What is the PPSR?
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is the Australian Government’s national online register of security interests in personal property, run by the Australian Financial Security Authority (AFSA). When a lender finances a car, it can register its interest in that vehicle on the PPSR against the vehicle’s VIN or chassis number.
The PPSR started on 30 January 2012. It replaced the separate state registers that buyers used before, such as REVS in New South Wales and the Vehicle Securities Register in Victoria. That’s why many people still call it a REVS check.
What a PPSR check shows
- Finance owing. Whether a lender or other party has a security interest registered against the vehicle, and who registered it.
- Written-off status. Whether the vehicle has been recorded as a repairable or statutory write-off. What the write-off types mean.
- Stolen status. Whether the vehicle is recorded as stolen. More on stolen vehicle checks.
- Vehicle description. Make, model, year, body type and colour on record, so you can confirm the VIN belongs to the vehicle in front of you.
- A search certificate. A dated, time-stamped certificate with a unique number. Keep it with your purchase papers.
Why it matters: finance stays with the car
If a previous owner took out a loan secured against the vehicle and hasn’t paid it off, the debt doesn’t disappear when the car is sold. In some cases the lender can repossess the vehicle from the new owner, even though that owner paid the seller in full.
Searching the PPSR before you pay, and keeping the certificate, may give you legal protection if an undisclosed security interest turns up later. The certificate only covers the moment of the search, which is why timing matters.
Run it on the day you pay. Finance can be registered against a vehicle at any time. A check from last week can already be out of date.
What a PPSR check doesn’t show
For privacy reasons, a PPSR search doesn’t list the owner’s name or address, how much is owing, or unpaid fines and tolls. It also can’t tell you about mechanical condition or accident damage that was never claimed on insurance. Pair it with a pre-purchase inspection, and add an odometer check or full history report for a more complete picture.
How to run a PPSR check with CarCheck AU
- Find the VIN. It’s 17 characters, usually at the base of the windscreen, on the driver’s door pillar and on the rego papers. Photos of where to look.
- Enter it above and choose your report.
- Pay securely. Your PDF certificate is emailed within 60 minutes.
PPSR certificate vs full history report
| Check | PPSR Certificate | Full History Report |
|---|---|---|
| Finance owing, written-off and stolen status | Yes | Yes |
| Official certificate number | Yes | Yes |
| Odometer tampering check | No | Yes, when data is available |
| ANCAP safety and emissions ratings | No | Yes |
| Insurance claim warnings and registration details | No | Yes |
| Price (inc. GST) | $34.99 | $69.99 |