What is VIN Fraud?
A car’s Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is like its own unique fingerprint. VIN fraud, or re-vinning, happens when a vehicle's VIN is illegally copied or "cloned" onto another vehicle. This is typically done in attempts to conceal or re-sell a stolen car.
CARFAX Canada offers tools that can help protect you against the impacts of VIN fraud and avoid costly mistakes.
The risks of VIN fraud
In Canada, VIN fraud has become increasingly common in recent years and it’s nearly impossible to detect without the help of experts. Cars with compromised VINs could be stolen or linked to other criminal activity, and owning one can be an enormous headache.
Cars with possible
cloned VINs 1
A car is stolen
every 8 minutes 2
Canadians affected by
auto theft in the past year 3
Risks to car buyers
If you buy a car with a compromised VIN, you could face:
- Car seizure by authorities: Police could confiscate the car permanently once they’re made aware of its fraudulent VIN. That means you could lose your newly bought car, and all the money you just spent on it.
- Insurance problems: Insurers may refuse to pay for repair or theft claims, and you could have issues getting the vehicle covered in the first place.
- Reduced resale value: The car's resale value may be significantly less than what you paid for it, even if it’s in great condition.
- Inability to sell or trade in: Selling a car with a compromised VIN can be complicated, and you may have difficulties selling it at all.
Find out how CARFAX Canada’s VIN Fraud Check can help you avoid buying a stolen car.
Risks to car owners
If your car's VIN gets cloned and used on another vehicle, you could face:
- Registration problems: You may have trouble renewing your registration if another car is already registered under the same VIN, even if yours is the legitimate one. This might result in being unable to legally drive your car until the issue is resolved.
- Insurance problems: If a claim is filed for a different car with the same VIN, your insurance provider may refuse to cover your claims, even though yours is the legitimate car.
- Reduced resale value: Your car's resale value could take a hit if its VIN is being used on a potentially stolen vehicle.
- Legal trouble: Car thieves copy VINs to mask stolen cars. You could be falsely linked to criminal activity related to the other car with the cloned VIN and end up in a messy legal procedure.
Find out how CARFAX Canada’s Vehicle Monitoring can help you track critical details about your car.
Avoid becoming a victim of VIN fraud
Protect yourself from the impacts of VIN fraud with helpful tools from CARFAX Canada, the vehicle data experts.
Considering buying a used car?
Discover VIN Fraud Check.
Avoid a potentially disastrous purchase with a report that scans billions of data records to check if a car’s VIN has been compromised or reported stolen.
Looking to monitor a car you own?
Discover Vehicle Monitoring.
Receive timely alerts and monthly status updates that can help you detect signs of fraud early and stay up to date on your car’s data.
1 CARFAX Canada's 2024 VIN data study
2 CARFAX Canada insight based on data shared by CPIC in 2024
3 CARFAX Canada consumer survey, 2024
