Category · Cars & utes
Report a stolen car or ute
Beyond the written-off insurance claim, stolen cars and their parts move through marketplaces and wrecker listings. Registering the VIN and standout details gives police and insurers something concrete to match.
The identifier that gets it back: VIN
17-character Vehicle Identification Number — on the driver's-side dash base, door jamb, and your registration papers. Note the engine number too.
Types we watch
- Sedan & hatch
- Ute & 4WD
- SUV
- Van
- Classic & performance
- Wheels, parts & accessories
How theft and resale play out
- Whole cars are often re-birthed or stripped; wheels, badges and infotainment units appear as separate listings.
- Distinctive mods, wraps and aftermarket parts are frequently what gives a stolen car away online.
- Insurers with written-off VINs can watch for parts re-entering the market.
If yours is already gone
- Report it to police and keep the event/reference number.
- Register the car or ute on Theftsight (or mark it stolen) with the vin and photos.
- Share the record with your insurer — they can work the same candidate queue.
- If a listing matches, export the proof pack — never confront a seller alone.
National checklist: How to report a stolen item. See everything we recover.
Put your car or ute under watch
Register it in two minutes — private by default. If it's stolen, Gumtree, Facebook Marketplace and eBay are scanned against it, and police and insurers on the network can see the case.