Heavy Vehicle Check
Is the truck stolen, written off or under finance?
Finance, write-off and stolen checks on trucks, buses and heavy trailers, plus the service, odometer and damage history we hold for the vehicle.
A used truck or trailer is a big purchase, and finance registered against it stays with the vehicle when it's sold. If a loan is still owing, the lender can repossess the vehicle from you, even after you've paid in full. Every MotorRegistry heavy vehicle check runs the official PPSR search for finance owing, written-off and stolen records. MotorRegistry checks more data than any other Australian vehicle history report, so you can also see how the truck has been serviced, the odometer readings on record and any damage we hold, in minutes.
What a MotorRegistry report shows
- Official PPSR certificate Official PPSR certificate, including any finance owing on the vehicle
- Written-off check Written-off status, including the write-off type where recorded
- Stolen check Stolen records for the VIN and number plates
- Registration status Current registration status and expiry
- Heavy vehicle details Heavy vehicle details such as GVM, GCM and tare mass, where available
- 14-day finance re-check Free 14-day finance re-check, with an email if the finance status changes
- Safety recalls Safety recalls issued for the vehicle, in plain English
- Common problems and inspection guide Common problems for the model and a custom pre-purchase inspection guide
- Service history Service and repair records from verified sources, with the odometer reading at each service where captured
- Odometer history Every odometer reading we hold for the vehicle, charted in date order with possible rollbacks flagged
- Damage assessments Damage assessments we hold, including damage that was repaired and never written off
- Past sales listings Past sales and auction listings, often with photos
- Registration and location history Registration and location history: the plates, states and suburbs we hold for the vehicle
What a heavy vehicle check covers
Trucks, buses and heavy trailers are on the same national registers as cars. Every MotorRegistry report on a heavy vehicle runs the official PPSR search and includes the certificate, with these checks:
Finance owing
Any security interest registered against the vehicle on the PPSR. If the seller still owes money on it, the lender can repossess it even after you've paid. Our vehicle finance check page explains how it works.
Written-off status
Whether the vehicle has been recorded as a statutory or repairable write-off. More on the written-off vehicle check page.
Stolen records
Police-reported stolen records for the VIN and the number plates. See the stolen vehicle check page.
Registration and vehicle details
Current registration status and expiry, plus heavy vehicle details such as GVM, GCM and tare mass where the registration records hold them.
The truck's history, not just the PPSR
The PPSR tells you about finance, write-offs and stolen records. It doesn't tell you how the truck was maintained or how hard it has worked. MotorRegistry checks more data than any other Australian vehicle history report, and a Comprehensive Plus report adds what we hold for the vehicle:
Service and repair records
Dated records from verified sources, with what was done and the odometer reading where it was captured. No other Australian vehicle history report includes them.
Odometer history
Every odometer reading we hold, charted in date order, with any reading lower than an earlier one flagged.
Damage assessments
Including damage that was repaired and never written off. MotorRegistry holds more damage assessment data than any other report.
Past sales and auctions
Previous listings for the vehicle, often with photos.
Registration and location history
The plates, states and suburbs we hold for the vehicle, showing where it has been registered and kept.
Records aren't held for every vehicle. We check what exists for your truck before offering Comprehensive Plus.
Which vehicles this covers
Any vehicle over 4.5 tonnes gross vehicle mass: rigid trucks, prime movers, buses and coaches, semi-trailers, dog trailers and other heavy trailers. For a lighter vehicle, use the standard rego search, or see the caravan check and trailer check pages.
How to run a heavy vehicle check
- Enter the plate in the search box on this page.
- Choose your report. Every MotorRegistry report includes the official PPSR certificate and the finance, written-off, stolen and registration checks. Comprehensive Plus adds the service, odometer and damage history we hold for the vehicle.
- Your report arrives by email and on screen, usually within minutes.
Run the check on the day you plan to pay. Finance can be registered against a vehicle at any time, so an older check may not show it.
Things to check on the vehicle itself
A clear report is the starting point. When you inspect the vehicle, check:
Matching numbers
The VIN on the vehicle matches the registration papers and the report.
The seller's details
The seller's name and address match the registration papers, and they can explain how they came to own the vehicle.
The number plates
The plates match the vehicle. Stolen plates can be fitted to another vehicle to hide its identity.
The PPSR check page explains what the official register does and doesn't show.
Heavy Vehicle Check FAQ
Can a truck be repossessed if the seller still owes money on it?
Yes. A security interest registered on the PPSR stays attached to the vehicle, not the person who took out the loan. If you buy a truck or trailer with finance owing, the lender can repossess it from you even after you've paid. Check the PPSR on the day you pay and make sure any finance is cleared before you hand over the money.
Can I get the service history of a truck?
Often, yes. A Comprehensive Plus report includes the dated service and repair records we hold for the vehicle from verified sources, with what was done and the odometer reading where it was captured. Records aren't held for every vehicle, so we check what exists for your truck before offering Comprehensive Plus. No other Australian vehicle history report includes service records.
What does MotorRegistry show that a PPSR check doesn't?
MotorRegistry checks more data than any other Australian vehicle history report. As well as the official PPSR certificate, a MotorRegistry report on a heavy vehicle can show its service and repair records, every odometer reading we hold, damage assessments including repaired damage that was never written off, past sales and auction listings, and where the vehicle has been registered and kept.
What counts as a heavy vehicle?
Any vehicle over 4.5 tonnes gross vehicle mass (GVM), such as rigid trucks, prime movers, buses and coaches, and heavy trailers like semi-trailers and dog trailers. For a lighter vehicle, use the standard rego and state search on our home page, or see the caravan check and trailer check pages.
Can I do a PPSR check on a truck?
Yes. Trucks, prime movers, buses and heavy trailers are covered by the PPSR the same way cars are. Every MotorRegistry report runs the official PPSR search and includes the certificate, which shows any finance owing on the vehicle.
What if the plate isn't found?
We ask which state the vehicle is registered in and run the search from there. You can also search by the 17-character VIN on our home page.
What do GVM, GCM and tare mass mean?
Tare mass is the vehicle's empty weight. GVM (gross vehicle mass) is the most it can weigh fully loaded. GCM (gross combination mass) is the most the vehicle and anything it tows can weigh together. The report shows these figures where the registration records hold them.
Start with a PPSR check or a full car history check.
Check the truck before you pay
Enter the plate to see what's on record for the truck.
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