Buying a used car privately is one of the most common financial transactions Australians make, and one of the riskiest if you skip the right checks. The price might look right, the seller might seem trustworthy, and the car might drive perfectly. However, if there’s money still owing on that vehicle from a previous finance agreement, the debt can follow the car, not the seller.
That’s exactly what a PPSR check is designed to uncover.
What is a PPSR check?
PPSR stands for the Personal Property Securities Register, a national database maintained by the Australian government. When a lender finances a vehicle, they register a security interest against it on the PPSR. If the borrower sells the car before paying off the debt, that interest doesn’t automatically disappear.
A PPSR check searches the register and tells you whether there are any financial encumbrances recorded against the vehicle, whether it has been reported as stolen, whether it has been written off (either repairable or total loss), and basic details about the vehicle’s registration history.
Why it matters for used car buyers
There have been well-documented cases in Australia of buyers purchasing used vehicles only to have them repossessed by finance companies after the sale, according to Jordan Mulach (2023) “A Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) report….is one of the most important tools available to motorists who are looking to purchase a used vehicle.” The buyer loses both the car and their money because the seller had no legal right to sell an encumbered vehicle free and clear.
A PPSR check costs a fraction of what a used car costs. Running one before you commit to a purchase is simply good financial practice, and it takes only minutes through InfoTrackGO.
What you need to run one
To search the PPSR, you need either the vehicle’s VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) or the licence plate number, along with the state of registration. The VIN is typically found on the dashboard, inside the driver’s door, or on the vehicle’s registration papers. Any seller worth buying from will provide this information willingly.
When to run the check
Run it before you make any payment, including a deposit. Once money has changed hands on a private sale, getting it back if problems arise becomes significantly more complicated.
Don’t buy blind. Check the PPSR first here.
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