When to run a PPSR check as a dealer, and when to run it again
As a Queensland dealer you guarantee clear title to every buyer. A PPSR search is how you find finance owing on a car, and timing matters: search close to the day the money moves.
- You must ensure the buyer gets clear title, and the contract must say you guarantee it.
- A PPSR search costs $2 online ($7 through the assisted phone service).
- PPSR advises searching on the day of purchase or the day before.
Your clear title duty
A Queensland dealer must ensure the buyer has clear title when property passes. The maximum penalty is 200 penalty units, with a defence if you took all reasonable steps. The contract must state that you guarantee clear title; if it doesn’t, the buyer can avoid the contract within 7 days.
Checking ownership and finance
Before offering a car for sale you must take reasonable steps to find out or verify who owns it, and the seller statement must disclose any mortgage or encumbrance. The legislation doesn’t require a PPSR search as such, but it’s the practical way to see whether finance is registered against the car.
What a search costs
$2.00 through the online self-service, or $7.00 through the assisted phone service. Each search comes with a certificate that serves as a legal record. Fees are non-refundable.
Why search again on the day
The PPSR advises searching on the day of purchase or the day before, because a clear certificate from that window can help protect you if someone later claims an interest in the car. A search at intake doesn’t cover what’s registered between then and payout, so search again before money leaves your account. A second search is another $2.
What buyers are told
The PPSR tells the public that if they buy from a licensed motor dealer they’re “generally protected from repossession”, even when a security interest was registered. That protection is one reason checking matters at your end before you buy or settle.
Questions dealers ask
Is a PPSR search legally required for QLD dealers?
Not as such. You must take reasonable steps to verify ownership and you must ensure clear title; a PPSR search is the practical way to check for registered finance.
How much does a PPSR check cost?
$2.00 online or $7.00 through the assisted phone service, as at October 2026.
Sources
Rules and fees change. Check the official source before you rely on anything here; this guide is general information, not legal advice.