Fed: Extra info to help fight rebirthing of written off cars

AAP General News (Australia)
08-01-2000
Fed: Extra info to help fight rebirthing of written off cars

SYDNEY, Aug 1 AAP - The rebirthing of written-off motor vehicles will become more difficult
with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) to provide information to a central database
of encumbered vehicles.

The Register of Encumbered Vehicles (REVS) will now have direct access to the RTA's
Written-off Vehicle Register, an RTA spokesman said.

He said the initiative would give car buyers more information on the status of a vehicle
and was another example of the RTA continuing to take the lead nationally in the fight
against the stolen vehicle trade.

"REVS is primarily used by prospective car buyers to determine whether there is any
outstanding finance on a vehicle in which they are interested," he said.

"Since 1998, the RTA has also provided information from its DRIVES database which includes
whether a vehicle's registration has been cancelled because of fine defaults and changes
of registration details."

Written-off vehicles and their identifying numbers can be used by professional criminals
to rebirth a stolen vehicle.

Prospective car buyers who call REVS will now be able to find out whether a vehicle
has been written-off by an insurer and if it is a statutory write-off or repairable and
re-registerable.

A statutory write-off means the vehicle can only be used for parts or scrap.

AAP as/cd

KEYWORD: REBIRTHING

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