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How do you find a car you used to own?

Is there any way to find a car that I used to own a few years ago? The car holds a lot of sentimental value for me. I didn’t care much at the time, but I’d like to get it back if I can.

avatar
Joshua Levy · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Old cars often hold sentimental value, but they can be hard to track down
after they’ve been sold
. Luckily, you can find a car you used to own by using the VIN number.
Each car has a unique vehicle identification number (VIN), so they’re the best way to track old cars. With a paid service like CarFax, you can use the VIN to find accident reports, service records, owners, and locations! If you don’t remember the VIN, you can likely find it in one of these places:
  • Old registration documents.
  • The DMV (if you have your old license plate number)
  • Your provider.
  • Bill of sale.
If you do manage to track down your old car, you’ll need to insure it before you can drive.
While it’s usually cheapest to add it to an existing policy, you should explore your other options with
Jerry
. A licensed broker, the Jerry app can help you find and compare quotes from over 50 top providers for free. That way, you know you’re getting the best rate before you settle on a policy.
MORE: 7 things to look for when buying a used car
View full answer 
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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.

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