🔤 Confusing I, O, and Q with 1, 0, and Numbers
The international VIN standard (ISO 3779) explicitly excludes the letters I (looks like 1), O (looks like 0), and Q (can be confused with 0 or 9). These three letters never appear in any valid VIN. If a VIN contains what looks like an I, O, or Q, re-read it — it's probably a 1, 0, or another number.
How to avoid it: When transcribing a VIN by hand, always double-check any 1s, 0s, and letters that look similar. Use a VIN decoder tool to validate the format before running a PPSR check.
🔢 Using a Shorter-Than-17-Character VIN
All vehicles manufactured after 1 January 1981 must have a 17-character VIN under the ISO standard. If someone gives you a VIN with fewer than 17 characters for a modern car, something is wrong — the VIN may be truncated, mis-transcribed, or deliberately altered.
How to avoid it: Count the VIN characters before running any check. A 17-character count is a basic sanity check every buyer should do.
🚗 Only Checking the Dashboard Plate (Not Verifying Multiple Locations)
Car rebirthing — swapping VIN plates from a stolen vehicle onto a written-off shell — is a serious fraud in Australia. If you only check the dashboard VIN plate, you may miss signs of tampering. Legitimate VINs appear in multiple locations: dashboard, driver's door jamb sticker, engine bay/firewall, and the compliance plate.
How to avoid it: Check the VIN in at least three locations. All must match exactly. Any discrepancy is a major red flag. Our VIN decoder guide covers all VIN locations in detail.
⚠️ Running a Free VIN Decode But Skipping the PPSR Check
A free VIN decode tells you what the vehicle is — make, model, year, engine, country of manufacture. It does NOT tell you if the vehicle has finance owing, has been stolen, or has been written off. Many buyers think a free VIN decode is a complete check. It isn't.
How to avoid it: Always follow up a free VIN decode with a full PPSR check. A PPSR check through CheckMyCars costs only $5.99 and reveals finance, stolen status, and write-off history — information no free VIN decoder can provide.
📝 Trusting the Seller's VIN Over the Physical Car
Sellers sometimes provide a VIN verbally, in a message, or on a piece of paper. Always verify the VIN directly from the vehicle itself — from the dashboard plate or door jamb sticker. A seller who provides a different VIN than what's on the car (for any reason) is a major red flag.
How to avoid it: Never run a PPSR check on a VIN provided by the seller without physically confirming it matches the car. Photograph the VIN plate with your phone before running the check.
🔐 Ignoring the VIN Check Digit (Position 9)
Position 9 of every VIN is a mathematical check digit calculated from the other 16 characters using a specific algorithm. If this digit doesn't match the calculation, the VIN is invalid or has been altered. While most buyers won't do the maths manually, our VIN decoder validates the check digit automatically.
How to avoid it: Use a VIN decoder (like the free one on CheckMyCars) that validates the check digit. An invalid check digit on a modern vehicle is a serious warning sign of VIN tampering.
📅 Running the Check Too Early (Before Final Inspection)
A PPSR report is a point-in-time snapshot. Finance can be registered between when you run your check and when you sign the contract. Similarly, a vehicle can be reported stolen in that gap. Buyers who run a PPSR check days or weeks before purchase are exposed to this risk.
How to avoid it: Run your PPSR check as close to signing as possible — ideally the same day. If there is a delay between your check and contract signing, consider running a second check.
Quick Reference: Australian VIN Structure
Understanding what each VIN position means helps you spot errors and tampering. See our full VIN Decoder Guide for a complete breakdown.
Total: 17 characters. No I, O, or Q ever appears in a valid VIN.
Frequently Asked Questions
What characters are not used in a VIN?
The letters I (capital i), O (capital o), and Q are never used in a VIN. They are excluded because they are easily confused with the numbers 1, 0, and 9 respectively. If you see these letters in what is supposed to be a VIN, re-read carefully — they are likely numbers.
Can a VIN be faked or tampered with on an Australian car?
Yes. VIN plate tampering (car rebirthing) does occur in Australia. Criminals take the VIN plates from a legitimately written-off vehicle and attach them to a stolen vehicle of the same make and model. Check the VIN in multiple physical locations on the car and verify it matches the PPSR report data.
Is a free VIN check enough when buying a used car?
A free VIN decode reveals the vehicle's basic attributes — make, model, year, engine. It does NOT check finance, stolen status, or write-off history. For those checks, you need a full PPSR report. CheckMyCars provides both a free VIN decode and a full PPSR check for $5.99.
How do I know if a VIN has been tampered with?
Look for signs of physical tampering on the VIN plate: scratches, fresh adhesive residue, misaligned stamping, or characters that look inconsistent with each other. Also check that the VIN matches across all locations on the car (dashboard, door jamb, engine bay). A PPSR check will cross-reference the VIN against the national register.
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