How to Use the GTCR
One Card. One Certification Number. A More Connected Record.
The Global Trading Card Registry (GTCR) is independent trust infrastructure for graded trading cards.
GTCR creates a registry record around a graded card's unique certification number, providing collectors and industry participants with tools to register, verify, protect, and transfer information associated with that card throughout its lifecycle.
Whether you own a graded card, are considering purchasing one, have lost a card, had one stolen, recovered a previously reported card, or are transferring a registered card to someone else, GTCR provides a central place to document and check relevant information.
Section 1
Register Your Graded Cards
Create a Record Before You Need One
Collectors can voluntarily register graded trading cards in their possession with GTCR. Registration creates an independent GTCR record associated with the card's grading company and certification number.
To report a card:
- 1Create or sign in to your GTCR account.
- 2Select Register a Card.
- 3Choose the grading company.
- 4Enter the card's certification number.
- 5Provide the requested card information.
- 6Upload supporting images or documentation when requested.
- 7Review the information and submit the registration.
Once submitted, GTCR will create or update the registry record associated with that graded card.
Your Privacy Matters
Personal information associated with a registered card is not publicly displayed by default. Public GTCR searches may show relevant registry and card-status information without identifying the registered collector.
Important: Registering a card with GTCR documents a registry relationship between the account and the card. GTCR registration does not establish or determine legal ownership or title.
Section 2
Verify a Card with GTCR Trust Check
Check Before You Buy, Sell, Trade, or Accept a Card
A GTCR Trust Check allows anyone to search a supported graded trading card using its grading-company certification number. A Trust Check may provide available information such as GTCR registration status, lost or stolen reports, recovery status, dispute indicators, available provenance information, relevant registry events, and other GTCR status information.
To perform a Trust Check:
- 1Select GTCR Trust Check.
- 2Choose the grading company.
- 3Enter the certification number.
- 4Review the available GTCR record and status information.
No account should be required to perform a basic public Trust Check.
What if nothing is found?
The absence of a lost, stolen, disputed, or other adverse report does not guarantee that a card is legitimate, legally owned by the person possessing it, or free from other issues. GTCR should be used as one component of appropriate due diligence, not as a replacement for it.
Section 3
Protect a Card
Lost or Stolen? Put the Hobby on Notice.
If a graded trading card is lost or stolen, the card can be reported through GTCR. Once accepted into the registry, the card's certification number can become searchable so collectors, dealers, marketplaces, card shops, shows, grading companies, and other industry participants can identify the reported status.
To report a card:
- 1Sign in to your GTCR account.
- 2Select Report Lost or Stolen Card.
- 3Choose whether the card was Lost or Stolen.
- 4Enter the grading company and certification number.
- 5Provide the requested card and incident information.
- 6Upload available supporting documentation.
- 7Submit the report for GTCR processing.
Reports may be subject to review, additional documentation requirements, verification, dispute, restriction, or removal under GTCR policies.
If you find a reported card
Do not assume that possession alone determines ownership. Follow the instructions provided within the GTCR record or contact GTCR so appropriate information can be exchanged with the relevant parties. When appropriate, GTCR may assist with communication or provide information supporting law-enforcement investigations.
Section 4
Transfer a Registered Card
Let the Registry Record Follow the Card
Graded cards change hands constantly. When a GTCR-registered card is sold, traded, gifted, or otherwise transferred, GTCR can allow the existing registration relationship to be transferred to another GTCR user when supported.
To transfer a registration:
- 1Sign in to your GTCR account.
- 2Open the registered card.
- 3Select Transfer Registration.
- 4Enter the requested recipient information.
- 5Review and initiate the transfer.
- 6The recipient accepts the registration transfer.
- 7GTCR records the completed transfer as a registry event.
This allows relevant registry history to remain associated with the card and certification number, rather than disappearing every time the card changes hands.
Important: A GTCR transfer is not a legal transfer of title. GTCR records the transfer of the GTCR registration relationship. It does not determine whether legal ownership or title has been validly transferred between the parties.
Section 5
Build a Card's Provenance
A Card's Story Doesn't End When It Is Graded
Grading companies establish important information about a card and its condition. GTCR is designed to help document what happens after grading. As a card moves through the hobby, its GTCR record may accumulate relevant registry events such as:
GTCR does not guarantee a complete chain of provenance. Registry history reflects only information and events available to or recorded by GTCR.
Section 6
Update a Lost or Stolen Card When It Is Recovered
Recovery Matters Just as Much as Reporting
If a card previously reported lost or stolen is recovered, the reporting user should update the record as quickly as possible.
To report a card:
- 1Sign in to your GTCR account.
- 2Locate the applicable card/report.
- 3Select Report Recovery.
- 4Provide the requested recovery information.
- 5Submit the update.
GTCR can then update the card's registry status while preserving the historical registry event. A recovered card shouldn't simply disappear from history. The record should show that the issue was resolved.
Section 7
Report Incorrect or Disputed Information
Registry Information Must Be Challengeable
If you believe information appearing within GTCR is inaccurate, outdated, fraudulent, or improperly associated with a card, use the applicable Dispute or Report an Issue process. GTCR may request documentation from involved parties and may restrict, annotate, correct, suspend, or remove information while an issue is reviewed.
GTCR facilitates registry information and processes. GTCR does not adjudicate legal ownership disputes. Parties may need to resolve legal disputes independently or through appropriate authorities.
Section 8
Use GTCR Before a Transaction
Make the Trust Check Part of the Transaction
Collectors, dealers, retailers, breakers, marketplaces, auction houses, and other hobby participants should consider performing a GTCR Trust Check before completing transactions involving valuable graded cards.
CHECK → TRANSACT → TRANSFER
Before the transaction
Run a GTCR Trust Check.
During the transaction
Conduct normal authentication, payment, seller, and buyer due diligence.
After the transaction
If the card is registered with GTCR, transfer or update its GTCR registration when appropriate.
The goal is simple: make checking a card's GTCR status as normal as checking its grading certification number.
Understanding GTCR Status
Depending on available information and GTCR features, a card may display statuses such as:
REGISTERED
The card has an active GTCR registration.
REPORTED LOST
GTCR has received an active report that the card was lost.
REPORTED STOLEN
GTCR has received an active report that the card was stolen.
DISPUTED
Information associated with the card is currently disputed or under review.
TRANSFER PENDING
A GTCR registration transfer has been initiated but is not complete.
RECOVERED
A previous lost or stolen report has been updated following reported recovery.
NO ADVERSE REPORT FOUND
GTCR does not currently display an applicable adverse report for the searched certification number.
"No Adverse Report Found" is not a guarantee. It means only that GTCR did not identify an applicable adverse report within its available registry information at the time of the search.
For Dealers, Marketplaces & Industry Partners
GTCR isn't only for individual collectors. The registry is being designed to support broader industry use, including:
Organizations interested in integrating GTCR into their technology or workflows can contact GTCR regarding partnership and integration opportunities.
What GTCR Does Not Do
GTCR is an independent informational registry and trust infrastructure. GTCR does not:
- Determine legal ownership or title.
- Authenticate or grade trading cards.
- Guarantee submitted information is complete or accurate.
- Guarantee that a card without an adverse report has never been lost, stolen, disputed, altered, or otherwise subject to an issue.
- Resolve legal disputes between parties.
- Determine the monetary value of a card.
- Provide legal, financial, investment, or insurance advice.
- Replace appropriate buyer, seller, dealer, marketplace, or collector due diligence.