You should always confirm the trader you are dealing with is registered.
When searching the register, untick the box 'Only show current registrations’ if searching for historical registrants.
Search the public register
Information in the public register
By law, the Business Licensing Authority (BLA) must keep a register of all second-hand dealers or pawnbrokers, including business names and addresses, available for public inspection.
The register contains:
- your business’s registration number and date of registration
- date of any suspension of the registration
- any conditions placed on the registration
- company or person’s full name.
If the registered party is a company:
- the name of each director and date appointed
- the date each director ceases as a director of the company
- an Australian Business Number (ABN) if any
- each address and telephone number at which the person or company carries on business
- any business names under which the person or company carries on business
- the address of any internet site maintained for carrying on business
- for pawnbrokers, the date of endorsement and any conditions that apply.
Updating details
Second-hand dealers and pawnbrokers must provide details to the BLA within seven days of any change, to ensure the register is accurate. For more information, view our Update registration details page.
Disclaimer
The registers are only as accurate as the information provided to us. The BLA tries to obtain accurate and up-to-date information during and after the registration process.
There may be a short delay of up to two hours between when the BLA processes information and when you can see it in the register.
Correcting the register
The Registrar of the BLA can correct any error or omission on the register.
Review of Business Licensing Authority (BLA) decisions
Many of the BLA’s decisions can be reviewed by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).
You can apply to VCAT within 28 days of the date of the decision, or within 28 days of being given a statement of reasons for the decision if you have requested such a statement under the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 1998. For more information about applying to VCAT, visit the Steps to resolve your case section of the VCAT website.
The register will reflect the BLA’s decision pending the outcome of the review, unless VCAT suspends it until the end of the review proceedings.
If you wish to use information from a public register in legal proceedings, you must obtain a Registrar’s certificate. For more information, contact the BLA via the BLA enquiry form.
Extracts
A full extract includes all current and historical information about a registrant. Full extracts of most of registers are available from the BLA Registrar for a fee. For more information, contact the BLA via the BLA enquiry form.
Request bulk public register information
To request bulk public register information, you must set out the intended use in writing to the Registrar, who will take into account the purpose of the request in view of the strict requirements of the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 and relevant business licensing legislation. Fees may also apply.
The BLA will not release the information for use in direct marketing or similar commercial activities.
For more information, contact the BLA via the BLA enquiry form.