How to provide a vehicle description

If you report suspicious activity and it involves a car, it’s helpful to provide a detailed description of the vehicle. Here’s what to include:

Main characteristics

These are the most common characteristics to include when you provide a vehicle description:

  • Make (examples: Toyota, Honda, BMW, Ford)
  • Model (examples: Camry, Mustang, Malibu, Altima)
  • Year (older or newer)
  • Color
  • License plate
    • Number
    • State
    • If a front or rear plate is missing

Other characteristics

  • Tinted windows
  • Damage
  • Number of doors
  • Type of car (examples: minivan, truck, wagon, SUV, hatchback, convertible)

People

  • Front seat
  • Back seat
  • Driver description

Driving direction

  • Where the car came from
  • Where the car went

Noise

  • Muffler
  • Engine