Here's Why It’s Easy for Thieves to Register Stolen Vehicles | Carscoops

      Using a VIN, some counterfeit documents, and a bit of luck, criminals can potentially transfer your title or registration.

      Eight hours ago by Michael Gauthier

      Thieves in Canada are utilizing legitimate VINs to register and sell stolen cars.

      Currently, over 140,000 cloned VINs may be in circulation throughout Canada.

      Public VIN listings on sales websites could inadvertently support car thieves.

      Vehicle Identification Numbers serve as social security numbers for vehicles, providing extensive information about them. In addition to details regarding make, model, and powertrain, VINs are used for a variety of purposes, including obtaining vehicle history reports.

      More: Watch the Moment a VIN Switcher is Caught at a Ford Dealership

      However, they are also employed for vehicle registration, which can lead to problematic situations. As reported by CTV News, some criminals have realized they can steal a car with minimal effort.

      Dealerships Caught in the Middle

      The station spoke with a dealer in Ontario who had a Mercedes G-Class Squared in their stock. When a customer purchased the vehicle and the dealership attempted to transfer it, they were informed it no longer belonged to them, despite still being in their inventory. It’s suspected that thieves acquired the VIN and used it on documents to facilitate the registration of the stolen G-Class.

      This method, known as ‘re-vinning,’ is attractive to thieves because it simplifies the sale of stolen vehicles. Carfax estimates there might be over 140,000 vehicles with cloned VINs operating in Canada, many of which are likely stolen.

      To address this issue, the company introduced a new VIN Fraud Check tool in April, which notifies dealers if a vehicle’s VIN “contains data suggesting potential fraud, or if it has been reported stolen in North America.” However, no system is infallible, and it seems some government officials may be assisting thieves.

      Public VIN Listings Simplify The Process

      It remains unclear how criminals obtained the VIN for the G-Class, but such information is relatively easy to find online. In fact, Carfax’s website displays the VINs of vehicles at dealerships directly beneath their prices and mileage.

      This implies that if someone stole a 2018 Kia Optima, they could simply use Carfax to locate a similar model for sale. They could then take that vehicle's VIN and counterfeit documents to attempt to register their stolen vehicle as the legitimate one.