What is a rego check and why is it important?
A rego check for your state (NSW, VIC, etc.) is the best way to make sure you buy a car (or are driving one) with current and valid registration.
As most states in Australia no longer provide a rego sticker, completing a rego check online is the easiest way to see when the rego payment is next due.
If you’re buying a second-hand car through a private sale, it is your responsibility to make sure that the car has a valid rego when you’re driving it.
In most states of Australia, the police can perform a car plate number check and have immediate information regarding your identification and rego status.
Even some mobile and fixed speeding cameras include this technology, and their standard protocol is to issue fines regardless of your circumstances.
While it’d be nice to trust people when buying a car because they’re not obligated to tell you anything about the sale, the expectation is that you’ll complete the checks required, such as motor vehicle registration. Even if the seller shows you the registration paperwork, they may have cancelled the rego before selling it.
You should complete a rego check whenever you’re buying a vehicle in Australia for your peace of mind.
What is a rego check and why is it important?
A rego check is where you’ll use online tools to see if any vehicle registered in Australia has a current registration. All vehicles that drive on the roads must pay an annual registration. The exact registration cost will depend on which state you’re living in and the type of transport you drive.
For example, most truck drivers will pay more for registration because they are on the roads more than a regular commuter. The monies acquired through road registration generally go towards paying for the upkeep of the road network.
Unfortunately, some people choose not to pay their rego and run the risk of copping a fine if caught. When you buy a vehicle in a private sale, you need to check rego to make sure that particular car is allowed on public roads.
You’ll find that the police and other government bodies will gladly hand out fines and other restrictions to unregistered vehicles.
If you recently bought a car, the obligation is yours to make sure that the car has current rego.
You may find that cars are often marketed as having long registration, which is transferable when the vehicle changes hands.
Checking rego on a car you buy can tell you if the seller is being honest or not.
If they say the car has a long rego but after performing a registration expiry check you find it expires in a few weeks or days, then they’re probably not being completely honest about the car’s history.
That could mean that they’re not a reliable seller.
What do I require for a rego check?
When you need to check rego, it can be completed quickly and included in your PPSR check.
All you need to get started is the current rego number, VIN, or chassis number. If you’re looking at cars online, the rego number is the easiest to get, but having the VIN or chassis number will mean you can compare these and make sure you’re checking the right vehicle.
You can find the VIN on the car’s current registration paperwork, but it is best to check its compliance plate. For the best results, you can request a photo of the compliance plate from the seller or make one yourself if you’re inspecting the car.
As part of your PPSR or CarHistory Report, the rego check will only take a few minutes to be sent to your email address, which is perfect if you are test-driving the vehicle. The PPSR certificate for your state (e.g., PPSR check VIC) is required to be sure you’re not about to buy a vehicle that is being used as security for a loan.
Car loans are a popular way to buy a car, and many lenders will use the car’s value as security in case the person taking out the loan cannot make regular payments.
While a car used as security for a loan is not necessarily a deal-breaker, you need to make sure the loan is paid out before you take possession of the vehicle.
In Australia, the onus is on the purchaser to ensure the car is cleared of any debt before taking possession.
It’s important to remember that the seller is under no obligation to tell you if there is a lien against the vehicle.
However, if they do not offer this information, it can make them seem a little shady, and perhaps you’d be better off finding another car to buy. You should send as many enquiries as possible before putting in an offer.
How to do a rego check?
The easiest way to check rego for any Australian state (VIC, QLD, NSW, etc.) is through RevsCheck.
You can enter the car’s current rego number, and we’ll locate the vehicle in the PPSR. We’ll show you the make and model of the car related to the rego you entered, and if these details match, you can go ahead and order your PPSR certificate or the CarHistory Report.
The PPSR certificate will include the rego check and if the car has been reported as stolen, written off in an accident, or is security for a loan. In the CarHistory Report, you’ll receive the PPSR certificate and other details that can help you negotiate the right price for that vehicle.
The CarHistory Report also takes the data from the PPSR certificate and presents it in an easy-to-read format.
If you need any assistance with your car reg check or using the VIN check in Australia, then you can contact our team by phone during business hours. You can send through a query outside of business hours using our online form or by direct email.
