Check a bike before you buy

Run a free bike or bicycle stolen-check at cyclesite.co.uk/stolen-bikes/search. Take the frame number, usually under the bottom bracket where the pedal cranks meet, and we'll cross-reference it against UK stolen-bike databases and Cyclesite's own community reports in seconds. Ask the seller for the original receipt and a photo of the frame number before you commit.

A bicycle serial number lookup checks a frame's unique identifier against registered theft reports. Enter the bike or bicycle serial number at cyclesite.co.uk/stolen-bikes/search and Cyclesite cross-references it against UK stolen-bike databases plus our community reports in one query. The serial is the 7-14 character code stamped into the frame, not a sticker (see "Where is the frame number on a bike?" below for the exact location).

Yes. Cyclesite's free check searches the UK stolen-bike databases used by police forces and registered cyclists, plus our own community stolen-report database, in one query. The same lookup works for any bike or bicycle and returns a verdict of Clear, Caution or Stolen within seconds. No signup, no stored searches.

Cyclesite cross-references the UK stolen-bike databases that police forces across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use to record reported thefts and registered frames. We don't run our own police feed; we mirror the registries the police themselves rely on, and combine them with Cyclesite's community-submitted reports for broader coverage.

The frame number is stamped into the frame itself. 95% of UK bikes carry it on the underside of the bottom bracket shell, so turn the bike over to read it. It's always 7-10 alphanumeric characters and never a sticker (a sticker is the date code, not the frame number).

A bike or bicycle serial number is typically 7–14 alphanumeric characters, often starting with letters followed by numbers. They may be stamped into the frame metal, printed on a sticker, or laser-engraved. Examples: "WTU123456789", "SNFSC12345", "BC06M12345". Each manufacturer has its own format.

Yes. Cyclesite offers a free stolen-bike check (and the same free bicycle serial number check) with no account required. Enter the frame serial number and we'll query UK stolen-bike databases and our own community reports in one go. Every bike listed on Cyclesite is automatically checked before going live.

Always run the frame-number check before travelling. Ask the seller for proof of purchase, check the number matches any documentation, inspect the frame for tampering (grinding marks, fresh paint over numbers), and meet in a safe public location.

Call 999 if it's in progress, otherwise 101. Get a crime reference, then add the bike to Cyclesite's registry and post a sighting alert in our stolen-bike-alerts community. The faster the bike is on the registries, the higher the chance of recovery.

No. A clear result means no stolen reports were found in the databases we check, which is encouraging but not a guarantee. Not every stolen bike is reported. Always combine the database check with physical inspection at the viewing.

Yes. Every listing on Cyclesite is automatically cross-checked against UK stolen-bike databases before it goes live. Listings that fail the check don't appear.