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How to do a VIN check in Australia?

Where Can I Find the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number)?

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:

Look for the VIN in these other locations:

  • Insurance card/Insurance policy
  • Vehicle title and registration certificate

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If you need a VIN check, Australia has several providers, but the most comprehensive report you’ll find is available right here at CarHistory. 
 
We are leaders in Australian automotive history checks, so when it comes to running a VIN number check, choose CarHistory.
 
VIN stands for Vehicle Identification Number and is an easily identifiable, unique 17-digit number assigned to every car in Australia manufactured or imported after 1989. Whenever you’re purchasing a used car in Australia, a VIN number search will produce a report that has been run through various databases to collect all reported historical information relating to the vehicle. 
 
This includes details of the car’s specifications, the true make and model of the car, and important information like whether the car was ever stolen, written off in an accident, or if it’s currently under financing.  
 
You don’t want to buy a car that’s been stolen or even illegally rebirthed where parts of stolen cars are repurposed into other cars. You also want to know the accurate roadworthiness of the vehicle you intend to purchase so a VIN, or REVS check as they’re sometimes known, will show up any major accidents involving the car where it was written off. The Personal Properties Securities Register, also known as the PPSR, informs a VIN check Australia wide when it comes to finding out if the car is currently under financing. 
 
Purchasing a car that is still under financing can be an issue if the seller defaults on their payments, in which case the car being financed is likely to be repossessed by the lender. You’ll also want to check rego details on the car to see when you need to renew it and how that might affect the price you pay for it.  
 
There are many reasons why getting a VIN check is a good idea when you’re buying a used car, and we’re here to cut through the jargon and help you make an informed decision. Our checks cover all Australian states and territories a vehicle has been registered in, giving you a national overview of the journey the car has been on.  
 

How does a VIN check work? 


 
A VIN Check is a report based on the history of the 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) assigned to every vehicle manufactured after 1989. The amount of information we can provide you regarding a car model manufactured in Australia before 1989 may be limited. The VIN check combines the PPSR vehicle check and a standard rego check. 
 
A VIN is unique to each vehicle, and no two will ever be the same. A VIN number lookup will give you access to a vehicle's entire reported history, along with any relevant details that may help you decide if this is a safe purchase. Additionally, a vehicle's VIN can be checked by government officials and authority figures to determine its previous owners.  
 
A VIN search reveals several key details about a car: 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 can also learn if the car is financed, has ever been stolen or written off in an accident. You can use this information to avoid investing in a money pit or purchasing illegal goods.  
 
A VIN check in Australia can also serve as a vehicle registration check, meaning you can see the last time the vehicle was registered, as well as the current expiration date of the registration (if applicable). 
 
No matter what state or territory a vehicle has been registered in, our search results will show anything reported on the vehicle. If you’re looking for a comprehensive VIN check in Australia, you can rely on CarHistory. 
 

What is required to do a VIN check? 


 
To do a VIN check, you either need the 17-digit VIN of the vehicle you want to look up, or have the rego plate and state handy.
 
If you’re missing a few digits, it might mean that your car was manufactured before 1989. Cars manufactured or imported into Australia before 1989 will likely not have a VIN. Any cars made before 1989 that have been imported since then will receive a VIN when they are registered in Australia.  
 

How to do a VIN check? 


 
A comprehensive VIN check is relatively straightforward with CarHistory's extensive reporting functionality for a VIN check Australia-wide.   
 
You can request a photo of the VIN from the seller or locate it yourself while examining the vehicle in person. There are a few places where you could find the VIN plate, but it's typically found on the driver's side door frame.   
 
Visit our website to begin a report, entering information as directed. Following submission and completion of your payment, we will check the information against our data sources and send you a PDF report in no time.   
 
Ensure that the vehicle you intend to buy is headache-free and that you're paying a fair price for it. Using CarHistory, you can perform the most comprehensive VIN check available in Australia today.

View a sample report >

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