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There’s no single national list of stolen bikes in Australia. Police keep their own records, and there are several free community registers. So checking a used e-bike means checking the frame serial number on more than one register, and checking the seller too. It takes about five minutes.
1. Get the frame serial number
Ask the seller for the serial before you travel to see the bike. It’s usually stamped under the bottom bracket, where the cranks meet the frame. See where to find an e-bike’s serial number.
- A genuine owner will send it. If they won’t, treat that as a warning sign.
- When you see the bike, check the serial on the frame matches the one you were sent — and the receipt, if there is one.
- A serial that’s been ground off, filed, scratched or stickered over is a serious red flag. Walk away.
2. Check it on the registers
Check each register — a clear result on one doesn’t cover the others.
| Register | Where | What it shows |
|---|---|---|
| EbikeMate | Australia-wide | Whether the serial is registered, verified or reported stolen — never the owner’s details |
| BikeVAULT | Australia-wide | A free national register that police can search |
| Bikelinc | WA, ACT and Tasmania | Whether a serial is listed as safe, missing or stolen — no account needed to search |
“No record” isn’t bad on its own. Most bikes aren’t registered anywhere yet. It just means the register can’t tell you either way — so the other checks below matter more.
3. Check the seller and the ad
- Price far below similar bikes. A near-new e-bike at half price is the most common sign of a stolen bike.
- No charger or battery key. Thieves often can’t hand these over. A missing key can also mean you can’t remove or charge the battery.
- No receipt and no story. Ask where and when they bought it. A real owner usually knows the shop and roughly what they paid.
- Several similar bikes for sale, a brand-new profile, or pressure to pay a deposit before you see the bike.
- Wants to meet somewhere odd, or brings the bike to you rather than letting you see it at home.
Buying on Facebook Marketplace or Gumtree? See how to buy a used e-bike on Facebook Marketplace safely.
4. If it looks stolen
- Don’t pay, and don’t confront the seller. Leave if you feel unsafe.
- Save the listing link, the seller’s profile, the serial and any messages.
- Tell the police on 131 444 (000 if anyone is in danger), or Crime Stoppers anonymously on 1800 333 000.
- Report the listing to the marketplace too.
5. After you buy
Get a simple receipt with the date, price, both names and the frame serial. If the bike has a Bike Passport, ask the seller to transfer it to you before you leave. If it doesn’t, create a free one — so the next buyer can check it, and you’re ready if it’s ever stolen.
Create my free Bike Passport →
Had your own e-bike stolen? See what to do, step by step.
Common questions
Is there a national stolen bike register in Australia?
Not a single official one. Police keep their own records, and there are free community registers such as EbikeMate, BikeVAULT and Bikelinc. Check the frame serial on each.
How do I check if a bike is stolen by its serial number?
Ask the seller for the frame serial, then search it free on EbikeMate, BikeVAULT and, in WA, the ACT or Tasmania, Bikelinc. Check the serial on the frame matches.
What does “no record” mean?
Only that the serial isn’t on that register. Most bikes aren’t registered anywhere, so check the seller, the receipt and the bike itself too.
What should I do if I think a bike for sale is stolen?
Don’t pay or confront the seller. Save the listing and serial and tell the police on 131 444, or Crime Stoppers anonymously on 1800 333 000.
Sources
- Bike theft — Crime Stoppers Queensland (checked 16 October 2026)
- A new tool against bike theft (Bikelinc) — Bicycle Network (checked 16 October 2026)
- Bikelinc — Town of Port Hedland (checked 16 October 2026)
- Bikelinc website now in Tasmania — Bicycle Network (checked 16 October 2026)
This guide explains things in general terms. It is not legal advice. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.