How does a VIN check work?
A VIN check in Australia can be completed at RevsCheck.
The VIN check is required to make sure you are not buying a vehicle with financial issues. A part of your VIN check in Australia is getting your Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) certificate.
In this certificate, you'll find out if the car you're buying is being used as security for a loan.
If you haven't bought a car in the last ten years or so, you may be more familiar with the REVS check, NSW or any other Australian state. The PPSR certificate replaced these systems to simplify the process.
The PPSR check was introduced to simplify the registry and create an easily searchable national database. However, many people in Australia still refer to it as REVS check, so the name has stuck.
Whatever you call the check, the important part is you'll get a report on the history of any car you're looking to purchase.
How does a VIN check work?
A VIN check in Australia works by using the VIN you enter into the RevsCheck form and locating that specific vehicle in the PPSR. After the vehicle is found, we'll take that information and craft it into an easy-to-read PDF report.
At RevsCheck, we offer two different reports: the first is the PPSR Certificate, which will provide details related to the registration, if the car has been reported stolen, written-off in an accident, and if the vehicle is affected by an airbag recall.
The PPSR will also indicate if the car is being used as security against a loan.
If you choose the CarHistory Report, you'll receive the same information as the PPSR certificate along with many other details.
When you order the CarHistory Report, you'll get an odometer check (which may show if the odometer has been wound back or tampered with). You'll also see all the reported sales of this particular vehicle and a valuation guide, including recent sales of similar vehicles.
The CarHistory Report will also detail the standard and optional extras included with the vehicle on offer.
When you enter your VIN (or rego number), we'll show you the make and model belonging to that particular serial number.
If these details match the car you're considering buying; you can go ahead and order the report you prefer. If the details do not match, it's best to check if the VIN you entered is correct (with 17-digits, it can be easy to make a mistake).
After re-entering the VIN and you're still getting the incorrect car details, you may need to contact the seller and request they send you a photo of the compliance plate or the chassis number.
If they're not willing to do that, it is probably best to find another vehicle to buy.
Why is a VIN check important?
When you're buying a second-hand vehicle in a private sale, a VIN check in Australia (also called a rego check, PPSR check, etc.) is vital to make sure you're buying a car that is free from debt.
In Australia, the seller is not obligated to tell any potential buyer if they are selling an item used as security for a loan; this check is the buyer's responsibility.
The PPSR was set up as a central registry that could handle any item being used as security (except for real estate). A VIN check is the most common way the registry is used, and it can provide enough information so you get a reasonably clear picture of the car's history and vehicle details.
A VIN check in Australia is a simple process that can protect you from people interested in offloading a vehicle attached to a loan. For example, you buy a car with a lien against it by a lender, and the seller stops paying the loan.
In this scenario, the lender can repossess the vehicle and sell it to recover any outstanding amount. The lender has all the power in this transaction, and they only care about selling the car for enough to cover their costs.
Completing a VIN check or rego check online can save you from this issue.
When a car is used as security, it is not necessarily a deal-breaker as long as they are upfront about it. However, you'll need to make sure you get the loan payout details from the seller.
After receiving these details, you can pay the loan out and pay the seller the remaining funds.
How to do a VIN check in Australia?
The easiest way to do a VIN check in Australia is through RevsCheck. Once you have the VIN of a car you’re buying, you can enter this into the search bar on our website. From there, we'll show you the make and model of the vehicle attached to that serial number. Provided these details match your car, you can go ahead and order one of our reports for your vehicle check.
After your payment is processed, the report you select will be sent to your email address in only a few minutes.
As these reports are sent out fast, you can complete the VIN check in Australia and wait for the results while you're physically at the car, completing an inspection or during a test drive.
RevsCheck is also available at all times, so if you're looking at cars online and see one that suits your fancy, you may be able to use the information on the listing page to complete your vehicle reg check.
If you need assistance with your car reg check or vehicle chassis number search, you can call our team during business hours. You can send an enquiry through email or fill out our online form, and we'll contact you as soon as possible.
