What qualifies a vehicle as stolen?
For MotorCheck to show a vehicle as stolen:
The theft must be reported to the police, and
There must be a live stolen marker on the Police National Computer (PNC)
If a marker is removed by the police, we also remove the stolen status from our report.
We do not consider a car stolen based on:
Insurer reports alone (e.g. MIAFTR markers)
Outdated or unverified data
Note: PNC as a term (Stands for Police National Computer) is being phased out in 2025 as the Home Office migrate to their new LEDS (Law Enforcement Data Sharing) platform. The data remains the same but it's a different database that manages the stolen records.
Why do other providers sometimes show it differently?
Some platforms may show a stolen status based on insurer input, even if the police have already cleared the car. These reports can remain due to poor housekeeping by the insurer and the platform provider.
At MotorCheck, we give a short grace period of 7–10 days:
If a stolen marker from MIAFTR is received,
And no PNC marker appears within 7–10 days, we remove the stolen status
Here's how we report on a stolen car
Sample case
A car was:
Reported stolen to police (PNC marker added)
Recovered within 24 hours (PNC marker removed)
Later marked as stolen by an insurer via MIAFTR
MotorCheck showed no stolen status (because the PNC was clear).
Another history provider still showed it as stolen (based on MIAFTR).
Our rule is simple: No live PNC marker = Not stolen.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why does HPI say the car is stolen, but MotorCheck doesn’t?
Why does HPI say the car is stolen, but MotorCheck doesn’t?
They may be using MIAFTR data. We only use police-confirmed data (PNC).
What is the PNC?
What is the PNC?
The Police National Computer is the UK’s official source for stolen vehicle reports. If it’s not listed there, it’s not officially stolen.
Can a vehicle be stolen but not have a PNC marker?
Can a vehicle be stolen but not have a PNC marker?
Only if the owner never reported it. But we can’t assume theft—we rely on facts.
What happens if a vehicle is re-stolen after recovery?
What happens if a vehicle is re-stolen after recovery?
It must be reported again to the police and appear again on the PNC. Otherwise, we’ll treat it as recovered.
How long does it take for the PNC marker to show up?
How long does it take for the PNC marker to show up?
Usually within 24–72 hours. That’s why we allow a grace period before removing insurer-only flags.
Can I check with the police directly?
Can I check with the police directly?
Yes. Contact your local police station with the vehicle’s registration to confirm.
Still not sure?
If you're seeing a stolen flag elsewhere and MotorCheck says it's clear, get in touch with us. We're happy to double-check the data for you and explain what’s going on.