FAQ

Your questions, answered.

carfacts Car History Report FAQs

• What is a carfacts History Report?

  A carfacts History Report provides an overview of a vehicle’s history, helping you buy with greater confidence. Purchasing a used car can be stressful, and this report supports the process by highlighting available background details. Every carfacts History Report includes an official Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) certificate and may also highlight information such as whether there’s a registered security interest that may indicate money owing, if it has been recorded as stolen or written-off, any irregularities with the odometer, along with key identifiers like registration status, vehicle description, market comparisons, environmental ratings, and safety ratings including ANCAP.

• What is a Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) Certificate?

  A PPSR Certificate is the official result of a search of Australia's Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR), the national register that records security interests over personal property, including motor vehicles. Introduced in January 2012 to replace the former state-based REVS and VSR systems, a PPSR search can show whether a vehicle has a registered security interest (such as outstanding finance), who holds that interest, when it was registered, and the type of security interest recorded. For motor vehicles, it can also indicate whether the vehicle has been reported as stolen or listed on the Written-Off Vehicle Register, helping buyers make more informed decisions when purchasing a used vehicle.

• Why should I get a carfacts History Report?

  A carfacts History Report helps you check for a vehicle's hidden history before you buy. If a vehicle has a registered security interest, it could potentially be repossessed to cover a debt, leaving you out of pocket and without a vehicle. Cars that have been written-off, stolen, or had their odometers tampered with can also lead to paying far more than the car is worth. By checking a carfacts History Report before you buy, you can make a more informed decision about whether the vehicle is what it's represented to be.

• I am selling my car. Can I still get a carfacts History Report?

  What better way to reassure potential buyers about your car than by presenting an independent carfacts History Report? Sharing this report highlights the vehicle's available background information and helps build trust, giving buyers helpful information to move forward with the purchase.

• Where can I find a car’s Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)?

  A Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is a unique 17-character code used to identify a car. You can usually find it on the registration papers, insurance documents, the build plate in the engine bay, the passenger-side door jamb, or on the lower corner of the windshield. Accuracy is important when entering a VIN. To avoid mistakes, copy and paste it if you’re taking it from a website, or type it carefully in groups of four characters. Remember, VINs never include the letters I, O, or Q, and they must always be exactly 17 characters long.

• Why are there a selection of vehicles to choose from after I enter a VIN?

  A Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) acts like a car’s fingerprint, uniquely identifying each vehicle. However, the VIN alone doesn’t always provide the full picture. Details such as the exact make, model, and variant are sometimes needed to generate accurate information on fuel type, engine capacity, fuel efficiency, cylinder or rotor count, power and torque, CO₂ emissions, and both safety and environmental ratings. In cases like this, we may ask you for a little more information about your car to help us deliver an accurate and reliable report.

• Why is the vehicle I am checking not listed when I enter a VIN?

  There may be times when we can’t generate a list of possible vehicle matches, or your car simply doesn’t appear in the options provided. This isn’t a problem, but we will need a little assistance from you. In these cases, we’ll ask you to manually select your vehicle details using the drop-down menus. Once confirmed, we can provide information on fuel type, engine capacity, fuel efficiency, cylinder or rotor count, power and torque, CO₂ emissions, as well as safety and environmental ratings.

• I have an older car which doesn't have a VIN. Can I still get a carfacts History Report?

  No, a carfacts History Report can only be generated using a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), as this is the primary way to identify a car. All vehicles built from 1 January 1989 onwards are required to have a VIN. If you’re trying to check an older vehicle without one, you can still search the PPSR Government database using the chassis or serial number, but this will only return limited information.

• Does my VIN need to be correct to get a carfacts History Report?

  Yes, accuracy matters. If the VIN is entered incorrectly, the carfacts History Report may be invalid or display the wrong information. To avoid this, always double-check the number and follow our guidelines for entering the VIN correctly.

• Why is there information missing from my carfacts History Report?

  There are a few reasons why certain details may be missing from your carfacts History Report. In some cases, the data simply isn’t available for that part of the vehicle or its history. Another common cause is an incorrect VIN entry - if the ‘Vehicle ID and Registration’ section is blank, it usually means the VIN wasn’t entered correctly.

