Vehicle Checks to Do Before Buying a Used Car

The Checks at a Glance

How to Check if a Car Has Been Written Off

A PPSR search shows whether the car has been recorded as written off. It's the official check, at $2 on ppsr.gov.au, and the same search covers money owing and theft. In Queensland, written-off vehicles under 15 years old are also listed on the state's written-off register (Queensland Government).

There are two kinds of write-off. A statutory write-off was too badly damaged ever to be registered again, and can only be used for parts or scrap. A repairable write-off can be repaired and, in most states, registered again after an inspection, but it's usually worth less and can be harder to insure and sell.

A car that was repaired after an accident without being written off won't show on any register, so look for signs of crash repair as well: uneven panel gaps, paint that doesn't quite match, and paint on rubber seals.

How to Check if a Car Is Stolen

The PPSR search shows whether the car has been reported stolen. Check that the VIN on the car, the registration papers and your certificate all match, and that the VIN plate hasn't been tampered with. Other warning signs are damaged locks or ignition, only one key, a price well below similar cars, and a seller who won't meet at the address on the papers.

Buying a Car With Finance Owing

If the PPSR search shows a security interest, there's money owing on the car, and the lender may be able to repossess it even after you've bought it. Don't pay until the debt is cleared: ask the seller to pay out the loan and show you a clear search, or arrange to pay the lender the payout amount directly and get written confirmation. Search again on the day you pay. See what is a PPSR check?

How to Check Recalls

Search the make and model on the government's vehicle recalls site. It also has details of the compulsory Takata airbag recall, and of a second critical Takata airbag recall that covers some vehicles made between 1996 and 2001. An airbag that hasn't been fixed can injure or kill people in the car, so treat an open airbag recall as safety critical.

A recall on record means that model was recalled. It doesn't tell you whether the work was done on this car. Ask the seller for the invoice or a service book entry, or ask a dealer for that brand to check the VIN. Recall repairs are done free by the manufacturer's dealers, so an open recall is something to get fixed, not a reason to walk away on its own.

Check the Registration

Each state has a free online registration check. Search by number plate or VIN, and check the details match the car and the listing. In Victoria, it's VicRoads' registration check; for the other states, see buying a used car in NSW, Queensland, Western Australia or South Australia.

What Is a REVS Check?

A REVS check is the old name for a PPSR search. REVS, the Register of Encumbered Vehicles, was replaced by the national Personal Property Securities Register in 2012, so a "REVS check" today is a PPSR search under another name.

Then Inspect the Car

None of these checks tells you the car's condition. Work through a used car inspection checklist, test drive it properly, and for the car you're serious about, consider a pre-purchase inspection. Check the documents before you pay.

Shufti, the used car inspection app, runs the PPSR and recall checks for you from the listing link, as part of an inspection built for that car.

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