We have a customer with a past due loan. They have a new vehicle. Can we pull their credit report to see where the new vehicle was financed? Is this a permissible purpose?

Curious - how will this information help your collection efforts?

We can't find the vehicle securing our loan and suspect he might have sold it or traded it in.

Makes sense. FCRA states the following and it states that 'collection of an account' is a permissible purpose:

Sec. 604. Permissible purposes of consumer reports
(a) In general. Subject to subsection (c), any consumer reporting agency may furnish a consumer report under the following circumstances and no other:

(1) In response to the order of a court having jurisdiction to issue such an order, or a subpoena issued in connection with proceedings before a Federal grand jury.

(2) In accordance with the written instructions of the consumer to whom it relates.

(3) To a person which it has reason to believe

(A) intends to use the information in connection with a credit transaction involving the consumer on whom the information is to be furnished and involving the extension of credit to, or review or collection of an account of, the consumer; or