How to Report a Stolen Vehicle
If your car is gone, act fast and in order: call the police, file the report and get the case number, notify your insurer, and flag the VIN with the NICB. This guide walks through each step, what the police need from you, and how the national databases put your VIN on every officer's radar.
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Quick Answer
- How do I report a stolen vehicle?
- Call your local police right away and file a report in person or online. Give them the VIN, license plate, make, model, color, and where and when it was last seen. Police enter the VIN into the NCIC national database, then notify your insurer and, for U.S. vehicles, the NICB.
- Can I report a stolen vehicle online?
- Many police departments accept online theft reports for non-emergency situations, and some let you start the report by phone. If the theft is in progress or you see the vehicle, call 911 instead — never approach it yourself.
- What information do the police need?
- Have the 17-character VIN, plate number and state, year/make/model/color, the last known location and time, and any tracking or key details ready. A recent VIN report is a fast way to confirm the exact specs if you don't have them written down.
If the theft is happening now, call 911
Never chase or confront a thief, even if you have a GPS location. Share the tracker data with police and let them recover the vehicle. Your safety is worth more than the car.
4 Steps to Report a Stolen Vehicle
Work through these in order. Each one feeds the next — the police report number unlocks your insurance claim, and the VIN ties everything together across the national systems.
Call the police
Dial 911 if the theft is in progress or you can see the vehicle. Otherwise, call your local police non-emergency line. Report it as soon as you notice — the first hours matter most for recovery.
File the report and get the number
File in person or online and write down the report/case number. Police enter the VIN into the NCIC national database so any officer who runs the plate anywhere in the country sees it flagged as stolen.
Notify your insurer
Call your insurance company the same day. Comprehensive coverage typically handles theft, and they'll want the police report number to open a claim. The sooner you file, the sooner they can act.
Flag it with the NICB
For U.S. vehicles, the National Insurance Crime Bureau tracks stolen VINs and works with law enforcement and salvage yards. A flagged VIN makes the car far harder to resell or part out.
What the Police Report Does
When you file, the officer enters your VIN and plate into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) — the FBI-run database that every U.S. law-enforcement agency can query. From that moment, any patrol car that runs the plate, anywhere in the country, sees it flagged as stolen.
That national flag is what actually recovers vehicles. A large share of stolen cars are found during routine traffic stops and plate scans, not targeted searches. Filing quickly and accurately is the single most useful thing you can do.
The report number is also your key to the insurance claim and, if the car turns up damaged or stripped, to the salvage and theft-recovery records that later show up on a VIN history report.
Have this ready for the report
- The 17-character VIN
- License plate number and state
- Year, make, model, and color
- Last known location and time seen
- GPS tracker or telematics account details
- Whether all keys are accounted for
- Any distinctive marks, damage, or mods
- Your insurance policy number
Reporting Online vs. In Person
Both work — the right choice depends on urgency and what your local department offers.
By phone (non-emergency)
Fastest for most thefts noticed after the fact. The dispatcher takes the details and either files it or sends an officer to you.
Online report
Many departments offer an online form for stolen vehicles. Convenient, but check that your VIN is entered into NCIC and get a case number.
In person
Best if the theft involves other crimes, injuries, or you need a documented statement. You'll leave with a report number in hand.
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After You've Filed
Keep your report number, insurer claim number, and every receipt in one place. If you use a GPS tracker or connected-car app, check it and pass any location straight to police rather than acting on it yourself.
If the vehicle is recovered, it may come back with damage that earns a salvage or theft-recovery title brand. Buyers of that car later will see those records on a salvage title check or a stolen vehicle check.
Keep these on file
- Police report / case number
- Insurance claim number
- Photos of the vehicle before the theft
- Title and registration copies
- Purchase and finance records
- Any tracker or app screenshots
Related VIN Tools
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Reporting a Stolen Vehicle: FAQ
The questions owners ask most after a vehicle is stolen.
How do I report a stolen vehicle to the police?+
Call your local police as soon as you notice the theft — 911 if it's in progress, the non-emergency line otherwise. Provide the VIN, license plate and state, make, model, color, and where and when the vehicle was last seen. The officer enters the VIN into the NCIC national database and gives you a report or case number, which you'll need for your insurance claim.
Can I report a stolen vehicle online?+
Many police departments accept online theft reports for non-emergency situations, and some let you begin by phone. It's convenient, but confirm two things: that your VIN is entered into the NCIC database, and that you receive a case number. If the theft is in progress or you can see the vehicle, call 911 instead of filing online.
What information do I need to report a stolen car?+
Have the 17-character VIN, the plate number and state, the year, make, model and color, the last known location and time, any GPS tracker or connected-car account details, whether all keys are accounted for, and your insurance policy number. If you don't have the specs written down, a VIN lookup will pull the exact year, make, and model in seconds.
What is the police stolen vehicle database?+
It's the National Crime Information Center (NCIC), an FBI-run system that every U.S. law-enforcement agency can query. When you file a stolen-vehicle report, police enter your VIN and plate into NCIC, so any officer who runs the plate anywhere in the country sees it flagged as stolen. It's not public, but it's the network that recovers most stolen cars during routine stops.
My car was stolen — what should I do first?+
Call the police and file a report immediately; the first hours matter most for recovery. Then notify your insurer the same day and open a comprehensive claim using the police report number. For U.S. vehicles, the theft is also tracked by the NICB. If you have a GPS tracker, share the location with police rather than going after the car yourself.
Does reporting a stolen vehicle to insurance cost me?+
Filing a theft claim itself doesn't carry a fee, but whether the loss is covered depends on your policy. Comprehensive coverage typically pays for theft, minus your deductible; liability-only policies usually don't. File the police report first, then contact your insurer the same day — they'll need the report number to process the claim.
Look Up a VIN's Theft & Title Records
Enter a 17-character VIN to search national theft and title-brand databases — for your own car or one you're about to buy.
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