Let’s say you bought a car and the seller didn’t have a title for it. Maybe it was some overgrown project car you dug out of the seller’s back yard, or maybe the seller drove it to a meetup and it seemed to run just fine. Hold on a sec! What if you just accidentally bought a stolen vehicle without knowing it? What happens next? Are you going to jail? Did you do anything wrong?

While it may be obvious that you didn’t steal the car, you could still face punishment for Possession of Stolen Property. That means it’s best to do your research and avoid this situation altogether.

Let’s look at the most likely scenarios for your future right after we discuss how to avoid this situation altogether.

How to Avoid Buying a Stolen Car

Good news: you can easily spot a stolen vehicle even if you don’t know much about cars.

First, is buying a car without a title a problem? No. (Although it may be illegal in your state.) Replacing a car title is easy when the title is simply lost or missing. It’s what we do here at Dirt Legal, but this isn’t about that; this is about you possibly buying stolen property without knowing it.

The problem is that “I had no idea” is exactly what a thief would say, so you can imagine how dicey this situation can get if the law gets involved.

When purchasing a car with no title you should:

• Get an ironclad bill of sale from the seller

• Copy or photograph the seller’s driver’s license or ID

• Run the vehicle’s VIN before money changes hands

It’s Easy: Do a VIN Check

Purchasing a VIN report is the best way to avoid accidentally buying a stolen vehicle. Even if the car has a clean title, the VIN check might uncover hidden terrors like past accidents or prior theft history. We strongly suggest that you make this a part of your car buying experience every time. You can also call your local authorities and give them the license plate number to see if the vehicle was involved in any crimes.

Get peace of mind by using our VIN Check Service.

Follow those easy precautions to avoid ever accidentally buying a stolen vehicle. For argument’s sake let’s assume you did none of them, and let’s look at the other ways you could suddenly realize that nice gentleman from the Internet actually sold you a stolen car.

3  Ways to Find Out You Accidentally Bought a Stolen Car

1. Try to Title It

Likely result: Arrested on the spot

This is how most people find out they have a stolen car. You cruise down to the local DMV office in your shiny new ride. You park two spots from the door, walk inside, and there’s nobody in line – today’s a good day. You approach the counter and inquire about recovering a lost title. You give the agent your car’s VIN number. Then you get arrested on the spot for attempting to title a stolen vehicle.

Well that escalated quickly.

Unlikely result: The police hear you out

If the police know there’s a stolen vehicle in the parking lot, they’re not letting you walk away. They probably won’t even ask for your side of the story until you’re nice and comfortable at the station. In some states you might be jailed and have to bail yourself out. “Sorry boss, I can’t make it back from lunch – I’m in jail. Long story.” I bet it is.

Your pleas of “I swear I didn’t know the car was stolen!” will probably fall on deaf ears, and the officer will most likely be obligated to arrest you even if your explanation is as smooth as poetry.

Either way: There’s the potential for jail time and a costly legal battle, your car will be impounded, and you will lose the money you spent on it.

2. Get Pulled Over

Likely result: Arrested on the spot

Maybe in all the excitement of buying that car you didn’t notice it had a tail light burned out. Sometime later Johnny Law pulls you over, and this is what happens:

• The officer runs your car’s license plates. They’re either stolen or unregistered. You go to jail.

• Or your car doesn’t have plates, so the officer asks for your paperwork.

• You don’t have a title, so you produce the Bill of Sale. The Bill of Sale contains the VIN.

• The officer runs the VIN number. It comes back stolen. You go to jail.

No matter what, the inarguable fact is that you’re driving a stolen vehicle – that’s Possession of Stolen Property. You’re gonna be sleeping in a cell tonight with a pillow made of fear and regret.

Unlikely result: The police hear you out

If you live in a small town where Johnny Law’s sister is your daughter’s fourth-grade teacher, maybe your story will be heard. But the officer may still be legally required to take you into custody for driving a stolen vehicle even if he godfathered your first child.

Either way: There’s the potential for jail time and a costly legal battle, your car will be impounded, and you will lose the money you spent on it.

3. Try to Sell the Car

Likely result: The police are called

Maybe it doesn’t bother you that your car doesn’t have a title. You always obey all traffic laws, you never get pulled over, and your plates are never run. It’s entirely possible to drive around like this for years and people do it all the time, but it’s still illegal as heck. If this is you, there’s a chance you accidentally bought a stolen vehicle and don’t even know it. You should not continue to take that chance.

Although it’s a common practice, driving an unregistered vehicle is illegal in the United States. Even a simple traffic stop could result in fines and legal fees. If the car was stolen, you could be imprisoned.

Year after year the problem of vehicle theft continues to grow, and more people are getting history reports or VIN checks before buying a car. Weeks, months, or even years down the road, you’re going to want to sell that car of yours. And when you do there’s a strong chance someone’s going to investigate its history. Best to beat that person to the details and get ahead of any strange things in the car’s history.

Let’s say you go to sell a stolen car to someone. They run the VIN. “I didn’t know this car was stolen” will fall on deaf ears. The would-be buyer won’t even bother telling you they called the police. Knock knock, who’s there? The 5-0.

Unlikely result: You’re stuck with a stolen car

Some people don’t want to get mixed up in other people’s business. Others are (perhaps too) trusting and will believe that you accidentally bought a stolen car. Now you’ve got a hot ride you can’t sell and shouldn’t drive, and any money you spent on it has gone down the drain.

Either way: There’s the potential for jail time and a costly legal battle, your car will be useless, and you will lose the money you spent on it.

No Matter What

If you are caught driving a stolen vehicle, even if you were not aware it was stolen, the car could be impounded and you may go to jail. If you bought the car you will lose the money you spent on it. To recover that money you must find, sue, and win a judgement against the person who sold you the car. You may spend thousands of dollars over several years suing someone who can’t pay you anyway. Or you may never find the person to begin with. Worst of all, you’ll feel like a sucker. Nobody likes that.

Take the proper precautions before buying a vehicle and remember: even if you bought a stolen car by accident, you still bought a stolen car, but that doesn’t mean you’re the thief. You aren’t on the hook for the theft unless you stole the car. We would suggest contacting an attorney in that case, especially if you find yourself being charged with Possession of Stolen Property or any other criminal offense.

Dirt Legal Can Help

Accidentally buying a stolen vehicle can and does happen. Some states have even made it illegal to buy or sell a vehicle without a title, something that happens all the time, but you don’t want to get nabbed for Possession of Stolen Property or any other litany of offenses from buying a stolen vehicle – even if it was an accident.

Our VIN Check service is there to help you avoid this terrible situation. It’s something you never want to experience. Ask us how we know.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any titling questions or concerns. Keep in mind we’re not attorneys – contact an attorney if you’re worried you may have accidentally bought a stolen vehicle.

We are not attorneys. This article is not legal advice.