Buying & Finance
VIN (Vehicle Identification Number)
The 17-character unique identifier stamped into every car built after 1989.
The VIN is on the compliance plate, often on the driver's-side dashboard visible through the windscreen, and stamped into the chassis. Cross-checking the VIN on the car, on the rego papers and in the PPSR is the single most important anti-fraud step. Mismatched or tampered VINs are a hard walk-away.
Related terms
PPSR (Personal Property Securities Register)
The federal register that shows whether a vehicle has finance owing, is stolen, or has been written off.
Compliance plate
The manufacturer plate certifying a vehicle meets Australian Design Rules.
Vehicle rebirthing
Re-VINning a stolen vehicle using identity parts from a written-off car.
WOVR (Written-Off Vehicles Register)
The national record of vehicles that an insurer has declared a total loss.
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