REVS stands for Register of Encumbered Vehicles. As of 30 January 2012 the PPSR (Personal Property Securities Register will take over from REVS as the national database for storing vehicle encumbrances. It is important to check for anyone buying a used car because it helps uncover whether there is any debt associated with the vehicle. This is important because if a vehicle is found to be encumbered there's a risk that it can be repossessed by the relevant creditor. This is not the kind of surprise that you want when buying a car and hence it's often used as the first line of defence against the risk of this happening.

Given the general value of a used car purchase it makes sense to find out as much as possible regarding your potential purchase before making a significant investment. A PPSR - formerly a REVS check is a useful tool for such purposes. A simple chat with the seller, test drive and physical car inspection can only help you uncover some of the information you need to make an informed decision. Even a REVS check only delivers a portion of the entire picture.

CarHistory.com.au can provide reports that uncover the information that a standard PPSR - formerly REVS report doesn't, to help answer other important questions such as:

• Has the vehicle previously suffered water or hail damage?
• What is the current valuation of the vehicle?
• Has the vehicle had it's odometer tampered with?

We provide customers with a more holistic appreciation of vehicle by incorporating other useful information like vehicle valuation, ANCAP Safety and Emissions Ratings as well as sales listing history to help you make sure you get the best deal.

CarHistory.com.au reports are available online and provide you with instant insights to help you make informed decisions.