How to do a rego check online
Checking the current registration status is a part of buying a motor vehicle (car, truck, caravan, etc.), and ordering a rego check online through RevsCheck is the fastest way to get it.
At RevsCheck, a rego check is completed as a part of any Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) check, and all the details are displayed on the PPSR certificate.
A vehicle reg check is usually completed when you're purchasing a car second-hand during a private sale, but you can also get it done on your own vehicle if you’re unsure when the rego is due.
In Australia, there are few protections for transactions between two individuals. For example, if you're buying a vehicle, you need to be sure what the seller is telling you is truthful.
This means that the buyer is responsible for ensuring that the goods they receive are clear from any debt owed to a third party, not stolen and that the car has not previously been written off in an accident.
All of these details are covered during a PPSR check. If you do happen to buy a vehicle with issues, then it is possible to seek compensation through legal action, but it is best to avoid these problems in the first place.
Completing a rego check online to look up vehicle registration is the fastest and easiest method available to you to uncover if the seller is being truthful. For example, if the seller has stated that the car has a few months of rego remaining, but you find out it has expired after you check it, you can safely determine that they probably can't be trusted with any other information.
The licence plate check is a vital part of buying any vehicle, especially when completing a car inspection.
A car reg check of any car you're purchasing will also help stop you from getting into any trouble with the police.
All police cars in Australia can scan number plates and receive an alert if a car does not have valid registration.
If you have purchased a vehicle and relied on the seller being honest, you may find yourself being pulled over by the police and facing a hefty fine.
In most states of Australia, the fine for not having a valid rego is often more than the cost of your annual vehicle registration payment.
The police may also perform a roadworthy check of your car, and that could find issues that'll need to be repaired before you can have the car registered. While it'd be great to trust people, being cautious is often the best way forward and will help you avoid any unwanted problems.
Why is a rego check necessary?
Since most Australian states have removed the need for registration stickers, the only way to check registration status is through a rego check online.
Many drivers prefer the stickers because they're an easy reminder for when your rego is due. However, the state government departments prefer the cost-cutting measure of not printing and mailing out the 20 million-plus stickers each year. The elimination of rego stickers also meant that it was possible (and financially practical) to offer car registrations for less than a year.
As soon as you take possession of a vehicle through a sales process, everything becomes your responsibility, including having current registration.
For example, if you're buying a vehicle, and the seller told you it had 'heaps' of rego, but it expires in a few days, you may get fined for having an unregistered vehicle.
All police cars are fitted with number plate scanners, and councils will also regularly scan parked vehicles in public parking areas and may also clamp unregistered cars. You could even find that mobile and fixed speed cameras can scan for registered vehicles and then mail you a fine.
Completing a rego check online will save you all of this hassle, and make sure that you are fully aware of when your rego is next due.
Even if the seller has paperwork stating when the rego is due, it still pays to double-check, as the seller may have cancelled the rego, meaning that the paperwork is no longer valid.
How much does a rego check cost?
After you enter your rego at RevsCheck and search for your vehicle, we'll show you the vehicle make and model that matches.
On this page, you'll find the two reports we offer. These reports are the PPSR certificate and the CarHistory report. You can select either one of these reports, and the charges are indicated on the right-hand side of the page under the vehicle summary.
After your payment has been processed, you can print this report, so you have all the details on hand when you go to inspect the vehicle.
When you visit the car in person, check the car plate number to make sure you have the right information. If it is different, you’ll need to send another enquiry to get the correct information.
If you're in the preliminary stages of buying a vehicle, we'd suggest the PPSR report (also known as a VIN check in Australia). When you're ready to make an offer, you can purchase the CarHistory Report.
The CarHistory Report offers better value than the PPSR certificate, as it'll provide additional information (such as a valuation) to help you negotiate a better price.
How to do a rego check online?
A rego check online is easy through RevsCheck. All we need to get started is the current rego number and the car's registered state (VIC, QLD, NSW, etc.). You can find this information on the car's number plates.
If you can't see the number plates (some online sellers may blur these out of photos), you can use the VIN or chassis number.
After entering the correct data, you can click the 'Get my RevsCheck' button, and we'll locate the right vehicle in the PPSR.
Provided the detailed summary is correct, you can order the certificate or report of your choice, and the rego check will be sent to your email account. If you need any assistance in completing your rego check online, you can contact our team by phone during business hours; otherwise, you can fill out our contact form, and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.
