New register to thwart rebirthing, fraud

Policing vehicle theft has been a difficult and protracted process in the past, due to the cleverness of the crooks.

But a new initiative from the federal government in the fight against vehicle theft has been welcomed by the National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council (NMVTRC). Basically an online database of vehicle identification details (and successor to REVS), the Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) provides easier, cost-effective access to vehicle ownership information, including any third-party interest in the subject vehicle.

The new system, which came into effect from January 30, provides the same level of detail to motor car traders and consumers alike. Provided the user has the full Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) or some other form of identification, such as the chassis number on older vehicles, it's possible to search for the vehicle in question and establish whether the car has been stolen or whether there are any encumbrances or liens on the vehicle being purchased. PPSR can also be used to check aircraft, watercraft and certain classes of intellectual property.

“While some vehicle status information has been available from encumbrance registers and registration agencies, they have generally been limited to state-based checks rather than a single national ‘source of the truth’," said David Morgan, chairman of the NMVTRC. 

“As a consequence, they have been generally greatly under-utilised by consumers.”

According to the NMVTRC, over 1.4 million private vehicle sales take place each year, but only perhaps a third of buyers check the vehicle history prior to the transaction being signed and sealed.

“No one would buy a house without making the available provenance checks,” says Morgan. “The register will now offer used car buyers peace of mind before they hand over their hard-earned cash.”

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