Kolkata Police | Vehicle theft and recovery

Kolkata Police Stolen Vehicle Search Online and Recovery Status

Owners of stolen cars, motorcycles, scooters and other vehicles in Kolkata can search the Kolkata Police missing-vehicle database, review traced or unclaimed vehicle records and follow up with the investigating police station. This guide explains the search fields, reporting process and applicable legal provisions.

Important: A database search is not a substitute for reporting a suspected theft. A vehicle not appearing in a public list does not establish that it has not been stolen or that police have not registered a case.

How to search a missing or stolen vehicle online

Visit the official Kolkata Police Missing Vehicle page.
Open the missing-vehicle search or the complete missing-vehicle listing, as offered by the current website.
Enter one or more available search details: registration number, engine number, chassis number, vehicle type, model, colour or date from which it was missing.
Submit the search and inspect matching records. Check the registration number, case number, police station and date before treating a result as a possible match.
For recovery information, also consult the traced vehicle listing and unclaimed vehicles page.

Search missing vehicles Check traced vehicles

Details used in the vehicle search

Engine number: The identifying number of the engine, generally shown in the registration certificate. Chassis number: The vehicle identification or frame number. Registration number: The RTO-issued vehicle number. Vehicle type: Select the category offered by the portal, such as two-wheeler or four-wheeler. Model and colour: Enter identifying details. Missing from: Supply the relevant missing date if the field requests it. Verification: Complete any on-screen captcha.

Earlier Kolkata Police search screens

The following screenshots are retained for historical reference. The current official website may look different.

Archived Kolkata Police missing vehicle navigation screen

Archived missing vehicle search form of Kolkata Police

Archived Kolkata Police stolen vehicle search results

Historical screenshots; use the official links above for the current service.

What to do immediately if your vehicle is stolen

Contact the nearest police station and report the suspected theft without delay. In an emergency, call 112.
Provide the registration certificate details, registration number, engine and chassis numbers, make, model, colour, last-known location and approximate time of disappearance.
Share available CCTV footage, GPS location records, photographs and details of keys or tracking devices.
Request the FIR number and a free copy of the recorded FIR when a cognizable offence is registered.
Inform your motor insurer promptly and preserve the acknowledgement, FIR, policy documents and correspondence.
Follow up with the investigating officer for progress and any recovered-vehicle release requirements.

Legal provisions for vehicle theft in India

Section 303, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 - Theft

Theft generally involves dishonestly moving movable property out of another person's possession without consent, with the intention of taking it. A motor vehicle can be the subject of theft under this provision. The precise offence depends on the facts. For conduct occurring before 1 July 2024, the earlier Indian Penal Code provisions may continue to be relevant under applicable savings and transition rules.

Section 305, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 - Theft in specified places or circumstances

This section provides for theft in certain specified locations or circumstances, including theft of a means of transport used for carrying goods or passengers. It does not automatically apply to every theft of a parked private vehicle; classification depends on the statutory elements and case facts.

Section 173, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 - Information in cognizable cases

Information about a cognizable offence may be given to the officer in charge of a police station, including through electronic communication subject to the statutory requirements. Section 173 provides for a free copy of the recorded information to the informant or victim and sets out remedies if the officer refuses to record the information. An online complaint submission is not necessarily the same as a registered FIR.

Official texts: Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.

If the vehicle appears in a traced or unclaimed list

Record the case details shown and contact the investigating police station or Kolkata Police Motor Theft Section. Carry evidence of ownership, identification and the FIR or case reference. Recovery or release of a seized vehicle may require police verification and an order of the competent court, depending on the circumstances. Do not assume a listing itself authorises collection.

Kolkata Police identifies the Officer-in-Charge, Motor Theft Section, Detective Department, Lalbazar as a contact for missing and traced vehicles, with telephone 2214-5043 and email mtsdd@kolkatapolice.gov.in. Verify contact details on the official page before visiting.

Vehicle enquiry before purchasing a used car

Kolkata Police provides a Vehicle Enquiry Request form covering recovery status of a stolen vehicle and enquiries about possible involvement of a vehicle in crime. Buyers should also verify the registration certificate, chassis and engine numbers, ownership history and applicable transport records. An online database search alone is not a complete legal or title check.

Frequently asked questions

Can I trace my stolen car using its registration number?

You can search the Kolkata Police vehicle listings using a registration number and other available identifiers. A match can help identify a police record, but it does not provide live GPS tracking.

What if no result appears?

Try the engine or chassis number and confirm the details entered. Contact the police station handling the complaint; not every case or update necessarily appears on the public portal.

Can I recover a vehicle directly from the police?

Recovery and release are subject to identity and ownership verification and the applicable police or court procedure. Speak with the investigating officer.

Related legal judgments and resources

Updated: 20 October 2026. This guide provides general legal information and does not replace official police records or case-specific legal advice.