• What does encumbrance mean?

  An encumbrance on a vehicle means there's a registered security interest recorded against it, which often relates to money owed on a loan. Before buying, it's important to check whether the interest has been discharged. You should also consider requesting proof of repayment from the seller and, if needed, confirming the details directly with the lender.

• How long does it take for encumbrance history to be removed from a vehicle's records?

  The time it takes for a security interest to be discharged from a vehicle's PPSR record can vary. The finance company or other entity holding the security interest is responsible for notifying the PPSR once the interest is no longer valid, and it may take some time for the PPSR to process this update. If you believe an interest should have been discharged, the person who originally took out the finance (the grantor) should contact the lender (the secured party) to check that the information has been correctly updated on the PPSR. Before purchasing a car, it's wise to check whether any registered interest has been discharged. You should also consider requesting proof of repayment from the seller and, if necessary, verifying directly with the finance company.

• What does it mean if a car has been 'written-off'? Are there any implications for a buyer?

  A car is considered “written-off” if it has been involved in an accident or has suffered significant damage from impacts, fire, water, or other malicious acts. Some written-off vehicles cannot be re-registered and are classified as statutory write-offs. Others can be repaired and returned to the road if they pass inspections and receive a written-off vehicle and safety certificate, making them repairable write-offs. Being written-off doesn’t automatically mean a car is unsafe to buy, but it does mean you should carry out thorough checks to ensure the vehicle is roadworthy and legally owned by the seller. For specific questions or to verify the write-off status, your state or territory road authority can provide guidance.

• What does the odometer reading check do?

  An odometer check can indicate if a vehicle’s odometer has potentially been rolled back to display fewer kilometres than actually driven. This information is verified using data from the carsales Network and its affiliated partners. As odometer data is not available for every vehicle, this check indicates potential discrepancies where sufficient data exists.

• What is an ANCAP rating?

  These ratings reflect a vehicle’s performance in the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) crash tests. To learn more about ANCAP ratings and how they are calculated, visit www.ancap.com.au

• The vehicle I searched on is reported as having been stolen, what should I do?

  If the vehicle in your carfacts History Report is listed as stolen, it’s recommended that you contact the relevant state or territory law enforcement agency, as noted on the PPSR certificate included with your report.

• Who do I contact if the information on one of the reports is not accurate?

  You can contact support at support@carfacts.com.au.

• What is Market Comparison?

  Compare similar cars in market based on odometer reading and sales price.

• I ordered a carfacts History Report but haven't received it yet. What do I do now?

  You can contact support at support@carfacts.com.au.

• How long does it take to receive a carfacts History Report after I order one?

  You will typically receive your carfacts History Report by email within 15 minutes. Some sections of the report rely on external data sources, which can occasionally cause delays beyond our control. If you haven’t received your report or are experiencing any issues, please contact us at support@carfacts.com.au.

• I've lost my carfacts History Report, can I get another copy of it?

  We can re-send you a copy of a carfacts History Report which has been generated within the last month. All you need to do is send an email to support@carfacts.com.au with the email address used to order the report, as well as the date and time. Data may have been updated from the time of the original report, so for the most up to date information re-enter the VIN and lodge a request for a new carfacts History Report.

• How long is a carfacts History Report valid for?

  A carfacts History Report doesn't have a fixed validity period – it provides a snapshot of a vehicle's history as at the date the report is generated. As a vehicle's status can change, the report should be used as a guide only rather than relied on indefinitely. For example, a financial encumbrance may be added or removed, or a vehicle may be reported stolen after the report is generated. To help ensure protection, a PPSR search should be conducted immediately before the transaction or within the previous day. Exceptions may apply, and consumers are encouraged to visit www.ppsr.gov.au for full details.

• How accurate is information included in a carfacts History Report?

  The details in a carfacts History Report are compiled from a range of government, internal, and external sources. The accuracy of the report depends on the information recorded in these national and government databases at the time. While we use best efforts to provide correct information, we can’t guarantee the accuracy of the information. For full terms and conditions, click here.