The vehicle identification number (VIN) is composed of 17 characters (digits and capital letters) that act as a unique identifier for the vehicle. A VIN displays the car's unique features, specifications and manufacturer.
The VIN can be found in a couple of places including on the car's registration label (1), on the compliance plate in the engine bay (2) or on the passenger side windshield (3), or on one of the door posts (where the door latches when it is closed) (4). See the image below:
A PPSR check is a standard check that uses data from the Personal Properties Securities Register (PPSR), to provide information about personal assets, including cars. At CarHistory, we can provide timely PPSR Certificates for any used vehicles you may consider purchasing.
PPSR is a system that brings certain information from Commonwealth, State and Territory levels in Australia under one unified, national database. It is based on the Personal Property Securities Act 2009 which reformed the previously disconnected systems.
A personal property security interest can be registered with PPSR by both businesses and lenders. Searching the register is one way interested parties, such as buyers, can find out if there are any security interests registered against personal property, such as motor vehicles.
The register makes it easier for us to run a PPSR check to find information relating to vehicles and find out more about the history of a car in Australia. If you'd like to buy a second-hand car, you may find this information useful, as it gives you a very clear idea of the condition of the car before you buy it. You’ll know whether you’re paying what it’s worth and, most importantly, whether there’s any title risk involved in the purchase.
When it comes to buying used cars, you have to learn to cut through all the noise to understand the factors worth paying attention to.
At CarHistory, we want to help you by cutting through the jargon and offering several vehicle check options to meet your needs. From our PPSR VIN check to our complete VIN check Australia wide (also known as a REVS check), our checks are easy for you to submit, clear to read and affordable.
A PPSR Check basically searches through the Personal Properties Securities Register to find any reported information on the vehicle you requested a check for.
Once it finds the relevant information, our system generates a PPSR Certificate, which is an easy-to-read document that gives you key details about the vehicle you’re interested in. On the certificate, you will be able to clearly see if a financial liability has been registered against the vehicle - when there is still money due to the lender on the vehicle.
The PPSR Certificate also includes information on whether the vehicle has ever been reported as written off in an accident or stolen. In addition to the CarHistory PPSR Certificate, we include an official Australian Government produced PPSR Certificate, so you know everything is 100% legitimate.
Your PPSR check results will include:
If a financial encumbrance is found, your certificate will state:
If you’re keen to find out more about the car, you can run a comprehensive CarHistory Report which dives deeper into the car’s history and status. It also provides you with a vehicle valuation that you can use to negotiate a better deal.
The benefits of running a PPSR check are many, but most importantly it’s to ensure that you’re not buying a vehicle that is defective, stolen or one that will be repossessed if the previous owner defaults on any finance repayments.
The results of a PPSR check will show you these key details about the vehicle, allowing you to make an informed decision. Ideally, the check shows nothing, and you’re on your way to owning a great second-hand vehicle. However, if there are any skeletons in the closet, it’s better to know this up front before you invest any money, transfer registration to your name and are driving around none the wiser that there’s a critical issue with your car.
A PPSR check can be done from the convenience of your own home.
The only information you need to provide is the vehicle’s state of registration and number plate (registration number) or VIN (Vehicle Identification Number). If you’re not sure where to find the VIN, our handy helper will show you the most common places a VIN can be found in a vehicle, but typically you can find it on the driver's side door frame or the compliance plate near the engine.
Once you have these details, you can enter them into our simple online form and hit “Get Report”. The PPSR is a paid certificate, so you’ll be taken to a secure payment portal. Once your payment has been processed, our system will mine all the data available on the vehicle details provided. You will receive the results of the PPSR check immediately.
You’ll receive a PPSR Certificate, which will include relevant details on the vehicle up until the date you requested the report. This will include a Finance owing, Stolen check, Written off check, Water damage check and Registration details.
If you’re buying a used vehicle, don’t waste any time and apply for PPSR vehicle check a comprehensive vehicle registration check or just check rego on the car. You can do any or all of these checks right here at CarHistory.