Official Bengaluru and Karnataka Police Websites
How to Search a Stolen or Lost Vehicle Online in Bengaluru
Open the Bengaluru City Police website and use the online or citizen-service links currently displayed.
You can also access vehicle-related police information through the Karnataka Police Citizen Centric Portal.
Look for Stolen Vehicles or another vehicle-information service in the citizen or informational services section.
Depending on the current portal interface, enter or select details such as district, police station, start date, end date and information category.
The system will display matching information that is available in the Karnataka Police database.
If the vehicle is shown as stolen or missing, do not attempt recovery yourself. Contact the concerned police station and provide the vehicle's identifying details.
Search a Used Vehicle Before Buying
The police stolen-vehicle search can be useful when purchasing a second-hand vehicle, but it should not be the only verification carried out.
- Vehicle registration number
- Chassis number
- Engine number
- Registration Certificate (RC)
- Registered owner's details
- Vehicle make and model
- Insurance status
- Hypothecation or finance status
- Tax and registration status
- Pending traffic challans
- Police or stolen-vehicle status
The chassis and engine numbers on the vehicle should match the details shown in the original vehicle documents.
Check Vehicle Registration Through Parivahan
The Government of India provides vehicle-related services through Parivahan and mParivahan. Use official transport records to independently verify registration details.
What if a Vehicle Is Shown as Stolen?
- Note the information displayed in the search result.
- Contact the concerned police station.
- Provide the registration number and other identifying details.
- Keep the RC and other ownership documents available.
- Provide the FIR or complaint details, if available.
- Follow the instructions of the investigating police officer.
What if a Used Vehicle Appears in the Stolen Vehicle Search?
Do not complete the transaction until police have verified and cleared the vehicle's status. Preserve the advertisement, seller communications and copies of the documents supplied by the seller.
- Stop the proposed transaction.
- Preserve advertisements and communications with the seller.
- Keep copies of documents provided by the seller.
- Contact the concerned police station.
- Ask police to verify the vehicle's status.
- Verify registration through official transport records.
What if the Vehicle Is Not Found in the Search?
A search producing no result is not a guarantee that the vehicle has never been stolen or involved in a police matter. Online police databases contain the information made available through that particular service and may not represent every possible police record or legal issue.
Reporting a Stolen Vehicle
If your vehicle has been stolen, report the incident to police promptly. The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 came into force on 1 July 2024 and now governs criminal procedure.
Section 173 BNSS deals with information relating to cognizable offences and permits such information to be given electronically, subject to the statutory procedure. Where information is provided electronically under Section 173, it is taken on record after being signed by the person giving it within three days.
Law Relating to Vehicle Theft
The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 is the current substantive criminal law framework from 1 July 2024.
Section 303 BNS deals with theft. A motor vehicle is movable property and may therefore be the subject of theft. Section 305 BNS addresses theft in certain specified circumstances, including theft of certain means of transport used for carrying goods or passengers.
Lost Vehicle and Lost Articles
Karnataka Police also provides a separate e-Lost Reports service for lost articles and documents. A lost-item report is different from an FIR for a cognizable offence.
Cyber Fraud Involving a Vehicle
If a vehicle transaction involves online payment fraud, identity theft, fake documents or another cyber offence, the incident can also be reported through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.
Open National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal
For financial cyber fraud, contact the 1930 helpline as soon as possible.
Important Points for Vehicle Owners
- Report the incident promptly to police.
- Keep vehicle registration and identification details ready.
- Provide the registration, chassis and engine numbers.
- Preserve the FIR or complaint acknowledgement.
- Inform your insurer where required.
- Keep copies of relevant vehicle documents.
- Monitor official police information where available.
- Do not attempt to recover the vehicle yourself.
Important Points for Used Vehicle Buyers
- Search available Karnataka Police stolen-vehicle records.
- Verify registration through official Parivahan services.
- Match the registration number with the RC.
- Match chassis and engine numbers with the vehicle.
- Verify the seller's identity.
- Check ownership and hypothecation details.
- Check applicable insurance and tax information.
- Check traffic challans where available.
- Avoid purchasing a vehicle shown in stolen-vehicle records.
- Obtain police clarification where discrepancies are found.
- Keep proper records of the sale and payment.
Bengaluru Stolen Vehicle Search - Quick Steps
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Visit Bengaluru City Police or Karnataka Police |
| 2 | Open Citizen or Citizen Centric Services |
| 3 | Select the vehicle information or stolen vehicle service |
| 4 | Enter the requested search criteria |
| 5 | Select district and police station where required |
| 6 | Enter the applicable date range |
| 7 | Click Search |
| 8 | Review the available vehicle records |
| 9 | Independently verify the vehicle before purchasing |