The Importance of Bike History Report for Used Vehicles

It is very important to get a bike history report before investing in a used bike by having the VIN checked in the Government of Australia databases.

So, what is VIN and what particulars does it show?

The Vehicle Identification Number or VIN is a unique number that is allotted to every bike manufactured after 1992. No two are ever the same and hence, the VIN is often compared to a fingerprint. The VIN consists of 17 characters in a mix of alphabets and numbers. Each digit represents one exclusive aspect of the bike — where it was built and the manufacturer, brand, engine size, and type of vehicle. The last six numbers constitute the serial number of the bike. All this information is available in a bike history report.

The main point now is why should you get a bike history report before buying a used one. It is because a report will give you all the critical information about the bike such as detailed particulars of warranty, recalls, theft, claims, insurance coverage, registrations, and whether there is any financial lien on the bike. From the report, you will at once know if it is a stolen bike being palmed off to you. In such cases, the bike will be repossessed from you by the authorities once you apply for a change of title and your total investment will go to waste.

Many times, unscrupulous elements buy a bike with a loan from a financial institution and when they cannot pay the installments in the proper time, try to sell off the vehicle to a gullible buyer. But with a bike history report in your hands, you will at once know if any dues are outstanding that will prevent you from claiming ownership of the bike once full payment has been made for it. However, in the case of a distress sale by the owner, you can clear the dues and adjust the same from the asking price.

Now that you know how essential getting a bike history report is, you should know where and how to get the report.

Your first step should be to visit a website that issues PPSR (Personal Property Security Registration) Certificates, an official register of the Government of Australia that lists security interests in personal property. Searches related to personal property cover cars, company assets, boats, bikes, used goods, and intellectual property but do not include land or fixtures.

On the website, you will be required to download a form that will ask for the VIN of the bike. Enter the number, make the required payment, which is very nominal, and click the Submit button. Within seconds a short report will be sent by SMS to your phone followed by a more detailed one by email.

You will at instantly know from the bike history report whether it will be a good buy.