carfacts alternative: an honest comparison
carfacts is the vehicle history report run by carsales, from $34, or $27 for NRMA members. Here is what it includes, where it is the better buy, and when a $12.95 certificate or the $2 government search does the same job.
Updated
The short answer
carfacts adds carsales data to the government certificate: an odometer discrepancy check where carsales has enough data, a market comparison, and safety ratings. If those matter to you, and especially if you are an NRMA member, it is reasonable value. If you need finance, stolen and written-off status, the certificate alone is $12.95 here by plate, or $2 at ppsr.gov.au by VIN.
carfacts vs CarVerify vs the $2 search
Taken from each provider's own website.
| carfacts | CarVerify | ppsr.gov.au | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | From $34; $27 for NRMA members | $12.95 certificate; $27.95 report | $2.00 online, $7.00 by phone |
| Official PPSR certificate | Yes | Yes, unaltered | It is the certificate |
| Search by | VIN (its FAQ says reports need one) | Plate and state, or VIN | VIN or chassis number only |
| Odometer | Discrepancy check from carsales data, where there is enough | Expected range for the car's age only (report); no recorded readings | No |
| Previous listings | Not stated | No | No |
| Valuation | Market comparison (not a valuation) | No | No |
| Recalls | Not stated | Yes (report) | No |
| Refunds | No refund policy published | Full refund if no certificate, or if the report is more than 15 minutes late; typos re-run free | Fees are not refundable |
| Public reviews | 1.0 from 12 reviews (ProductReview; newest about four years old) | No public reviews yet | Not applicable |
Sources: carfacts.com.au, carfacts: what we offer, carfacts FAQ, NRMA CarFacts, carverify.com.au/pricing, ppsr.gov.au car search, PPSR fees. Checked .
What carfacts does better
carfacts is run by carsales.com.au, the car-listing site. It uses carsales listing data, along with RedBook and the PPSR, to check the odometer for discrepancies where it has enough records and to compare the car with the market. It also lists features, ANCAP and used-car safety ratings, and emissions data. NRMA members get 20% off.
CarVerify has no listing archive, so it cannot check a reading against past ads or price the car against the market. If that is what you want, carfacts is the better choice.
Where CarVerify is the better fit
- You only have the plate. carfacts' FAQ says its reports need a VIN; CarVerify searches by plate and state or by VIN.
- You want the government record explained for less. The certificate with a plain-English verdict is $12.95; the $27.95 report decodes each write-off code and lists open recalls.
- You want a stated refund policy. CarVerify refunds in full if the certificate cannot be obtained or the report is more than 15 minutes late. carfacts publishes no refund policy.
carfacts and the carsales history report are different products
carsales also sells its own vehicle history report at carsales.com.au/facts for cars listed on carsales: $34 for one, $49 for three or $59 for five, with credits that last 180 days. It covers reported odometer history, price changes on the ad and an estimated retail range. carfacts is the standalone report for any car with a VIN.
Which to choose
- Have the VIN and want the basics: ppsr.gov.au, $2.
- Only have the plate, or want the result explained: CarVerify, $12.95, or $27.95 with decoded codes and recalls.
- Want carsales odometer and market data, and are an NRMA member: carfacts at $27.
- Comparing several cars on carsales: the carsales 3 or 5 pack.
Guides for buyers
- How to Check Car History in Australia: What ExistsAustralia has no single car history file.
- How to Read a PPSR Certificate, Section by SectionA PPSR certificate is written for lenders and lawyers, so the parts that matter to a car buyer need some translation.
- What Is the PPSR? A Plain-English Guide for Car BuyersThe Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is the Australian Government register of security interests over personal property, including cars.
Choose what you need
Full pricingOne-off price, no subscription. Every report includes the official government certificate and arrives in about 2 minutes.
PPSR Certificate
The official certificate, by rego or VIN, in plain English.
- Official PPSR certificate PDF, unaltered, with its search number (AFSA)
- Finance owing and the secured party named (PPSR)
- Stolen status (NEVDIS; Tasmania not covered)
- Written-off status: statutory or repairable (NEVDIS)
- Rego number, expiry, make, model and colour (NEVDIS)
- Search by rego + state or by VIN; plate lookup included
- Plain-English verdict page, emailed in minutes
Car History Report
Everything in the certificate, decoded, plus recalls, build data and the checks most sellers never run.
- Everything in the certificate, plus:
- Identity cross-check: state rego record vs NEVDIS vs VIN decode, field by field, with any mismatch flagged
- Registration status, expiry and purpose of use, with ex-taxi, hire or fleet use flagged
- Write-off damage codes decoded: impact, fire, flood, hail, water
- Secured party contact details and the exact payout-letter steps when finance is found
- Open safety recalls for the make and model, searched on vehiclerecalls.gov.au
- Build date, approval and import pathway for 2021+ cars (Register of Approved Vehicles)
- Expected odometer range for the car's age, to test the reading on the dash
- A "what to ask the seller" checklist built from this car's results
- Free 14-day finance re-check before you hand over the money
What we promise
Free re-run on typos
Mistyped a plate or VIN, or the register returned no vehicle data? We run it again at no charge.
Most reports arrive within 2 minutes
If yours has not arrived within 15 minutes, we refund in full.
No certificate, full refund
If we cannot deliver the official PPSR certificate, you pay nothing.
One-off price, no subscription
Pay once. No trials, no renewals, nothing pre-ticked.
Have the VIN? You can search the PPSR yourself for $2 at ppsr.gov.au. We add the plate lookup, the decoded report and the guarantees. Go to the $2 search
Questions people ask
Who owns carfacts?
carfacts is operated by carsales.com.au Pty Ltd. The NRMA offers it to members at 20% off.
Does carfacts include a PPSR certificate?
Yes. carfacts includes the official PPSR certificate with its own summary, the same certificate ppsr.gov.au issues for $2.
Can I get a carfacts report with just the rego?
Its homepage mentions rego or VIN, but its FAQ says a report can only be generated with a VIN, so have the VIN ready. CarVerify accepts a plate and state.
How much is carfacts for NRMA members?
$27 instead of $34, a 20% discount, when checked in November 2026.
Is CarVerify affiliated with carfacts, carsales or the NRMA?
No. CarVerify is an independent Australian service run by Spawn Solutions Pty Ltd.