How to check a used car's history in Australia
What an Australian car history check covers, what money owing, a write-off or a stolen record means for you as the buyer, and what no record can show.
A used car can look perfect and still carry a problem you cannot see: a loan the seller never paid off, an insurance write-off that was patched up and put back on the road, or a theft report. None of that shows on the panels. All of it shows on the records, which is why a history check is the first thing to do once you have a plate number.
What a history check reads
In Australia a car is identified by its plate, its state of registration and its VIN, printed on the rego papers. On cars built since 1989 the VIN is a 17-character number; older cars and many imports have a chassis number instead. A history check uses those to read the official records about that one car. The ones that matter most to a buyer are:
- Money owing. Whether a lender has a registered security interest over the car, which usually means a car loan that has not been paid off.
- Write-offs. Whether an insurer has ever declared the car a total loss, and whether it was a statutory or a repairable write-off.
- Stolen status. Whether the car is currently reported stolen.
- Registration. Whether the rego is current, and when it expires.
- Identity. The make, model, year and body the records say the car is, so you can check they match what you are looking at.
Money owing: the one that can cost you the car
If there is still finance secured against a car, the lender's claim does not disappear because the car changed hands. Buy it privately with money owing and you can end up arguing with a finance company over a car you have already paid for. The money owing guide covers what to do if a check comes back with a lender on it.
Write-offs: statutory and repairable
When an insurer decides a car is not worth repairing after a crash, flood, hail storm or fire, it is written off. For cars under about 15 years old the write-off is recorded against the car, as one of two kinds, and the difference matters:
- A statutory write-off was too badly damaged to ever be registered again. It can be sold for parts or scrap, but it should never be back on the road.
- A repairable write-off can be repaired and, depending on the state, inspected and registered again. Plenty are fixed properly. Some are not, and the record is how you find out to ask.
A repaired write-off is not automatically a bad buy, but it is worth less than the same car without one, and you are entitled to know before you agree a price. A seller who did not mention it has told you something. The stolen and written-off guide goes through both in more detail.
Stolen and rego status
A car reported stolen can be recovered by police from whoever holds it, including a buyer who paid in good faith. A rego that has lapsed means you cannot legally drive the car home until it is registered again, and in some states that means an inspection first. Both are quick to check and expensive to find out about later.
What a history check cannot tell you
Records only know what was reported to them. A history check will not show:
- Mechanical condition. A car with a perfect record can still need a gearbox.
- Accident damage that never went through insurance. A private repair after a crash leaves no record.
- Service history. That lives in the logbook and the workshop invoices, not the register.
- Whether the odometer is honest. Check it against the service book and the wear on the pedals, steering wheel and driver's seat.
That is why the records are the first check, not the only one. The faults a model is known for are the second: a Toyota Hilux, a Ford Ranger and a Mazda CX-5 each have their own documented problems by engine and year, and those are what to look for when you see the car. The used car inspection guide shows how.
When to run the check
Before you pay a deposit, and again on the day if days have passed. Finance can be taken out against a car after you first looked at it. Ask the seller for the plate and state, check the VIN on the car matches the rego papers, and run the check before any money moves.
A KickTyres Vehicle Check reads the official records for one Australian plate: money owing (with the lender named), written-off history, stolen status and registration status, alongside the documented faults for that model and engine. A$17.90, or A$28.90 with the guided inspection.
Check a car's history from its plate
Enter the plate and state. The Vehicle Check shows money owing (with the lender named), written-off history, stolen status and registration status, plus the documented faults for that exact model. A$17.90.
Check the model before you view
Every documented fault for these models, with the years and engines each one applies to.
Frequently asked questions
What does a car history check show in Australia?
It reads the official records for one car: whether there is money owing on it, whether it has been written off, whether it is reported stolen, and its registration status. The KickTyres Vehicle Check shows all four, plus the documented faults for that model, for A$17.90.
Can I check a car's history with just the rego number?
Yes. In Australia you need the plate and the state it is registered in. Check the VIN on the car matches the one on the rego papers too, so you know the plate belongs to that car.
Does a clean history check mean the car is fine?
No. It means the records are clean. It says nothing about mechanical condition, private accident repairs or servicing. Inspect the car and read the service book as well.
Should I buy a repairable write-off?
It can be fine if it was repaired properly and the price reflects the history, but it will usually be worth less when you sell it. Know before you agree a price, and have it inspected.