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How well do you know your car? You may know how it handles, how it drives, the fact that the clutch sticks a certain way when you shift in third – but would you be able to pick your car out of a line up – especially if it’s gotten a brand new paint job?
There are a number of ways to uniquely identify a vehicle even it’s changed its colour or even been scrapped for parts.
- Number Plate – the number plate is the easiest way to identify a car. All registered vehicles in Australia must have official number plates mounted and clearly visible on the front and rear of the car. This is the number that links your vehicle to the registration details and how traffic infringements are often determined.
- Registration – all motor vehicles must be officially registered in the owner’s state of residence every year. A valid and current registration must be displayed on the dashboard of the car. The registration process ensures that vehicles are regularly maintained, deemed roadworthy and that owners continue to renew their compulsory third party insurance. An unregistered car cannot be driven at any time.
- Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) – independent of the owner, the car has its own VIN, which is essentially the vehicle’s unique DNA code. The VIN stays with the vehicle throughout its lifetime – even if it’s taken out of state or overseas. Accidents, REVs and all registrations of the vehicle are recorded against the VIN.
- Engine Number – separate to the body, every engine has its own unique identification number. The engine number is stamped onto the engine block to match the engine to the particular frame and body that it was intended for. However, if you’re restoring, say, a classic muscle car, you may need to source for independent non-matching parts, such as a separate engine.
Protect yourself with these numbers when buying a used car
Buying a used car is a complicated process – there’s little doubt about that. You need to get your financing in order, do research on the market, decide on the make, model and year of manufacturer that best suits your needs, choose the extras you are willing to pay for – and of course which colour you would prefer. It’s easy to forget to ask a question or follow up on a fact, but when it comes to buying a car – especially if you’re looking at purchasing from a private seller, keep these tips in mind:
- Make a note of the registration number, engine number and vehicle identification number (VIN) – these are the most important identifying markers of a car and will give you a better indication of the car’s history. Check that all of the information on the vehicle itself matches the registration papers the seller shows you. Note that if the engine number on the car doesn’t match the engine number on the registration papers – it means the engine has been replaced. Ensure that this replacement is accounted for in the vehicle logbook – or you might be purchasing a stolen car or one that has been repaired without the seller disclosing it!
- Check that the title is clear – you don’t want any nasty surprises once you decide to purchase the car. If there is any money owing on the vehicle, you will need to pay off the outstanding amount to the financier. Don’t just take the seller’s word for it – a VSR or REVs check done on the VIN will tell you if the vehicle is registered with any encumbrance.
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