Is It Nicked?
Check any UK vehicle against the Police National Computer (PNC) for free. Enter the reg below and we'll open the search — find out instantly if a car is recorded as stolen.
How the Stolen Check Works
Enter the Reg
Type the UK number plate of the vehicle you want to check — it's on the front and rear of the car.
Check the PNC
isitnicked.com searches the Police National Computer — the same database used by every UK police force.
Instant Results
If the vehicle is flagged, you'll get the police force and contact details to report it. Free and instant.
Why Should You Check?
Over 100 vehicles are flagged as stolen every day in the UK. Before you buy a used car — or before we cut a key for one — a quick PNC check can save you thousands and keep you on the right side of the law.
Buying a Used Car?
A stolen flag on the PNC means the car could be seized — and you lose your money.
Need a Key Cut?
We always recommend a PNC check before cutting keys for a vehicle you've just bought.
Selling Your Car?
A clean PNC report gives buyers confidence and helps your car sell faster.
It's Completely Free
Unlike HPI checks (£20+), isitnicked.com offers PNC stolen checks at zero cost.
Also Need a VIN Lookup?
Get the full vehicle specs — make, model, engine, fuel type, colour, and VIN — from just the number plate.
Try Reg2VIN →Lost Your Keys or Locked Out?
24/7 mobile auto locksmith — Scarborough, Filey, Whitby & across the Yorkshire coast.
Call 01723 817140 — 24/7Stolen Vehicle Checks Explained
Every day in the UK, around 100 vehicles are recorded as stolen on the Police National Computer (PNC). Many of these vehicles are never recovered, and some end up being sold on to unsuspecting buyers — often at attractive prices that should be the first warning sign. A free PNC check takes seconds and can save you thousands of pounds and months of legal trouble.
The PNC is the central database used by all 43 UK police forces. When a vehicle is reported stolen, it's logged on the PNC within hours, and the record stays active until the vehicle is recovered or the case is resolved. Our free stolen vehicle check searches this database in real time, using the same data the police use, so you can be confident the result is accurate and up to date.
When Should You Check?
Before buying a used car. This is the most important time to run a check. If the car is flagged as stolen, you won't be able to register it in your name, you won't be able to insure it, and the police can seize it without compensation. Always check before you hand over any money.
Before we cut a key. As responsible locksmiths, we strongly recommend a PNC check before we cut a key for a vehicle that hasn't been registered in your name for long. If the car turns out to be stolen, cutting a key for it would make us complicit in handling stolen goods. The check is free, takes seconds, and protects both of us.
If you've lost your only key. If you've lost your only key and the car has been off the road for a while, it's worth checking it hasn't been reported stolen in the meantime. Unusual circumstances, but it does happen.
What to Do If a Vehicle Is Flagged
If the check shows a vehicle is recorded as stolen, do not contact the seller, do not hand over any money, and do not attempt to drive the car. The isitnicked.com result page will give you the relevant police force's contact details — call them on 101 (or 999 if the vehicle is being driven by someone right now) and report what you've found. The police will arrange for the vehicle to be recovered and the rightful owner to be traced. As a buyer, you're an innocent party — the police won't take action against you, but they will take the car back and you'll lose your money. Better to find out before you pay.