What is a PPSR check and how does it work?

Before you hand over a dollar for a private used car, there's one government search worth every cent: a PPSR check. It takes about two minutes and costs $2. Skipping it is one of the more expensive gambles you can take when buying a used car.

Here's everything you need to know about what it is, what it reveals, and when to run one.

What the PPSR actually is

The PPSR (Personal Property Securities Register) is a federal government database managed by the Australian Financial Security Authority. It records legal interests (mainly financial ones) that exist over personal property. In the context of cars, that means it tracks whether a vehicle has money owing on it, whether it has been written off, and whether it has been reported stolen.

The register is national. It applies across all states and territories, so whether you're buying in Queensland, Victoria, or anywhere else in Australia, the same database applies.

The PPSR replaced the old state-based REVS (Register of Encumbered Vehicles) registers when the Personal Property Securities Act 2009 came into effect. If you've heard someone mention a "REVS check," they're talking about the same thing under its old name.

What a PPSR check reveals

A PPSR report can surface four key categories of information on a vehicle.

Finance owing (encumbrances)

This is the most common issue and the most financially dangerous for buyers. When someone takes out a car loan, the lender registers a security interest over the vehicle on the PPSR. That security interest stays attached to the car, not just the borrower.

If someone sells you a car that still has finance owing and then defaults on the loan, the lender can legally repossess the vehicle from you, even though you've already paid the seller. You lose the car and you lose your money. A PPSR car check tells you whether this security interest exists before you pay.

Written-off status

The PPSR flags whether a vehicle has been recorded on the Written-Off Vehicle Register (WOVR). There are two types worth understanding.

A repairable write-off is a car the insurer decided was uneconomical to fix relative to its market value. Hail damage is a common example. It can be repaired, assessed, and re-registered, but its market value will generally be lower and some insurers will limit or exclude coverage.

A statutory write-off is more serious. These are vehicles with structural or safety damage so severe they cannot legally be re-registered or put back on the road. They exist as parts donors only. If the PPSR report shows a statutory write-off and the car is sitting in someone's driveway with a "for sale" sign, walk away.

Stolen vehicle flag

The PPSR draws on national police databases across all states and territories. If a vehicle has been reported stolen, it will appear in the report. Buying a stolen vehicle, even unknowingly, means the car can be seized and you'll have no legal recourse against the thief.

Vehicle identity details

The report also confirms basic vehicle details: make, model, and VIN. This lets you cross-check that what the seller is telling you about the car actually matches what the PPSR has on record. Discrepancies in VIN numbers are a red flag worth taking seriously.

How to run a PPSR check

The official PPSR vehicle search is done through ppsr.gov.au. There's no need to use a third-party service for the official government check. The PPSR itself is the source.

You'll need one of the following:

• The vehicle's VIN (Vehicle Identification Number), typically found on the dashboard at the base of the windscreen or on the driver's door jamb
• The chassis number
• The plate number (though VIN is the most reliable identifier)

The cost is $2 per search, with no GST applied. Results come back instantly. The certificate is a PDF you can download and keep as a record of the search at the time of purchase.

When you need a PPSR check

Buying privately: always run one. Private sellers have no legal obligation to disclose finance, write-offs, or stolen status. A PPSR report is the only way to know what you're actually buying. The $2 is the cheapest insurance available in a used car transaction. That applies whether you're buying a used Toyota Corolla or a used Mazda CX-5. The PPSR doesn't care what the car is worth.

Buying from a licensed dealer: still worth considering. Licensed dealers have legal obligations under Australian Consumer Law that private sellers don't: they cannot legally sell you a car with undisclosed finance or a hidden write-off history. That said, running your own check before a significant purchase is never a waste of two minutes and two dollars.

Selling privately: check your own car first. When you list a car for private sale, serious buyers will run a PPSR vehicle search. If there's finance owing on the car, even a modest amount remaining, it will show up and buyers will walk. Settle any remaining finance before listing, or be upfront and factor a payout into the sale price and process.

If there's a write-off on the record from years back that you've disclosed in the listing, good. If it's going to come up as a surprise to the buyer when they run their check, that's a problem for your sale.

Ready to buy or sell a used car?

Browse used cars at Carma and every car you see has been through the Carma standard, an NRMA-verified inspection and reconditioning process. If you're selling, get a valuation and Carma takes care of the paperwork, any finance payout, and the transfer.