Buying a Second Hand Vehicle
Buying a Second Hand Vehicle
Are you buying your dream car or a financial nightmare?
Purchasing a vehicle can be a big investment.
If you purchase a vehicle that has money owing or has been recorded as stolen, you risk the vehicle being repossessed.
VicRoads VSR is designed to provide financial security to potential vehicle buyers and financial lenders.
For just $7.50 you can obtain a VSR certificate which provides legal protection against repossession by a financier.
The certificate will also indicate whether the vehicle has been stolen.
The VSR certificate is only valid if the vehicle is purchased within 24 hours of its issue.
What the VSR can tell you
When you make a VSR enquiry, you are able to check whether:
there is finance recorded against the vehicle; and
whether the vehicle has been reported stolen.
Which vehicles does the VSR include?
Cars
Motorcycles
Trucks & Buses
Trailers & Caravans
Agricultural Machinery & Implements
What information do I need to make a VSR enquiry
Before you make a VSR enquiry, you need to obtain all the following information from the vehicle:
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) or chassis number if the vehicle is manufactured before 1989, and
registration rumber and state of registration; and
engine number
It is important that you sight these details from the vehicle and not from any documents that the seller might offer.
If you are having trouble finding these numbers on the vehicle ask at a service station or contact the vehicle manufacturer.
Before calling VSR you should confirm that these numbers match those on the vehicle’s registration certificate.
How do I make a VSR enquiry?
You can request a VSR certificate by –
Calling VicRoads on 13 1171
Visiting maxi on the Internet at www.maxi.com.au
Using a maxi Kiosk situated at various locations across Victoria.
Method of Payment
Payment can be made by using either your VISA Card, Master Card or Bank Card.
Alternatively you can send a cheque or money order made payable to
Vehicle Securities Register, PO Box 2446, KEW VIC 3101.
A VSR Certificate will be mailed to you within two working days.
For further information please telephone VicRoads on 13 11 71 between Monday and Saturday 8:30am to 5:00pm
For Interstate Callers Ring 1800 814 762
If you have any suspicions about the ownership of the car, it may be a good idea to check with the Stolen Vehicles Squad to make sure the car has
not been reported as stolen. The telephone number is (03) 9865 2462.
State Name Telephone No Information Required
Victroria Vehicles Securities Register 13 1171 Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) or chassis number if the vehicle is manufactured before 1989, and
Registration rumber
State of registration;
Engine number
NSW, ACT &NT Register of Encumbered Vehicles (02) 9600 0022 Registration number,
Engine number,
Chassis number
Make
Model number
QLD Register of Encumbered Vehicles (07) 3246 1599 Registration number,
Engine number
Chassis number
SA Vehicles Securities Register 131 084 Registration number,
Engine number
WA Register of Encumbered Vehicles (09) 222 0711 Registration number,
Engine number
Chassis number
TAS Transport Department Motor Registry (03) 62 335201 Registration number