Quick Answer
How do I check if a vehicle is stolen or has a police record in Pakistan?
There isn’t one national website for it. Use a combination of the following.
- SMS the vehicle’s chassis number to 8521 to check the Stolen Vehicle Identification System (SVIS). [verify the current service]
- In Punjab, visit a Police Khidmat Markaz (PKM) for police-record vehicle verification. [verify]
- In Sindh, contact the Anti Car Lifting Cell (ACLC) or CPLC. [verify numbers]
- Always verify the registration with the provincial Excise portal too.
Vehicle Criminal Record Check in Pakistan: How to Check If a Car Is Stolen or Has a Police Record
Not an official government website, and not legal advice. We’re an independent guide. Use official police channels, and only check vehicles you own or are legitimately buying.
Why Does a Vehicle Record Matter?
Buying a used car and worried it might be stolen? A Punjab Police page warns buyers not to be tricked into buying a stolen, tampered or non-custom-paid vehicle, or they might end up in jail. PakWheels adds that even if you didn’t know, the legal owner can still get the vehicle back, leaving you without the car.
What Is a “Vehicle Criminal Record”?
It means a vehicle’s record with the police, such as whether it has been reported stolen or snatched, is under investigation, has been recovered or is in a court case. The Punjab Police’s Anti Vehicle Lifting System (AVLS) database covers vehicles reported stolen, snatched, under investigation, recovered, under forensic testing or in some court case. [verify the current categories]
This is different from checking registration and tax, which the Excise Department does. See our Punjab, Sindh, KPK and Islamabad vehicle verification guides.
Option 1: SMS the Chassis Number (SVIS)
Punjab Police’s portal describes the Stolen Vehicle Identification System (SVIS):
- Find the vehicle’s chassis number on the vehicle and its papers.
- Send the chassis number by SMS to 8521.
- Wait for the reply, which gives details and a status such as stolen or recovered.
The system was designed to help locate lost cars and discourage the resale of stolen ones. [verify the current service, the SMS format and any charge]
Option 2: Police Khidmat Markaz (Punjab)
Punjab’s PKM Vehicle Verification module verifies a vehicle through police record and a forensic expert report. If you want to buy or transport a vehicle, you can check that it isn’t stolen and has no record in any police station across Punjab.
What you need:
- Original vehicle documents
- Copy of the owner’s CNIC
- If the vehicle was recovered in a criminal case, a copy of the TP message and a court-verified supardari
Time: around 40 minutes, with on-the-spot verification, according to the PKM page. [verify the current process, fee and which PKMs offer it]
In Sargodha, a Punjab Police district page says vehicle verification and stolen record checks are available at the Police Khidmat Markaz in the P.S. Cantt building. [verify]
Tampered or Forged Vehicles
The Punjab Police page says to contact the Incharge, AVLS for verification of tampered or forged vehicles. [Use the phone number from the official page after verifying it. Phone numbers change.]
Option 3: Sindh (Karachi) ACLC and CPLC
PakWheels says anyone can ask the Anti Car Lifting Cell about a vehicle’s crime record using numbers listed on the Sindh Police website. [Add the current numbers only from the official Sindh Police site.] Sindh Police also announced plans in December 2024 for a database of stolen and missing vehicles with the CPLC and other bodies. [verify what’s live]
Option 4: Visit the Police
PakWheels notes that you can visit the 15 police, CIA or ACLC offices depending on your region to check whether a car has been involved in criminal activity. A card or certificate may be issued confirming that the verification was done. [verify the process in your city]
What About Other Provinces?
- Islamabad: a PakWheels guide found the Islamabad online verification nonfunctional at the time. Check with Islamabad Police. [verify]
- KP: a police verification system has been used in all KP districts. [verify what’s open to the public]
- Balochistan: a Punjab Police page said Balochistan hadn’t developed an online verification portal. [verify]
- AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan: similar gaps were reported. [verify]
Is There a Public App?
Punjab launched an Anti Vehicle Lifting System (AVLS) app for police to check stolen vehicles by registration number. One article says citizens may also use it for checks and reporting, but another source says it was designed for police. [verify whether the public can use it before telling readers]
Checklist Before Buying a Used Vehicle
- Verify the registration on the provincial Excise portal.
- Match the chassis and engine numbers on the vehicle with the papers, and
- check for signs of tampering.
- Run a stolen-record check (SMS 8521, PKM or ACLC).
- Check the owner’s CNIC against the registration book.
- Check token tax and any pending dues.
- Complete the transfer officially. Don’t rely on a verbal agreement or an open transfer letter.
- Get a mechanic’s inspection.
Even after these checks, none is a legal guarantee. [Consider adding a suggestion to consult a lawyer for high-value purchases.]
Use These Checks Responsibly
Only check vehicles you own or are genuinely planning to buy. Don’t use these services to dig into someone else’s private affairs, and don’t share or publish another person’s vehicle or CNIC details.
What If I Find My Vehicle Is Flagged?
- Don’t confront the seller alone or complete the sale.
- Contact the police (15, or your local station or PKM).
- Keep your evidence, such as the SMS reply, receipts and chat records.
- Talk to a lawyer if you’ve already paid.
How Do I Avoid Scams?
- Use only official police and Excise channels.
- Don’t pay “agents” to “clear” a vehicle’s record.
- Don’t share OTPs, CNIC photos or card details.
- Be careful with websites and apps that promise “instant criminal record checks” for a fee.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I check if a vehicle is stolen in Pakistan?
SMS the chassis number to 8521 (SVIS), visit a Police Khidmat Markaz in Punjab, or contact the Anti Car Lifting Cell in Karachi. [verify]
2. What does 8521 do?
It’s the Stolen Vehicle Identification System, where you SMS a chassis number to get a stolen or recovered status, according to a Punjab Police page. [verify]
3. How long does PKM vehicle verification take?
Around 40 minutes, with on-the-spot verification. [verify]
4. What documents do I need at the PKM?
The original vehicle documents and a copy of the owner’s CNIC.
5. Is Excise verification the same as a criminal record check?
No. Excise shows registration and tax details. A police check shows theft and case records.
6. Can I buy a car that was stolen without knowing?
The legal owner can still get it back, so verify before you buy.
7. Is this the official police website?
No. We’re an independent guide. Use official police and Excise channels.