PPSR check for dealers: when to search and what it tells you
A PPSR check shows whether a car has finance registered against it and whether it's been reported written off or stolen. For a dealer it costs $2 online, and you should run one when you take a car in, again on the day you pay, and keep a certificate on file when you sell.
- The PPSR is one national register, so the search is the same in every state: $2.00 online or $7.00 through the contact centre, no GST.
- It shows registered security interests, written-off and stolen status, and some registration details. It doesn't show the amount owing or who owns the car.
- Search by VIN at intake, again on payment day, and before you sell.
- Your title obligations to buyers come from the Australian Consumer Law and your state's dealer law.
What the PPSR is
The Personal Property Securities Register is the national register of security interests in personal property, including cars, caravans, boats and motorcycles. When a lender finances a car, it usually registers its interest against the VIN. A search tells you whether such an interest exists before you put your money in.
What a search costs
$2.00 through the online self-service, or $7.00 through the assisted contact centre service. PPSR fees aren't subject to GST. Each search comes with a certificate that serves as a legal record, and you can get a copy of it later at no extra cost.
What a certificate shows, and what it doesn't
| Shows | Doesn't show |
|---|---|
| Security interests (finance) registered against the VIN, and the secured party | How much is owing |
| Written-off status, where road agency data is available | Who owns the car, or past owners |
| Stolen status (not Tasmania) | Odometer reading |
| Registration details such as rego number and expiry, make, model and colour | Fines or tolls |
Written-off and stolen data comes from state road agencies and isn't always complete or current. Corrections go to the road agency or police, not the PPSR.
Search by VIN, not plate
You can't search by number plate or engine number. Search by VIN, or chassis number on older vehicles, and check it against the car in front of you. Details on the certificate that don't match the car can point to a re-birthed or altered VIN.
When dealers should search
| Moment | Why |
|---|---|
| Buying: at appraisal | Find finance, write-off or stolen status before you make an offer. |
| Buying: on payment day | Catch anything registered since your first search, before your money leaves. |
| Consigning: at intake | Know whether a lender needs paying out at settlement, and confirm the car isn't stolen or written off. |
| Consigning: before settlement | Confirm the payout amount still matches what's registered and nothing new has appeared. |
| Selling | Keep a clear certificate on the deal file to show the buyer gets clear title. |
Why search again on payment day
The PPSR tells private buyers to search on the day of purchase or the day before, because a clear certificate in that window can protect them against a later claim. That protection doesn't extend to someone buying a vehicle as inventory, which is what a dealer is doing. For you, the search's job is to catch finance before you pay. A search at intake won't show anything registered between then and payout, so search again on the day. It's another $2.
| When | Search | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1: car comes in for appraisal | First search: no finance registered | $2.00 |
| Day 9: seller takes out a loan against the car | (not visible to you yet) | |
| Day 10: payment day | Second search shows the new interest; you stop before paying | $2.00 |
Example only. Two searches cost $4.
If finance shows up
- Ask the seller for a payout letter, and pay the lender directly at settlement. See selling a car under finance.
- If the seller says the loan is paid off, contact the secured party using the details on the certificate.
- Once the lender says the interest is discharged, PPSR account holders can refresh the search free within 14 days of the original search. A refresh only updates the finance status, not written-off or stolen status, so run a full new search before you deliver a car to a buyer.
- If a lender won't remove a registration, the PPSR has a dispute process through the Registrar.
Your title obligations when you sell
The PPSR tells the public that a buyer from a licensed motor dealer generally takes the car free of security interests, with exceptions: for example, if the dealer isn't licensed, or the person selling is the secured party. That's a strong reason for dealers to clear finance before a car goes on the lot.
Under the Australian Consumer Law, the consumer guarantees on a car bought from a dealer include clear title and undisturbed possession. On top of that, each state's dealer law sets its own title rules. In Queensland, for example, a dealer must ensure the buyer gets clear title and the contract must say the dealer guarantees it. Check your state's rules in our car dealer licence guides or with your regulator.