Australia
PPSR check vs car history report
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is the official place to check whether a car still has finance owing, has been written off or reported stolen. It is cheap and essential – but it was never meant to tell you how the car has been driven or repaired.
In New South Wales many people still call it a REVS check: the national PPSR replaced REVS and the other state registers of encumbered vehicles on 30 January 2012.
What each check covers
| What you learn | PPSR search | History report |
|---|---|---|
| Money owing (security interest / finance) | Yes | No |
| Written-off vehicle register (WOVR) | Yes | Yes, where records exist |
| Reported stolen | Yes | Yes, where records exist |
| Make, model and VIN match | Yes | Yes, where records exist |
| Accident damage that was repaired, not written off | No | Yes, where records exist |
| Odometer readings over time | No | Yes, where records exist |
| Photos from earlier sales | No | Yes, where records exist |
| History before the car came to Australia | No | Yes, where records exist |
History reports work from the records available for each VIN; coverage varies between vehicles. The PPSR is the only official source for money owing.
Why the PPSR comes first
If a car with finance owing changes hands, the lender can in some cases still repossess it. A PPSR search certificate shows a registered security interest, and a clear certificate obtained before buying generally protects a private buyer. That alone is worth the small fee – run the search with the VIN before you pay anything.
What the PPSR leaves out
- Repaired damage. The written-off register only lists cars declared a statutory or repairable write-off. Panel repairs, hail and flood damage that were fixed without a write-off do not appear.
- Odometer history. The PPSR records no mileage. A wound-back odometer is only visible when you compare readings recorded over time – at sales, services and inspections.
- Overseas history. For imported cars the PPSR starts when the car arrives. Its life in Japan, the UK or elsewhere is not there.
- Past advertisements. Photos from earlier sales can show damage, a different colour or a different odometer reading.
Decode the VIN first
Before paying for any check, make sure the VIN is real and matches the car. Our free decoder shows the manufacturer and factory region, so a VIN that belongs to a different brand stands out at once.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a PPSR check cost?
The official search on the government PPSR website costs a few dollars, and an assisted search by phone costs more; check the current fee on ppsr.gov.au. Third-party sites that bundle the PPSR result into a report charge their own price.
When should I run the PPSR check?
Run it before you pay a deposit and again on the day you pay. Finance or a theft report can be registered between your first look at the car and the handover.
Does a clear PPSR mean the car never crashed?
No. The written-off vehicle register only lists cars that were declared a write-off – statutory or repairable. A car that was repaired privately or through insurance without being written off can still have a damage history.
Do I need a VIN for a PPSR search?
The PPSR search uses the VIN (or chassis number for older vehicles). A history report uses the same VIN, so you only need to ask the seller once.