Guide · Buying a used car in Victoria
How to do a PPSR check on a used car in Victoria
It costs $2, takes two minutes, and tells you whether the car has money owing on it, is stolen or has been written off. Here is exactly how to do it, and what to do with the answer.
Why this matters
In Australia, a car can carry a loan the seller hasn't paid off. If you buy it, the lender can still take it back, and your money goes with it. International students are often targeted because they're new, in a hurry, and don't know this check exists. The PPSR (Personal Property Securities Register) is the national government register that records it.
The official search is on ppsr.gov.au and costs $2. You don't need to pay a third-party website $20 or more for the same information.
How to do a PPSR check, step by step
- 01
Get the VIN from the car itself
The VIN is a 17-character code. You will find it on the compliance or build plate, at the base of the windscreen and on the driver's door frame. Read it off the car, not from a photo or message the seller sends you, and check it matches the registration papers.
- 02
Search it on ppsr.gov.au
Go to the official site, ppsr.gov.au, choose a motor vehicle search and enter the VIN. It works on your phone and takes about two minutes.
- 03
Pay $2 and save the certificate
Pay by card and download the PDF certificate. Keep it with your purchase documents. It is your proof that you checked before you bought.
- 04
Read the result properly
You are looking for three things: whether there is a security interest (money owing), whether the car is recorded as stolen, and whether it is recorded as written off. Also check the make, model and colour on the certificate match the car in front of you.
- 05
Do the free VicRoads registration check
Use the free registration check from VicRoads or Service Victoria to confirm the registration status and details. For more detail, VicRoads sells a Vehicle Report that includes Victorian registration, transfer and electronic roadworthy data.
- 06
Ask for the roadworthy certificate
In Victoria the seller normally provides a roadworthy certificate (RWC) so the registration can be transferred to you. A roadworthy is current for 30 days, so check the date on it.
What the result means
Clear
No security interest, not stolen, not written off, and the details match. Good sign. Now get the car inspected.
Money owing
There is a loan registered against the car. Don't pay until the lender confirms it is paid out, or you could lose the car.
Stolen
Walk away and don't hand over any money. You can report it to Victoria Police.
Written off
It may be cheaper for a reason, and it may need extra inspections before it can be registered. Check with VicRoads before you commit.
Red flags students should watch for
- The seller won't give you the VIN, or the VIN on the car doesn't match the papers.
- You're asked to pay a deposit "to hold it" before you've seen the car or run a check.
- There's no roadworthy certificate, or an excuse about why it's coming later.
- The price is far below similar cars, and the seller is in a rush to close.
A clear PPSR check is not a mechanical inspection. It won't tell you about the engine, the gearbox or rust. Work through our used car inspection checklist, and for anything you can't judge yourself, book a pre-purchase inspection.
Want us to check it for you?
OneCall runs the PPSR and history checks on every car we help with, compares the price with real listings, and tells you honestly if it's worth buying. The first chat is free.
See also: where to buy a used car in Melbourne · the inspection checklist · car finance on a student visa · used-car buying help for international students
Sources: PPSR fees (ppsr.gov.au) · Buying a used vehicle (VicRoads) · Registration check (VicRoads)