The only way to make sure what you are buying isn’t stolen when buying from an individual and not a business is to use common sense and do your research.
That from SGI spokesperson Tyler McMurchy who says if a deal seems to good to be true, it probably is.
If you are buying a vehicle, he suggests checking the Vehicle Identification Number on the driver’s side door and on the dashboard to make sure they match, and make sure the number on the door hasn’t been tampered with.
From there, you can do a free provincial VIN search on SGI’s website and you can do a cross-Canada search for $20.
McMurchy adds that another step would be to check with the Canadian Police Information Centre online for listed stolen property and vehicles.
If you don’t find a Canadian history, that’s a red flag.
McMurchy recommends making a used vehicle sale conditional upon inspection.
He also suggests getting the seller’s home address or place of business and view the vehicle at that location, if possible, and insist on seeing the current registration in the seller’s name.