Why do I need to do a REVS check?

If you purchase a vehicle from a private seller who has an outstanding loan attached to the vehicle (this is called an encumbrance), the vehicle could be repossessed and you could lose your money.

You can check the PPSR (previously known as REVS - Register of Encumbered Vehicles) on this website to determine if the vehicle is encumbered. In addition to doing a PPSR/REVS check, we also recommend buying a vehicle history report that includes information about whether the car has been written-off, stolen, flood damaged or whether the odometer has been rolled back.

Doing a PPSR/REVS check is the simplest way to prevent repossession by a financier if someone else still owes money on the vehicle. If the vehicle is encumbered, you should not purchase it until you are satisfied with the arrangements made by the current owner to repay the debt.

You need to be sure that the registration, engine and Vehicle Identification (VIN/Chassis) numbers on the registration papers are identical to those on the vehicle.