How to Check PPSR for Free in Australia

Buying a second-hand car? Good on you for doing your homework first. Before you transfer your hard-earned dollar, there’s one check you do: a PPSR check. It can stop you from buying a car that’s stolen, written off, or still has someone else’s loan sitting on it.

The good news? Part of this check is free. Let’s break it down, nice and simple.

What Even Is the PPSR?

PPSR stands for Personal Property Securities Register. It’s a government register that keeps track of loans and debts owed on things like cars. It’s run by a department called AFSA (the Australian Financial Security Authority).

When you search the PPSR for a car, it tells you three big things:

• Is there money still owed on it? (And who the lender is.)
• Has it been write off in a crash before?
• Has it stolen anywhere in Australia?

Here’s the scary bit: if the old owner still owes money on the car and stops paying it back. The bank can take the car off you — even though you paid for it fair and square, and even if you had no clue about the debt. A PPSR check is how you protect yourself from that mess.

So… Is PPSR Actually Free?

Straight up: no, not the real deal. The official government PPSR search costs $2 per car. It’s a small fee set by the government, and it’s not waived — ever. So if you see a website promising a totally free “official” PPSR certificate, be careful. What they’re usually giving you is a free VIN check or rego lookup, which is handy. But it’s not the same thing as a real PPSR search.

That said, there are a couple of things you can check for free before you get to that $2 step.

1. Free Rego Check

Every state has a website where you can look up a car’s registration for free, using the number plate. This shows you:

• When the rego runs out
• Which insurer covers the CTP (green slip)
• Sometimes, past odometer readings

It won’t tell you about loans owing — only the real PPSR knows that — but it’s a quick, free first look.

2. Free Written-Off Check

Most states also let you check for free (usually by phone or at a service centre) whether a car has been write off before. Handy, and it costs nothing.

3. Some Businesses Pay the $2 for You

Some insurance companies and carsales websites run the official PPSR search for you. They cover that $2 fee themselves, may be to get you as a customer. If you’re already shopping around for car insurance, it doesn’t hurt to ask if a free PPSR check comes with it. You still get the real government certificate — just you don’t pay for it.

What the Free Checks Won’t Tell You

Don’t get too comfy with the free stuff. A free rego check or VIN check will not show you:

• Money owed on the car
• Whether it’s stolen
• What the car is actually worth
• Insurance claim history

If any of that matters to you (and honestly, it should), you’ll need to do the real $2 PPSR search. Or grab a paid vehicle history report that bundles it all together.

A Few Other Things Worth Checking

A PPSR search is a great start, but it’s not the whole story. Before you buy, it’s also smart to:

• Get a mechanic to check it over before you buy. They can also make sure the VIN not tampered.
• Check for the Takata airbag recall for free at ismyairbagsafe.com.au.
• Ask for the logbook and check the odometer readings actually add up.
• Check the VIN matches on the compliance plate, the engine bay, and the windscreen. If they don’t match, walk away.

Bottom Line

You can save some money doing a few checks for free — rego status and write-off history won’t cost you a cent. But when it comes to the big one, checking for money owed on the car, you’ll need the real $2 PPSR search. It’s cheap insurance against a much expensive headache. Simply remember: if someone’s advertising a “free PPSR check,” they’re either giving you a free VIN lookup. Or they’re covering that $2 fee themselves. The government never waives it.

Related article: How to check write-off Codes