Get an official PPSR certificate for any Australian vehicle. Check finance owing, security interests, encumbrances, write-offs and stolen status from $34.99
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is the official Australian Government register that records security interests in personal property, including vehicles. A PPSR check reveals if a vehicle has money owing, is stolen, or has been written off.
Critical: If you buy a car with finance owing and don't get a PPSR certificate, the finance company can legally repossess the vehicle from you - even though you paid for it. You inherit the debt.
Our official PPSR check provides legal protection and peace of mind when buying any vehicle in Australia.
This is what your official PPSR certificate looks like
Official government certificate in under 60 seconds
Enter the VIN or registration number. We search the official PPSR database instantly.
We check for security interests, finance owing, stolen status, and write-off records.
Receive your legally recognized PPSR certificate via email. Use it for legal protection.
Real protection for real buyers
"PPSR check revealed $22,000 finance owing. Seller claimed car was paid off. Certificate saved me from disaster!"
"Got the official PPSR certificate in 30 seconds. Showed clean title, bought the car with confidence. Best $35 spent."
"PPSR showed previous write-off. Car looked perfect but had hidden structural damage. Walked away thanks to this check."
The Personal Property Securities Act 2009 (Cth) provides one of the strongest buyer protection frameworks in Australian consumer law. Understanding these protections can save you from catastrophic financial loss. Here's the complete legal framework:
The Golden Rule: If someone hasn't registered their security interest on the PPSR (an "unperfected" interest), you can buy the property free of that interest - even if you knew about it.
What "Unperfected" Means:
Real Case: In Maiden Civil (P&E) Pty Ltd v Queensland Excavation Services [2013] QSC 52, buyer purchased excavator after PPSR search showed clear. Bank had security interest but failed to register it correctly. Court ruled buyer took property free of bank's interest. Bank lost $180,000.
Motor vehicles, motorcycles, boats, and aircraft are "serial-numbered goods" with extra protection. If you conduct a PPSR search using the VIN/serial number and it shows clear, you're protected EVEN IF:
Why this matters: With 17-digit VINs, data entry errors are common. Section 44 puts the burden on the finance company to get it right, not on you to guess alternative VINs.
If you buy from a dealer who regularly sells that type of vehicle, you take it free of security interests EVEN IF they're properly registered on PPSR. This applies when:
Dealer Warning: This protection does NOT apply to private sales or dealers selling consignment vehicles "on behalf of owner." Always verify dealer owns the vehicle outright.
For personal, domestic, or household use vehicles with value under $153,000 (indexed annually), additional protections apply. If the seller was using the vehicle personally (not for business), you're protected even if:
When you get a PPSR certificate showing clear title, you activate a three-layer legal shield:
1. Section 43 Protection
Free of unperfected interests
2. Section 44 Serial # Protection
VIN search accuracy required
3. Certificate Evidence
Court-admissible proof of diligence
Before January 30, 2012, Australia had a fragmented mess of security interest registers. The PPSR consolidated over 40 different federal and state registers into one national system. Here's what was replaced:
Vehicle Registers (by state):
Other Replaced Registers:
The fragmented system caused massive problems:
Government estimates: The old system cost Australian economy $2 billion annually in fraud losses, compliance costs, and inefficiency.
One national database solved these problems:
✅ For Buyers:
✅ For Finance Companies:
Source: Australian Financial Security Authority (AFSA) - State of the Personal Property Securities System 2023-24
While most people know PPSR for vehicle checks, it covers all personal property used as security. Understanding the full scope helps you avoid problems in business asset purchases:
Typical cost: Single vehicle search costs $2 (government) to $34.99 (comprehensive report with extras)
Business stakes: Equipment finance can exceed $500,000. PPSR check is mandatory due diligence.
1. "Rent-to-Own" Equipment Not on PPSR
Business owner "buys" excavator on payment plan. Seller never registers PPSR interest. Seller goes bankrupt. Liquidator seizes excavator claiming no security interest. Buyer loses equipment AND still owes money. Cost: $380,000
2. Buying Business With Unregistered Security Interests
Purchase business including all equipment and inventory. Seller's inventory was on consignment (not owned). Supplier repossesses $220,000 of inventory. No PPSR check was done. Cost: $220,000 + lost business
3. Aircraft Purchase Without PPSR Check
$1.2M aircraft purchase. PPSR search after purchase revealed $450K finance owing + maintenance liens. Buyer must clear debts or lose aircraft. Cost: $450,000 + legal fees
A PPSR check reveals security interests (finance owing), stolen vehicle status, write-off history, and any encumbrances registered against the vehicle. It's the only way to legally verify a car's financial status in Australia.
Yes. An official PPSR certificate provides legal protection under the PPSR Act 2009. If you get a "clear" PPSR certificate and later discover hidden finance, you're protected from repossession in most cases.
Our comprehensive PPSR check costs $34.99 and includes the official government certificate plus additional vehicle history checks. Delivered instantly via email.
YES! Even dealer cars can have security interests. Some dealers aren't aware of finance owing. A PPSR check protects you regardless of who's selling the vehicle. Always check before you buy.
Instant! Your official PPSR certificate is delivered to your email within 60 seconds of payment. You can use it immediately when negotiating or finalizing your purchase.
Legal protection against $15,400+ inherited debt. Official government certificate in 60 seconds.