How to Check Car History for Free in Australia
- Alex Jevan
- Aug 20
- 5 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
Buying a used car can save you money. But you should always check the car before you buy it.
A car may look great but still have problems in its history. It could have been stolen, written off, or have money owing on it.
The good news is that you can do some free car history checks in Australia. You can also pay for a more detailed PPSR or REVS check before you buy.
What can you check for free?
A free check will not give you the full history of a car. But it can still give you useful information.
You can check things such as:
Current registration
Registration expiry date
Make and model
Some vehicle details
Whether the registration is cancelled
Basic registration information
The information available depends on the state or territory where the car is registered.
1. Check the car's registration
One of the easiest free checks is a registration check.
Ask the seller for the car's registration number. Then use the official road authority website for the state where the car is registered.
For example, if you are buying a car in NSW, you can use the free registration check from Service NSW.
A NSW registration check can help you confirm basic details about the vehicle. Service NSW also offers a separate paid vehicle history report with more detailed information.
Important: A registration check is not the same as a full car history check.
2. Check the VIN
The VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) is one of the most important things to check before buying a used car.
Most modern cars have a 17-character VIN.
You can usually find the VIN:
On the dashboard
Inside the driver's door
Under the bonnet
On the registration papers
Write down the VIN carefully.
Then compare the VIN on the car with the VIN on the registration papers.
If the numbers do not match, stop and ask the seller why.
The Australian Government recommends checking the VIN or chassis number before completing a vehicle search.
3. Can you check if a car is stolen for free?
This is where you need to be careful.
There is no single national free website that gives you a complete car history report.
The Australian Government's PPSR service provides important stolen, written-off and finance information, but a PPSR car search costs $2.
A PPSR search uses the VIN or chassis number. It cannot be searched using the registration number or engine number.
For this reason, if you are serious about buying the car, it is worth paying for a PPSR check.
4. Do a free registration check first
A good approach is to start with the free checks.
Check:
Registration → VIN → Vehicle details → Seller's documents
Make sure everything matches.
If the seller gives you a registration number that does not match the car, be very careful.
You should also ask the seller for the vehicle's service history and other paperwork.
5. Do a PPSR or REVS check before you buy
A REVS check is an old name that many Australians still use.
REVS stood for Register of Encumbered Vehicles. The old state-based REVS registers closed in 2012. Their records were moved to the national PPSR system.
Today, a PPSR car search is the official national check.
A PPSR search can show:
If money or finance is owing
If the vehicle has been reported stolen
If the vehicle has been reported written off
Basic vehicle details
The Australian Government says a PPSR search can help protect buyers from buying a car that could later be repossessed.
Popular REVS and PPSR checks
You can also use a vehicle history service to order your check:
Free car checks in Queensland
If you are buying a car in Queensland, start by checking the registration and vehicle details.
Queensland also recommends doing a $2 PPSR search before buying a used vehicle. The search may show if the car has been written off, reported stolen or has an outstanding debt.
You can also do a: REVS Check QLD
Free car checks in NSW
In New South Wales, you can do a free registration check online.
The free check is useful for confirming basic registration information. If you want more information about the vehicle's past, you can order a paid vehicle history report.
A NSW vehicle history report can include information such as whether the vehicle was written off, whether the vehicle or its plates or engine were reported stolen, and available odometer readings.
You can also do a: REVS Check NSW
Free car checks in Western Australia
If you are buying a used car in Western Australia, check the vehicle's registration details first.
Then check the VIN on the car and make sure it matches the documents.
For extra protection, do a PPSR check before buying.
You can also use: REVS Check WA
Free car checks in South Australia
In South Australia, you should also check the registration and VIN before buying.
Check that the details supplied by the seller match the vehicle.
For a more complete check, use a PPSR search.
You can also use: PPSR Check SA
What a free car history check cannot tell you
A free registration check is useful, but it is not a complete vehicle history report.
It may not tell you:
How much finance is owing
The full ownership history
Previous accidents
Full odometer history
Every repair
Every insurance claim
Whether the car has been used as a taxi or hire car
For example, the Australian Government says a PPSR search does not provide the vehicle
owner's history, the amount of finance owing or the odometer reading.
This is why you should not rely on a free registration check alone.
The best way to check a used car
Before buying a used car, follow these simple steps:
Step 1: Get the registration number.
Step 2: Do a free registration check.
Step 3: Get the VIN from the car.
Step 4: Check that the VIN matches the paperwork.
Step 5: Ask the seller about the car's service history.
Step 6: Do a PPSR/REVS check.
Step 7: Get a mechanical inspection.
Step 8: Test drive the car.
Step 9: Only pay when you are happy with the checks.
Is a free car history check enough?
Usually, no.
A free registration check is a good first step. It can help you confirm that the basic vehicle details look right.
But if you are about to spend thousands of dollars on a used car, a PPSR check is worth doing.
The official PPSR search costs $2 and can tell you if the vehicle has a security interest, or has been reported stolen or written off.
The PPSR recommends doing the search on the day you buy the car, or the day before. This gives you the most up-to-date information.
Final tip
A free car history check is a good place to start.
But don't stop there.
Check the registration. Check the VIN. Check the PPSR. Then inspect the car.
A few minutes of checking before you buy could save you from a very expensive problem later.
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