Motorcycle Check
Is the bike stolen, written off or under finance?
Finance, write-off and stolen checks for motorbikes.
A motorcycle check runs the same official PPSR search as a car check, so you can see if a motorbike has finance owing, a written-off record or a stolen record before you pay. Search by rego or by the VIN stamped on the frame, and the report comes back in minutes.
What a MotorRegistry report shows
- Official PPSR certificate Official PPSR certificate, including any finance owing on the bike
- Written-off check Written-off status from the national Written-Off Vehicle Register (WOVR)
- Stolen check Stolen records for the VIN, number plates and engine
- Registration status Current registration status and expiry, with the make, body type and year as registered
- Odometer, theft risk and common problems Expected odometer reading for a motorcycle of its age, theft risk rating and common problems for the model
- Odometer and service history Odometer history and service records, where records exist
What a motorcycle check covers
Motorcycles are on the same national registers as cars. Every MotorRegistry report on a motorbike runs the official PPSR search and includes the certificate, so you see the same core checks you'd get on a car:
Finance owing
Any security interest registered against the bike on the PPSR. If a lender still has money owing, they can repossess the bike even after you've paid for it. See our vehicle finance check page for how that works.
Written-off status
Whether the bike is on the national Written-Off Vehicle Register (WOVR) as a statutory or repairable write-off. The register covers motorcycles as well as cars. More on the written-off vehicle check page.
Stolen records
Police-reported stolen records for the VIN, the number plates and the engine. See the stolen vehicle check page.
Registration
Current registration status and expiry, with the make, body type, year and VIN as registered.
What a Comprehensive report adds for a motorbike
A Comprehensive report is built for the type of vehicle you're checking. When the bike is registered as a motorcycle, the report uses that:
Expected odometer reading
Worked out with a kilometres-per-year rate for motorcycles, not cars, so you can judge whether the reading on the dash looks right for a bike of its age.
Common problems
Known faults for motorcycles of that make and model, not a car's.
Pre-purchase inspection guide
A custom guide to what to look at on the bike itself when you go to see it.
Theft risk rating
A theft risk rating for the make and model.
Market valuation
A market valuation, where one is available for the bike.
A Comprehensive Plus report adds odometer history and service records where records exist for the bike.
How to search for a motorcycle
- Enter the bike's rego and state in the search box on this page, or its 17-character VIN. Older bikes without a VIN can be searched by chassis number.
- Choose your report. Every MotorRegistry report includes the official PPSR certificate.
- Your report arrives by email and on screen, usually within minutes.
If the plate search finds nothing, use the VIN. A plate search can miss a bike, for example when the plate has changed or the wrong state is selected. A VIN search doesn't depend on the plate or the state. The VIN is stamped on the steering head, the part of the frame the front forks turn in, and is shown on the compliance plate. Read it off the bike itself rather than from an ad or a message.
Signs to look for on the bike
A clear report is the starting point. Motorbikes are easy to move and easy to strip for parts, so check the bike against the paperwork too:
Matching VINs
The VIN on the steering head, the compliance plate and the registration papers should all match.
The engine number
It shouldn't look ground off, re-stamped or painted over. Stolen records can be against the engine as well as the frame and plates.
Ignition and locks
The ignition, steering lock and fuel cap shouldn't show signs of forcing, and there should be keys that work all three.
The seller's details
The seller's name and address should match the registration papers.
Fresh paint or fairings
Fresh paint, new fairings or a new frame paint job on an otherwise worn bike can hide crash damage. Compare what you see with the written-off result in the report.
The price
A price well below similar bikes, with pressure to pay quickly in cash, is a reason to slow down.
Buying a caravan or trailer as well?
The same checks work for towed vehicles. See the caravan check and trailer check pages for where to find the VIN on those and what the report covers. If you want the official PPSR certificate on its own terms, the PPSR check page explains what the register does and doesn't show.
Motorcycle Check FAQ
How do I check if a motorbike is stolen?
Enter the bike's rego and state, or its 17-character VIN, in the search box. Every MotorRegistry report checks the national stolen records for the VIN, the number plates and the engine, and includes the official PPSR certificate.
Can I do a PPSR or REVS check on a motorcycle?
Yes. The PPSR covers motorcycles the same way it covers cars, and a REVS check on a motorbike is now a PPSR search, since the state REVS registers moved to the PPSR in 2012. Every MotorRegistry report runs the official PPSR search and includes the certificate, which shows any finance owing on the bike.
Where is the VIN on a motorcycle?
The VIN is usually stamped on the steering head, the part of the frame the front forks turn in, and is also shown on the compliance plate. It's 17 characters long. Check that it matches the registration papers.
Does the written-off register include motorbikes?
Yes. The national Written-Off Vehicle Register covers motorcycles, caravans and trailers as well as cars. Every MotorRegistry report shows whether the bike has been recorded as a statutory or repairable write-off.
What if the rego search doesn't find the bike?
Search by the VIN instead. A VIN search doesn't depend on the plate or the state, so it's the reliable way to find a motorbike if the plate search comes back with nothing.
Start with a PPSR check or a full car history check.
Check the bike before you pay
Enter the rego or VIN to see what's on record for the vehicle.
Check a vehicle now
