What a car history check tells you
A used vehicle can look perfect and still carry problems you can’t see: a loan the seller hasn’t paid off, an insurance write-off, or a theft record. A CarCheck History Report searches official records against the vehicle’s VIN, so you know before you pay.
What’s in every report
- Vehicle details. Make, model, colour, body shape, year and registration number on record, so you can confirm the VIN belongs to the vehicle in front of you.
- Finance owing. Whether there’s money still owing on the vehicle under a registered loan or other security interest. Why finance owing matters.
- Write-off status. Whether the vehicle has been recorded as written off. What the write-off types mean.
- Stolen status. Whether the vehicle has been reported stolen anywhere in Australia. More on stolen vehicle checks.
- An official certificate. A dated, time-stamped certificate with a unique number. Keep it with your purchase papers.
Choose the right report
| What’s included | Essential | Plus | Complete History |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle details, including rego number | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Finance owing, write-off and stolen status | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Odometer tampering check | No | Yes, when data is available | Yes, when data is available |
| ANCAP safety and emissions ratings | No | No | Yes |
| Price (inc. GST) | $39.99 | $49.99 | $69.99 |
Why it matters: finance stays with the car
If a previous owner took out a loan secured against the vehicle and hasn’t paid it off, the debt doesn’t disappear when the car is sold. In some cases the lender can repossess the vehicle from the new owner, even though that owner paid the seller in full.
Checking before you pay, and keeping the certificate, may give you legal protection if an undisclosed loan turns up later. The certificate only covers the moment of the search, which is why timing matters.
Run it on the day you pay. Finance can be registered against a vehicle at any time. A check from last week can already be out of date.
What a history report doesn’t show
For privacy reasons, reports don’t list the owner’s name or address, how much is owing, or unpaid fines and tolls. They also can’t tell you about mechanical condition or accident damage that wasn’t recorded as a write-off. Pair your report with a pre-purchase inspection.
How to get your report
- Find the VIN. It’s 17 characters, usually at the base of the windscreen, on the driver’s door pillar and on the rego papers. Photos of where to look.
- Enter it above and choose your report.
- Pay securely. Your PDF report is emailed within 60 minutes.