Frequently Asked Questions – Revs Check Report Australia

The VIN is a unique 17-digit alphanumeric serial number assigned to every vehicle in Australia that was manufactured after 1989. The vehicle identification number (VIN) is a way for the automotive industry to identify individual cars and what the government uses in its NEVDIS and PPSR databases to keep track of details on a specific car.

The VIN tells you the manufacturer details, the plant where it was made, the make and model of the vehicle.

The vehicle identification number (VIN) can be found where the windshield meets the dashboard or engraved on the engine or on the door on the driver’s side of the car.

A VIN check is important before you buy a used car. This is for several reasons.

• To make sure the details that the seller gives you is the same as what is in the government databases
• The check that the vehicle wasn’t stolen
• To verify that the registration details on the car papers and the report match
• To check if there were write-off incidents against this car and what type so you don’t buy a lemon.
• To find out if there is any money owed against the car

Running a VIN check is pretty simple. All you have to do is enter the 17-digit VIN number, click search, pay, and get your report delivered to your email and by SMS. You can run a VIN number check by just putting in the 17-digit VIN number.

In addition to your physical checks of the vehicle, you should get an online car history check just to make sure you have all the right details on the car you plan to buy. Buying a used car isn’t cheap. If you end up with a lemon that means even more money out of pocket for repairs, damages, and other things you could have picked up with a car history report before buying the car.

Just like you can’t get a mechanic report for free, you won’t be able to get a car history report for free either. If a site is offering free car history reports, be wary. But, you can get an affordable, comprehensive car history report with all the important details on the car’s past to make an informed decision for your future.

The best car history check is one that is easy to use, affordable, and gives you information on:

• The registration details of the car
• Write-off history
• Encumbrance details
• Stolen vehicle check

PPSR is the acronym for Personal Property Securities Register. The Australian Financial Security Authority (AFSA) manages the PPSR, and it is accessible across Australia. It carries information on different types of personal property such as cars, artwork, intellectual property.

It is also the official record database of all vehicles in Australia and carries information such as the registration details and write-off information, and to keep track of vehicles reported stolen.

The PPSR check system allows individuals and businesses to record a security interest in a personal property if they are using that property as collateral for a loan, selling it on credit, or as part of a consignment arrangement.

PPSR check also works by allowing individuals and businesses to search before buying to see if someone else has registered a security interest in the property they are interested in buying.

For example, if you are buying a car, it is best to check the PPSR system to make sure there is no finance owning which may lead to the car being repossessed after you think you have bought it.

Each PPSR search on REVS Check Report comes with an official PPSR Certificate. This an official AFSA document that outlines all the details that have been recorded in the PPSR. If you’re buying a car, it will also indicate if a security interest is registered on the PPSR against the car as well as pull the NEVDIS vehicle information.

PPSR Search is the feature that allows you to search the PPS register and find the recorded details on an item. Anyone can use the PPSR search feature. It doesn’t matter whether you are a business owner or an individual.

The PPSR report primarily provides details on security interest registered on a personal asset. The PPSR report will give you one of two results:

1. “There is no security interest or other registration kind identified on the PPSR”
2. “One or more PPSR registrations (of a security interest or other registration kind) is identified”

If number two, it means you need to discuss repayment with the seller before you decide on buying that particular asset.

If the results are for a motor vehicle, then you will also get NEVDIS information on the vehicle such as registration details, write-off information and results for a vehicle stolen check. The code for the Write-off vehicle data tells you the type of incident, the damage location, and the severity of the damage. The code details can be found here.

A REVs Check is a search of the Australian Register of Encumbered Vehicles (REVs) and the Vehicle Security Registers (VSR). These were normally state-based registers. But, all this information is now on the Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) which covers the entire island. Some of us still do call it a REVs Check and running a REVs search still gives you information but from the PPSR instead.

You won’t be able to find a site that gives you free REVS check because the Australian government has discontinued free REVS checks. All searches now come with a fee.

REVs checks are available for every state and territory in Australia. The details come from one central database. So, if you put in searches like the ones below, you won’t get a different result and report based on the state you or the car is in.

• Revs check WA
• Revs check QLD
• Revs check NSW

A REVs Check will tell you if the registration details the seller gave you is the same that the official records have. A REVs check will also tell you if the car has been reported stolen in the past, if there were write-off issues and how they were resolved, and whether the owner still owes money on the car.

When you do an online REVS Check with REVS Check Report, you get the results within seconds. And it doesn’t cost you much to do so.

Any other questions?

Don’t see an answer to a question that you have on Revs Check, Car Check History, PPSR or VIN Check in our Frequently Asked Questions? Don’t worry. Just send Revs Check Report a quick message, and we will get right back to you. 

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