Las Vegas, NV (KXNT) - The Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles has seen a sharp increase in the number of stolen vehicles recovered at its offices in Las Vegas this year. The Department is warning consumers to be extra careful in private party vehicle sales.
The DMV has recovered 27 stolen vehicles worth an estimated $1,017,893 in 2021. In May alone, the DMV recovered 10 stolen vehicles valued at $480,010. Stolen vehicles are impounded as evidence, then eventually returned to their rightful owner.
“The person trying to register the car at the DMV is usually a victim who loses both the car and the money they paid for it,” said DMV Compliance Enforcement Administrator J.D. Decker. “You need to be especially wary of cars coming from out-of-state and sellers who want cash.”
One common scheme is to sell a rental car that is still under contract and hasn’t been reported stolen. Other vehicles for sale may be straight thefts from homes, public parking lots or even auto dealer inventory. Sophisticated auto theft rings can take vehicles without damaging them and create convincing, but forged, titles and other documentation.
Decker says the most sure-fire method to detect a fraudulent vehicle sale is to bring the vehicle to a DMV inspection station, have the vehicle checked and complete the sale there. The service is free and no appointment is necessary. DMV inspectors can check whether the vehicle has been reported stolen.
The National Insurance Crime Bureau also offers a free stolen and total loss vehicle check on its website at nicb.org.