Vehicles With Damaged VIN Or Chassis Numbers.

[BT]

Hello chaps.

I thought here would be the best place to ask.

I am not looking at buying one, but I keep seeing them and it kind of confuses me.

I have been looking at various new cars and have seen an increasing amount of "stolen recovered" vehicles with damaged VIN numbers. Personally this is something I would steer incredibly clear of yet people must be buying them because there seems to be plenty about.

How do you know that the vehicle you're looking at is actually the vehicle it is presenting itself as? In a normal world you would check the reg against the VIN and you know you've got a decent above board car.

I see on some salvage sites vehicles advertised as Cat C/D, so suggesting it can be returned to the road but then I'm additional notes it says VIN damaged/removed or something along those lines.

Is this much like the whole V5 selling? It shouldn't be done, it is illegal, yet so many people are doing it it comes across as normal now days.

Just curious as to it all really.

Thanks.

[Deleted]

Ask for proof that it was stolen/ recovered, police paperwork or receipt from the recovery agent, check the VIN on the dash and body match (unlikely they will both be missing) then check the logbook is legit and the numbers match what should be on the car (if its a ringer it won't have the same engine number) , how long have they owned the car, HPI checks, check owners clubs. they may be a thread about the car being stolen then found.
If you are buying from a known salvage dealer they will have all the documents from the owner/ insurance Co/ police or recovery agent.