Imagine you finally find your dream car, used, at a price you can afford. You pick it up, happy to pay cash. It’s absolute heaven driving it for a year. And then you get a call. Police tell you it was stolen and take your car away. And you never get the money you blew on it back. According to Ed Bolian, former Lamborghini sales director and VINWiki founder, this nightmare happens more often than you’d think.

The The National Insurance Crime Bureau reports that vehicle thefts are on the rise. There were over 1 million thefts reported in 2023 alone.

Most vehicle transaction laws aim to protect car buyers, but they have limits. If you unknowingly purchase a stolen car, Bolian explains, you’re often out of luck. “If they find it, you’re going to give that car back, and you will not see your money ever again,” he says. “You have to go after the seller, but they inevitably knew they were selling you a stolen car, and you’re not going to see anything.”

So will you get in trouble? That depends. You may avoid criminal charges if you can prove you didn’t know the car was stolen. But recovering your money is another story.

Why are stolen cars so common?

High-performance vehicles like Dodge Hellcats are frequent targets. “You can buy a Hellcat for $5,000, no questions asked,” Bolian notes. Why? Many of these cars are easy to steal due to vulnerabilities like cloneable keys. A simple app or device, often illegally sold online, can make quick work of modern car security.

But in the modern day, the law will often catch up with car thieves. Bolian recounts a shocking example: a 360 Spider Ferrari wrapped in aluminum foil on a remote Georgia farm. The thieves were attempting to block tracking signals, but the car was ultimately unsellable. “Even if you can steal cars, you can’t make much off them. That’s why a $50,000 Hellcat sells for $5,000—people joyride, then abandon them,” he adds.

That’s why thieves often try other sell a stolen car quickly–for much less than it’s worth. Then you, the buyer, have to deal with the fallout.

The Facebook stolen car trap

Some scams start with deals that seem legitimate. Bolian warns about social media groups where people sell cars without titles. These vehicles often carry outstanding loans or have been outright stolen. “They’re ticking time bombs,” Bolian says.

Even scarier: some sellers openly offer to clone keys or VINs, making the stolen cars harder to trace. Buyers, often unaware, find themselves in legal and financial hot water.

How do you avoid buy-in ga stolen car?

Here’s what Bolian recommends:

1. Research the car’s history. Use tools like Carfax or other VIN check services to confirm ownership and accident records. If the seller won’t share the VIN with you, that’s a major problem.
2. Be skeptical of deals too good to be true. A luxury car for a fraction of its value is almost always a red flag.
3. Demand proper documentation. A title is non-negotiable. No exceptions.
4. Walk away if something feels off. Trust your instincts.

Buying a stolen car can cost you more than just your money—it could land you in legal trouble, too. And while Bolian’s stories from the luxury car world may sound outrageous, they highlight the risks lurking in the shadows of the automotive market. When it comes to car deals, it’s always better to pay more for peace of mind than risk losing it all for a “bargain.” You can see more tips from Bolian in the video below: