Investigating stolen vehicles requires specialized knowledge, expertise, and access to various resources. A crucial aspect of these investigations is the process of removing a vehicle from stolen status once it has been recovered. This step is essential to prevent future complications for police officers who might mistakenly believe the vehicle is stolen.

One challenge in this process arises when the vehicle is no longer listed in the active NCIC Stolen Vehicle File and has been moved to a purged stolen vehicle classification.

This “Stolen Vehicles with a Purged Status Indicator” white paper clarifies what a purged stolen vehicle classification indicates, provides details for how police may be called to investigate these vehicles, and gives guidance for how police can request removal of the vehicle from this status. The white paper serves as a resource for police agencies and anyone responsible for investigating and clearing vehicles with a purged stolen vehicle classification and should supplement agency protocol and procedures.