Imports
Imported car check: VIN, chassis number and odometer
Grey imports from Japan, private imports from the UK or the US, cars that moved between Australia and New Zealand: an import's most important history happened before it arrived. Here is how to read its identity and what to check.
Three kinds of identification number
| Number | Where it comes from | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Factory VIN (17 characters) | Cars built for Australia, NZ, Europe or North America | JM0…, WVW…, 1FA… |
| Japanese chassis number | Cars built for the Japanese market; model code plus serial, shorter than 17 characters | a model code, a dash and a serial |
| Locally issued VIN | Given to an import on arrival | 6U9… Australia, 7AT… New Zealand |
Our decoder recognises the local 6U9 and 7AT VINs and tells you when the car is an import, so you know to ask for its original papers.
What to check on an imported car
- Same number everywhere. The chassis number on the body, the export certificate, the auction sheet and the import papers must match.
- Odometer before and after import. Compare the reading on the auction sheet or export papers with today's. A lower reading now is a red flag.
- Damage before import. Auction sheets grade the car and mark repairs; a history report can add records from other countries.
- Compliance. In Australia the car must be on the Register of Approved Vehicles or carry a compliance plate; in New Zealand it needs entry certification.
- Money owing and theft through the PPSR in the country you are buying in.
Frequently asked questions
What does a VIN starting with 6U9 mean?
6U9 is the manufacturer code used for VINs issued to privately imported vehicles in Australia. The car keeps its original factory or chassis number on the body as well.
Why are imports more likely to have a wound-back odometer?
When a car changes country, its earlier odometer readings stay in the records of the old country. Without a check that reaches those records, a lower reading after import is hard to spot.
Which documents should come with a Japanese import?
Ask for the export certificate, the auction sheet if the car was sold at auction, and the import and compliance paperwork. The chassis number must be the same on all of them and on the car.