ACT rego check

A registration check is how you find out all the details of a car's registration history. When you buy a brand new car, you know what you're getting, but it's more difficult with used cars. You may not know the seller or dealer, or where the car's been. An ACT rego check is a way of finding out a little more information to help you make a smart purchase.

What information does an ACT rego check provide?

With an ACT rego check, you'll be able to confirm the following details:

  • Registration number;
  • Registration status;
  • Registration expiry date;
  • Make, model and body shape of the vehicle; and
  • Details of the CTP insurer and policy expiry date.

Why is it important to get an ACT rego check?

When you're buying a used vehicle and don't know the seller, it's vital that you gather as much information as possible about what you're buying. If you don't, you could end up buying a car with expired registration, which could get you into all sorts of trouble.

It's against the law to drive an unregistered vehicle in the ACT. The person selling you the used car may have forgotten to renew their registration - or worse, failed their last inspection and deliberately chosen not to renew it. And once ownership of the car is transferred to you, ensuring valid registration becomes your responsibility. If you're caught by the police at the wheel of a car with expired rego, you'll be issued with a heavy fine.

Not getting a rego check could also mean you're endangering lives. The vehicle may have some kind of mechanical fault that caused it to fail its last inspection. Rather than pay the cost of repairs, the last owner may have simply decided not to renew the rego - selling you a car that could potentially break down or cause an accident that puts lives at risk.

Should you get into an accident, you also want to be sure that you're covered by Compulsory Third Party (CTA) insurance. All cars in the ACT - and Australia - are legally required to have CTP insurance to cover the legal liability of the driver if they cause injury or death in an accident.

How do I check my ACT rego?

ACT rego checks can be done through the Access Canberra website. Make sure you have your number plate details close by - after accepting the terms and conditions, you'll need to enter these details into the search box to access your rego report.

What if I'd like information not included in an ACT rego check?

Used vehicles have the benefit of being much cheaper than new ones. However, if you buy one that's been tampered with or causes you to become involved in an accident, it could end up costing you far more.

A free rego check will give you some details, but it won't tell you things such as:

  • If the car was stolen;
  • If the car was written-off;
  • If the odometer has been wound back to make the mileage appear lower; and
  • If there is finance owing on the vehicle.

As Australia's most comprehensive car history report, a PPSR report gives you information you need to help you make an informed purchase. It will provide you with the following:

  • PPSR check;
  • Stolen check;
  • Written-off check;
  • Finance check;
  • Odometer check;
  • Price/odometer comparison;
  • Vehicle valuation;
  • VIN check; and
  • First sale information.

What is a PPSR check?

A PPSR check is a means of finding out if there are outstanding debts owed on your vehicle. If the vehicle has finance owing, the debts will transfer to you once you become the new owner.

When you order your PPSR report, we conduct a PPSR search for you using the Personal Property Securities Register. This is an online register that reveals if security interests have been registered over vehicles, as well as other types of personal property, such as art, crops, livestock and intellectual property.

We scan the PPS register to see if there are any outstanding debts on the car. If there are, you'll be able to exit the deal before you get ripped off. If there aren't, you can safely go ahead with your purchase.

Feel secure about what you're buying and avoid getting into trouble. Simply enter your licence plate number or VIN into the search box on our website and we'll send across your PPSR report right away!