| Not all stolen vehicles are stolen and stripped for | | | | 9. The VIN on the dash must match the VIN on the |
| parts. Many are resold to unknowing and | | | | registration, title, and federal safety inspection sticker |
| unsuspecting buyers. You can be arrested if you | | | | on the driver's door. |
| knowingly purchase a stolen vehicle. If you buy a | | | | 10. If the VIN plate is scratched, bent or missing |
| stolen car unknowingly, you could lose the car and | | | | rivets, suspect tampering. |
| your money. Avoid becoming the car thief's second | | | | 11. Make sure the federal safety inspection sticker, |
| victim by following these tips: | | | | located on the driver's door or door jam, is securely |
| | | | in place and none of the numbers appear to be |
| 1. Be on the lookout for any deal that seems "too | | | | tampered with. |
| good to be true". | | | | 12. Beware of loose dashboards. |
| 2. When buying from a private individual, make sure | | | | 13. An excessively loose ignition switch may suggest |
| his name matches the title and registration of the car. | | | | tampering. Check the switch for chisel or pull marks. |
| 3. Be wary of a seller with no fixed address, place of | | | | 14. Be cautious of a fresh paint job on a newer |
| employment, or phone number. | | | | vehicle. This may indicate an attempt to change the |
| 4. Ask the seller for references about past financing | | | | car's identity. |
| and insurance on the vehicle. Verify the information | | | | 15. Check the inspection and license plate registration |
| with the bank, finance company, or agent. | | | | stickers to be sure they are current and issued by |
| 5. Make sure the vehicle identification number (VIN) | | | | the same state. |
| plate on the automobile's dash is present, secure, and | | | | 16. If the seller provides you with only copied key |
| has no loose rivets. | | | | and not the original manfacturer's keys, for a newer |
| 6. Check to make sure the VIN plate has not been | | | | model car, be suspicious. |
| repainted and the numbers stamped in the plate | | | | 17. Titles and registrations are frequently |
| appear to be original factory numbers. | | | | counterfeited. Therefore, ask to see the title before |
| 7. Make sure the VIN plate rivets are original. All 1970 | | | | paying, and make sure it matches the registration. By |
| and newer autos produced in North America have | | | | completing all paperwork at the time of sale, you |
| stainless steel "rosette-shaped" rivets with six petals | | | | avoid giving the thief extra time to obtain counterfeit |
| and a hole in the middle. They are difficult to scratch | | | | documents. |
| with a knife. | | | | 18. Question the seller if the registration was recently |
| 8. Thieves may remove the VIN plate and replace it | | | | issued on an older vehicle. |
| with one from a similar wrecked vehicle. If you are | | | | 19. Compare the engine identification numbers with all |
| doubtful about plate authenticity, check with a new | | | | other VIN numbers to make sure they match. |
| car dealer that handles the same model, or contact a | | | | 20. Be wary of new license plates on an old car, or |
| law enforcement agency. | | | | new plate bolts on an older plate. |