Looking to purchase a used car? You’re not alone. Australia’s thriving second hand car market saw more than 2.3 million used cars trade hands in 2024 alone.1
With so much competition from buyers, finding a second-hand model that fits your needs and budget can feel like a big win. Taking the time to check the car’s accident history before you part with your hard-earned funds could be a smart thing to do to protect your investment – and avoid trouble down the road.
“If you get a check done, you can have a lot more confidence about the car’s history, independent of what a salesman or someone on Facebook Marketplace might be telling you,” says Rod Camm, Group Chief Executive at the Motor Trades Association of Queensland (MTAQ).
But what exactly is a car history check, how much will it cost you, does it impact car insurance, and is it really worth doing? Read on to find out.
What is a car history check?
A car history check is a report that reveals whether a used car has been stolen, written off – for example, in a crash or flood – or has any financial interests attached to it, such as an outstanding loan.2 Potential buyers may also check a car’s accident history.3
“Essentially, a car history check is an investigation into the full history of the car, financially and mechanically,” explains experienced motoring journalist Paul Gover.
What’s included in a car history check?
The details included in a car history check can vary by provider, but might include:4
- A description of the car
- Registration details
- Outstanding finance or loans
- If the car is or has been written off or stolen
- Odometer discrepancies.4
To help you avoid any confusion, here’s a breakdown of what sets a car history check apart from some other commonly used car checks.
What is a rego check?
A registration check tells you a car’s make and model, whether it’s currently registered and the registration expiry date.5 In comparison, a car history check also includes information about the vehicle’s financial and mechanical history.4
What is a PPSR check?
A Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) check tells you a car’s make, model and colour, whether it’s been written off or stolen, and whether it has financial interests attached to it, such as outstanding loans.5
How to check the PPSR of a used car is a fairly straightforward process. Visit the official register online and enter the car’s Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), then purchase a $2 car search.5 We’ll explain in more detail later what a VIN number is and where to locate it on a vehicle.
Gover notes, however, that a car history check – while similar – is more detailed than a PPSR check and often includes the PPSR data too. For example, a PPSR check doesn’t include odometer readings, ownership history or registration details.5 A car history check may include these details, as well as transfer and electronic roadworthy histories and price comparisons to recent similar vehicle sales.6
Do I need a car history check?
You might be wondering if it’s necessary, particularly if you have an official roadworthy certificate, also known as an RWC. Unfortunately, explains Camm, fake certificates do exist, so they can’t always be trusted.
“Basically, you’ve got people now who will issue a roadworthy certificate without even inspecting the car,” he says.
Gover recommends getting a car history check every time on any used car you’re seriously interested in buying, regardless of whether you’re buying from a dealer or a private individual. This will offer you a broader picture, including whether the car has a clear title; meaning it is free from unpaid debt.7
“A dealership has to provide clear title to any car they sell, but they are not required to disclose – or investigate – any potential problems in its history,” Gover explains.
“For private sellers, there is no similar requirement.”
Camm adds that car history reports can contain ownership transfer data that might not always be captured by state or territory registration systems, and they could also help you to discover if a car has been previously written off.
“If you’re selling a written-off vehicle that you’ve repaired, or had repaired, you’re supposed to declare that. But not everyone does,” he says.
“A car history check will capture that information. Plus, if there’s finance owing on a car and you buy it, you could be at risk of losing the car and having it repossessed.”
Finally, says Camm, a car history check that includes mileage might even help you avoid odometer fraud, where the odometer is wound back to suggest a car has travelled less distance than it really has.8
“Unfortunately, this practice is rife in the industry,” he notes.
How to do a car history check
Checking out a used car’s history is a simple process, and you could receive your report in as little as 15 minutes.4
Step 1: Find the VIN
Some providers, such as Service NSW, do allow you to do a car history check by number plate alone.9 More commonly, you can check a car history with a VIN number or with the car’s registration.6
Your car’s VIN is like its fingerprint, because no two cars have the same number. It will be etched or stamped somewhere on the vehicle, often:10
- In the windscreen’s lower left corner
- Inside the driver’s door
- Stamped into the chassis (vehicle frame)
- On the car registration papers
- Under the bonnet.10
Step 2: Request a car history check
Only two states in Australia allow you to check a car’s history through government agencies. You can get a car history check in NSW through Service NSW,9 while Victorians can purchase one from VicRoads.6 Alternatively, or if you live elsewhere in Australia, you can purchase a car history check from a private provider.
Camm says the cost of these car reports can vary, but is minor in comparison to the thousands you’ll spend on a used vehicle.
“History checks can be as little as $25, but I think the maximum I’ve seen might be $200,” he adds.
Step 3: Look for red flags
Once you have the car’s history report, it’s time to look for red flags.
In particular, Camm recommends looking for any finance owing, making sure the VIN numbers match, and checking the car’s accident history to see if it’s ever been written off.
Gover says the biggest red flag is if there’s a crash history. And, if you find something concerning, his advice is simple – don’t proceed.
Do I need a car history check for insurance?
While every insurer’s process differs, you likely won’t have to provide a car history check when it’s time to insure your new used car.11
However, purchasing a car that turns out to have a chequered history could make it difficult or even impossible to insure – or, indeed, register.
For example, cars that have previously been written off as repairable write-offs may prove more expensive to insure.12 Meanwhile, unrepairable write-offs – also known as statutory write-offs – are generally considered unsafe and can never be re-registered in any Australian state or territory.13
An unknown history could also cause trouble down the line if you need to make a claim.
For instance, an insurer might refuse a claim on an insured car if it turns out the car was unroadworthy, warns the Financial Rights Legal Centre.14 They might reduce a claim settlement amount or even cancel a policy due to non-disclosure if they had the wrong information about a car. This can be the case even if you had no idea about the car’s history either, a situation that’s known as innocent non-disclosure.14
What other checks should I do before I buy a used car?
Getting a car history check is only part of the journey to buying your next used car. You might wish to consider taking other steps to ensure you’re making the right choice, such as researching the car’s estimated value and arranging an inspection.
“Always check for a full service history, pay for a ‘pre-purchase inspection’ to check for all mechanical faults, and never rely on a roadworthy certificate alone,” Gover adds.
Camm also recommends taking the car to a reputable mechanic, particularly if you’re still unsure about its history or if you have a sense that something is off.
“They can work out if the wear and tear is consistent with the kilometres, so that’s worth it. And they can also do a basic check on the vehicle,” he says.
Looking for used car insurance that’s a little more you-shaped? Start a quote with Youi and find out if one of Youi’s car insurance policies suits your needs.
1 Source: Australian Automotive Dealer Association – AIR: 2024 Year That Was Used Car Sales Figures, February 2025
2 Source: Canstar – How to do a pre-purchase car inspection, January 2025
3 Source: CarsGuide – How to check if a car has been in an accident, March 2025
4 Source: Carsales – Vehicle history report
5 Source: ppsr.com.au – NSW rego check
6 Source: VicRoads – VicRoads Vehicle Report
7 Source: Qld Government – Clear title or free from debt
8 Source: ABC News – Expert tips for used-car buyers to spot ‘'widespread’ odometer tampering, October 2025
9 Source: Service NSW – Order a vehicle history report, August 2025
10 Source: Source: Australian Government – Do a used car or vehicle search
11 Source: Financial Rights Legal Centre – Buying Car Insurance, November 2023
12 Source: Drive – When is a car a write-off? Here are the telltale signs, August 2023
13 Source: Financial Rights Legal Centre – Written-off Vehicles, August 2025
14 Source: Financial Rights Legal Centre – Car Insurance Claim Refused, January 2023
