Glossary

National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB)

A nonprofit funded by member insurers that investigates insurance fraud and vehicle theft, works with police and runs the free VINCheck lookup.

Also called: NICB, National Insurance Crime Bureau

The National Insurance Crime Bureau is a nonprofit organization that fights insurance fraud and vehicle crime. It was formed in 1992 by merging the National Automobile Theft Bureau and the Insurance Crime Prevention Institute, and it is supported by its member property and casualty insurers.

NICB analysts and agents study claims data shared by member companies, look for patterns such as rings that stage crashes or fake thefts, and refer cases to police and prosecutors. The bureau helps law enforcement identify and recover stolen vehicles, supports insurers' special investigations units, and publishes reports on crime trends such as the most stolen vehicles. It cannot arrest or prosecute anyone itself; that is the job of police, prosecutors and state fraud bureaus.

Drivers mostly meet NICB through two free services. VINCheck lets you enter a vehicle identification number to see whether participating insurers have reported the car as stolen and not recovered, or as salvage, which is useful before buying a used car, though NICB notes it is not a complete vehicle history. NICB also accepts tips about suspected insurance fraud, including anonymous ones, by phone or online. See The National Insurance Crime Bureau explained.

Last reviewed October 4, 2026

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Related terms

Insurance fraud Deceiving an insurer, or a policyholder, for financial gain, from staged crashes and padded claims to fake policies and lies on applications. Special investigations unit (SIU) The team inside an insurance company that investigates suspected fraud in claims and applications and refers cases to authorities. Staged accident A crash deliberately caused or faked to file fraudulent insurance claims, often by organized rings of drivers, passengers and complicit providers. Vehicle identification number (VIN) The unique 17-character code assigned to every modern car, used by insurers, motor vehicle agencies and history reports to identify the exact vehicle. Hard fraud Deliberately staging or inventing a loss, such as a fake crash, arson or false theft report, in order to collect insurance money.

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How insurers investigate fraud What happens when a claim is flagged: special investigations units, red flags, claims databases, recorded statements, exams under oath and your rights. How to report insurance fraud Who to call about suspected auto insurance fraud (your insurer, your state, NICB or the FTC), what details to gather, and whether you can stay anonymous. Auto insurance fraud explained What counts as auto insurance fraud, the difference between hard and soft fraud, who commits it, what it costs drivers and how it is investigated and reported. The Kia and Hyundai theft wave and insurance Why many 2011-22 Kias and Hyundais were easy to steal, how insurers responded, and what the software fix, class settlement and 2025 state deal provide. The most stolen cars in America NICB's list of the most stolen vehicles in 2025, how it differs from HLDI's theft-rate rankings, and what owning a high-theft car means for your insurance. The National Insurance Crime Bureau explained What the NICB is, who funds it, what its agents and data do, what it does not do, and how drivers can use its free VINCheck and fraud tip line.