How can I do a REVS enquiry?
Via the Internet at
www.revs.nsw.gov.au
(from 2:30am to 11:45pm, 7 days a week) or by telephone on 13 32 20, weekdays 8.30am - 5.00pm and
Saturday 9am - 2pm (excludes Sundays and public holidays).
What information do I need to purchase a REVS
certificate?
You will need the details of the vehicle or boat
that you are checking. For a
motor vehicle,
the VIN or chassis number, registration number (if the
vehicle is registered) and the engine number (if applicable). For a
boat
you will need the NSW registration number, the HIN (Hull
Identification Number) and the engine number(s) (if applicable).
NB. The VIN/HIN
is the prime identifier of the vehicle/boat and it is critical that
you provide the correct number when doing your REVS check. Failure to
provide the correct number will cause your REVS certificate to be
invalid.
What type of information does the REVS certificate
provide?
Financial
encumbrances (i.e. money owing)
The REVS
certificate will state whether or not a financial encumbrance is
recorded against the vehicle or boat. If an encumbrance is recorded,
the certificate will state:-
-
the name and
address of the interest holder
-
details of the
vehicle or boat recorded on REVS
-
the date the
interest was recorded on REVS
-
the type of
interest e.g. lease, hire purchase, etc.
Other information
There may be other
advisory information recorded about a vehicle or boat. This includes
–
-
Vehicles reported
as stolen from NSW, Vic, SA and Qld
-
Boats reported as
stolen in NSW
-
Written-off
vehicle alerts from NSW
-
Other
information, such as NSW registration cancellations for fine
defaults.
NB: This
information is advisory only, and is not guaranteed by REVS.
Does a REVS certificate cover encumbrances in other
States and Territories?
Motor Vehicles. A
REVS certificate provides protection against financial encumbrances
over vehicles in NSW, ACT, NT, Qld, Vic and SA. It does not cover
interests in WA or
Tasmania.
Boats.
A REVS certificate for a boat only provides protection in NSW. If
you are buying a boat registered in another State or Territory, you
should also make inquiries on the encumbrance register there.
What is a written-off vehicle?
There are 2 types of written-off vehicles – a
statutory write-off and a repairable write-off. A statutory write-off
is a vehicle that has been damaged beyond repair and can only be sold
for parts. A repairable write-off is a vehicle that is currently or
has been previously written-off. The vehicle may have been repaired,
inspected and reregistered.
How do I check a vehicle that isn’t registered in
NSW?
NSW REVS can do a search on unregistered vehicles
and those registered in NSW, the ACT, the Northern Territory,
Victoria, South Australia and Queensland.
If the vehicle is registered in WA, contact WA REVS
on 1300 304 024 or at
www.docep.wa.gov.au/revs/. For
vehicles registered in Tasmania, contact the Vehicle Securities
Register on 1300 851 225 or at
www.transport.tas.gov.au/regstat/index.html.
Important Note -
NSW Motor Vehicle Registration Requirements: NSW
residents considering the purchase of an unregistered or interstate
registered vehicle should be aware that the vehicle will require an
inspection by the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) prior to
registration in NSW. For further information contact the NSW RTA on 13
22 12 or visit the RTA website at
http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registration/rego_new.html
.
How do I check a boat that isn’t registered in NSW?
Currently NSW REVS can only check boats that are
registered with NSW Maritime. Other boat registers include:
Queensland REVS 1300 658 030
http://www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au/
Western Australia REVS 1300 30 40 24
www.docep.wa.gov.au/revs/
Shipping Registration Office 02 6279 5921
http://www.amsa.gov.au/Shipping_Registration/
If you can’t check the boat on REVS, please note
that you may be able to check the trailer (if applicable) for
financial encumbrance and stolen vehicle information.
How much does a REVS certificate cost?
A REVS certificate costs $13.80.
How can I pay for a REVS certificate?
By credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Diners Club,
Amex), cheque, money order or cash (cash can only be accepted at a NSW
Fair Trading Centre).
How long is a certificate valid for?
A REVS certificate is valid for as long as you own
the vehicle or boat, provided that you complete the purchase of the
vehicle or boat before midnight of the day following issue of the
certificate.
NB. The VIN/HIN
is the prime identifier of the vehicle/boat and it is critical that
you provide the correct number when doing your REVS check. Failure to
provide the correct number will cause your REVS certificate to be
invalid.
What if I have a valid REVS certificate but my car
gets repossessed because of a previous owner’s debt?
You should seek independent legal advice.
How long does it take to remove an encumbrance
record from REVS once the car or boat has been paid out?
Once an encumbrance has been finalised, the interest
holder has 14 days in which to remove the registration from REVS.
What can I do if the interest holder takes longer
than 14 days to remove the encumbrance from REVS?
You can lodge a complaint with REVS about the late
cancellation of the encumbrance by downloading the form, "Complaint –
Late Cancellation of Interest" from REVS website ( http://www.revs.nsw.gov.au/about/appforms.htm).
Complete the form and return it to REVS, together with evidence
that the debt has been paid.
What can I do if there is an encumbrance recorded
against my car or boat that shouldn’t be on REVS?
Send a letter of complaint to the General Manager,
REVS, PO Box 972, Parramatta NSW 2150. Please provide details of your
vehicle/boat and any information relating to the encumbrance. REVS
will investigate the matter and if appropriate, may issue a Show Cause
Notice to the interest holder. The interest holder will be asked to
‘show cause’ why the interest should not be cancelled from the
Register.
I am about to purchase a replacement engine for my
car. Can a REVS check be done on an engine number only?
No, a REVS check can only be done if you provide a
VIN or chassis number with the engine number.
Can REVS do a check on a motorbike?
Yes, a REVS check can be done on a motorbike by
providing the VIN/chassis number, engine number and registration
number (if registered).
I am thinking about buying a car/boat that has money
owing on it. How can I do this without becoming responsible for the
debt?
Before you buy a vehicle/boat with an encumbrance,
REVS suggests you take these steps:
1. Ask the seller to obtain a payout figure in
writing from the financier.
2. Ring REVS and purchase a REVS certificate for
protection against repossession of the vehicle/boat due to financial
interests that have not been registered with REVS.
3. Make out two (2) separate cheques - one payable
to the financier for the total payout figure and the other to the
seller for the balance. Never pay the seller the full amount as you
have no guarantee that he/she will pay out the debt.
4. Ask the seller and financier for a receipt. It
is also recommended that you obtain a copy of the letter of
discharge from the financier which confirms that they no longer have
an interest in the vehicle/boat. Keep this letter with your REVS
certificate.
5. Make sure that you finalise the purchase of the
vehicle/boat before midnight of the day after the certificate is
purchased. That is, if you buy a REVS certificate on a Thursday,
then you must pay for the vehicle/boat (hand over the cheques to the
financier and the seller) before midnight of the Friday. This
sequence of events ensures that the REVS certificate remains a valid
legal document.
Please note that as financiers have 14 days in which
to cancel their interests with REVS once a debt has been paid out, the
certificate may still show the financial encumbrance warning even
though you have paid out the debt. The letter of discharge (or copy)
from the financier is proof that the seller's debt has been paid out.
I have bought a certificate over the Internet but
was unable to print it. How can I print a copy of my certificate?
Provided that you wrote down the certificate number,
then click here
https://online.revs.nsw.gov.au/revs/SelectCertificate.htm
, enter your certificate number and VIN or chassis number and you will
be able to reprint your certificate. If you didn’t have time to note
down your certificate number, contact REVS by telephone on 13 32 20 or
email
revs@oft.commerce.nsw.gov.au
with details of your vehicle and the date that the certificate was
purchased and we will provide you with the certificate number.
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