Cloning takes the identity of a legally titled vehicle and applies it to another, usually stolen or junked, so the second vehicle can be sold with what appears to be clean paperwork.
The tell is contradiction. A history that does not fit the car in front of you, a VIN plate with unusual fixings or fonts, numbers that disagree between the windscreen, the door jamb and the engine bay, or a service history in a state the seller has no connection to.
Cloning is why matching numbers matters. A single VIN plate proves very little on its own, because that is exactly the part a cloner replaces.
Why it matters
A cloned vehicle is stolen property. You lose it and your money, and you may have to explain yourself to the police.
How to check it
Compare every VIN location on the vehicle. Check that the history matches the specification, colour and options of the car in front of you.
Does this apply to the car you are looking at?
Run the VIN or plate and see what is actually on record.
Related terms
Definitions are general guidance, not legal advice. Title rules, total loss thresholds and inspection requirements are set by each state and change over time, so confirm the position with the motor vehicle agency for the state the vehicle is titled in before relying on it.