The problem of stolen vehicles being traded in Ireland remains a major concern. Even to people with experience in the motor trade, spotting stolen vehicles can prove difficult, as professional car thieves have become expert in disguising the true identity of the cars by modifying the VIN numbers and changing the number plates to those of similar vehicles registered in Ireland.

To combat this problem Motorcheck.ie has become the first car history provider to agree to An Garda Siochana’s terms for access to the Garda stolen car register and plans to integrate this data into every car history check it provides free of charge.

If you are buying a car or taking one as a trade in and want to make sure that it hasn’t been stolen, there are a number of checks that you should perform.

Do an online check – has the vehicle had a significant number of enquiries in a short period of time?

Familiarise yourself with the location of the VIN Numbers on vehicles of interest and ensure that they all match the Vehicle License Certificate as well as the Motorcheck Report. If the VIN plate has been removed or replaced be very careful.

Check that the VLC appears genuine. Are all the watermarks in place?
Check the engine number. Does it match the VLC and the Motorcheck report? If not, why not? Ask!

Make sure you can verify the seller’s identification. Get a landline number for work or home and make sure it is genuine.

Always view the vehicle in good daylight and at the seller’s home.
Get the seller to go through the service history with you and show you where certain controls are.  

Check if the vehicle has a valid tax and insurance disc. If not, why not? Be sure to also check the registration number on the discs with that of the car. Do they match?

Does the registration plate look like it has been recently printed? Are there more holes in it than necessary? Could it have been changed recently? Why?