Getting Information about a Vehicle

Ever wanted to know how mechanics seem to know everything about your vehicle? Here are their secrets! We will outline how to check your registration and vehicle history as well as explain what the numbers on your VIN plate mean.

How Do I Check My Rego?

A registration check also known as a rego check, can be done to confirm details of the vehicle’s registration history. To check your registration, you will need your vehicle identification number (VIN) or the registration plate number. Once you have that, you can check your registration for free through the Queensland State Department of Transport’s website Check registration status | Transport and motoring | Queensland Government.

When you check your vehicles registration online it will give you the following information:The registration status and expiry date.

Whether the registration is or is not suspended or cancelled.

Any registration restrictions.

Any registration concessions.

The compulsory Third Party insurer.

Policy expiry date.

The make, model, and body shape of the vehicle.

Purpose of use – whether it is private or commercial.

Inspection due date – when your vehicle may need an inspection.

Why should I check my car’s rego? You should check your cars registration as any person caught driving without a registration in Queensland can be fined between $292 and $390. But most importantly registration check is useful for obtaining the vehicles VIN. It is also used by mechanics to ensure that the correct parts are selected to repair your vehicle. As an interesting side note mechanics can often tell if a vehicle is stolen if the Vin and registration numbers do not match what is reported on the Queensland Transport website. And Yes  – we do report these vehicles to Police!

What Do the Numbers on the VIN Plate Mean?

VIN or Vehicle identification number is a seventeen-digit code which, is comprised of various capital letters and numbers that identify your vehicle. The VIN contains information that is sectioned into three categories: world manufacturer identification, the vehicle descriptor, and the vehicle identification.

The world manufacturer identification can be found within the first three digits of the VIN. The three digits represent the following:

The first digit defines the country of origin or the final point of assembly.

The second digit indicates the manufacturer and the region where your vehicle was produced.

The third digit indicates your vehicle’s model or manufacturing division.

The digits four through nine are the ones that make up the vehicle description section and describe your vehicle’s model, body type, restraint system, transmission type and engine code.

The ninth digit is a security check in place to detect fraudulent VIN’s.

The digits 10 to 17 are what make up the vehicle identification section. The tenth digit details the plant in which the car was manufacture and the eleventh to seventeenth digits are the plant code.

How Do I Check My Vehicle History?

To check your vehicle’s history, you need to have a Vehicle History Report also known as a VHR. A VHR is a statement that provides you with information about the ownership and repair history of a specific vehicle. The steps to start your vehicle’s history report are:

Get your car’s vehicle’s identification number (VIN) – The VIN can be found in the manual, important documents and on a printed sticker located in various parts on the car. Check the door jamb on the driver’s side, the front of the engine block, underneath a spare tire and or on the rear wheel.

Select a service – There are several online services that offer free VHRs. Make sure that the service providers are trusted and reputable. You can also call the RACQ for a car history check on the number 1800 629 501.

Enter in the required information and run the report – You will need to enter the VIN and you may need to enter in your post code, license plate number and or the state that the vehicle is registered in. After filling in the requested information, read and accept the terms and conditions and then click “Submit” or “Run”. The site will then automatically load your VHR.

What you should expect from the VHR:

Previous repair log (if it had been recorded)

Odometer readings

The number of previous owners

Vehicle identification and sales history

If the vehicle is registered as written off or stolen

If any money is owed on it

The result of the REVS check (Register of Encumbered Vehicles)

If your car needs service or repairs, contact us at Townsville Mobile Mechanic on 0400 401 171.

Safe travels!

Author Trinity Goodwill