The department, upon receiving an application for a certificate of title, shall check the vehicle identification number shown in the application against the records of vehicles required to be maintained under section 1105 (relating to issuance of certificate of title) and against the record of stolen vehicles required to be maintained under section 7114 (relating to records of stolen vehicles). If the record indicates that the vehicle is stolen, the application and accompanying documents may be retained by the department pending investigation.
75 Pa.C.S. § 1104