Checking if a Vehicle is Under Search

Updated: October 18, 2023

You are buying a used car. You've checked the bodywork, the engine and transmission, and diagnosed the suspension... What could possibly go wrong? Everything—if you do not conduct a legal check of the vehicle and verify its search status beforehand.

Hearing that a vehicle is "under search" is the last thing you want when registering it with the Traffic Police. For an unlucky buyer, this could mean, at best, not being able to use the car for several months while the police investigate the circumstances. At worst, the vehicle might be confiscated from you, even if you had nothing to do with the reasons it was put under search.

Thus, the question "how can I find out if a car is under search?" is particularly critical when choosing a used vehicle.

Why It Is Crucial to Verify if a Vehicle is Under Search

There could be various reasons why a vehicle is under search.

The most common is that the vehicle's details are present in the stolen vehicle database. This does not mean the vehicle is currently stolen: removal from the stolen vehicle list and cancellation of the search can often be delayed. Until that happens, you cannot legally own it.

Another reason a vehicle might be in the search database is due to previous owner's debts. If the vehicle was presented as financial collateral for a loan or debt and has not yet been paid off, its sale without the consent of the creditor or lender can be illegal.

The vehicle can also be part of a civil dispute (e.g., during a divorce between spouses). A court might place an encumbrance on the disputed property and put the vehicle under search.

Additionally, the search could be announced due to the vehicle's involvement in a traffic accident. If the driver fled the scene or if there are witnesses indicating the driver was at fault, the vehicle will definitely be put under search.

Lastly, the vehicle might be under search due to a high number of traffic violations and numerous unpaid fines.

In any case, a vehicle under search does not promise anything good for its owner or buyer.

Benefits of Checking a Vehicle's Search Status on CarCheck

How can you find out if a car is under search? The best way is to check on CarCheck.az using the license plate number. This service does not just search for vehicles under search; it can also verify if the vehicle is stolen, involved in arbitration court decisions, subject to registration restrictions, or listed under mortgage. The presence of RTA involvement, availability of repair reports, maintenance service, technical inspection, presence of compulsory insurance, use in taxi and carsharing, online sales history, and even listing in the utility vehicle list are checked.

A free check of a vehicle under search does not provide complete information, as any free government service conducts its verification based solely on its own database and does not present information from other sources. Thus, checking a vehicle's search status through CarCheck.az provides the highest percentage of legal clarity for the checked vehicle.

Consequences of Purchasing a Vehicle Under Search

The worst case scenario in purchasing a vehicle under search is its confiscation. This can occur if the vehicle is stolen or identified as stolen. In such a case, it will be handed over to the person who owned it at the time of the crime.

The vehicle can also be seized by court order—if it is an object of civil dispute or financial collateral for any transaction.

A lesser evil is the detention of the vehicle for expertise or until a decision is made related to the search case: in this scenario, the vehicle will be handed over to the new owner after the regulation of the search or clarification of other circumstances, and there is hope it will be registered with the Traffic Police. However, this does not guarantee a positive resolution of such an issue.

Benefits of Checking on CarCheck

Checking a vehicle's search status on CarCheck.az is extremely simple and takes no more than five minutes.

The check on CarCheck.az reveals vehicles under search with "one click."

You can make a verification request on CarCheck.az not only by VIN but also by license plate number or body number.

Along with search information, the service checks many other databases, verifying the vehicle on twenty key points.

Therefore, a verification request on CarCheck.az not only checks if your vehicle is under search but also provides an opportunity to learn many other useful and important details presented in the report, allowing you to fully assess the risks associated with purchasing the vehicle you like.