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 VIN Number Check is a report that is generated based on the reported history of the 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) issued to every vehicle in Australia manufactured after 1989. If you’re purchasing a car manufactured before 1989 information may be limited as we can only run checks for VINs with 17 digits – no more, no less. It combines both a rego check and a PPSR Certificate.
Each VIN is unique, and no two vehicles will ever have the same VIN number. When you do a VIN number lookup, you’re looking at the entire reported history of this vehicle and any relevant details that might help you decide whether this is a safe car to buy. The VIN number check also allows government registers and authority figures to track all previous owners of a vehicle.
When you run a VIN number check, you will find key information about the car when you search its VIN number: the make, model and variant, the year of manufacture, ANCAP safety and vehicle emissions ratings as well as engine details including size, transmission and fuel type.
You will also be able to see if the car has been stolen, written off in an accident, or financed. This information can help you avoid investing in a money pit, making an illegal purchase, or having your car repossessed.
A VIN number check can also serve as a vehicle registration check, which means you can see when and where it was last registered, and the current rego (if applicable) expiry date. CarHistory Reports will show up anything that’s been reported on the vehicle, no matter what state or territory in Australia the car has been registered in.
Whenever we make a purchase, we want to know the goods and services we are buying will deliver what they promise, and nowhere is that truer than when it comes to the world of used cars.
The benefit of checking the VIN is both peace of mind and real financial commitments. The VIN acts like a historical index of major events in a vehicle’s life. Therefore, the information we pull from our reports will give you an insight into the history and health of your potential vehicle.
Typically, the big red flags to look out for in the history of a vehicle is if it’s ever been stolen, written off, is currently under finance, or even rebirthed – where the vehicle may contain stolen parts if it wasn’t stolen itself, including the VIN plate.
By running a VIN number check, you can save yourself a lot of trouble, money, and time later down the road. It’s a small investment to make for the assurance that you’re buying a clean, quality used car that will serve you well into the future.