When purchasing a vehicle in Australia, conducting a Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) check is a crucial step before finalising your transaction. But why are there so many options available, and what more do you get when using the other providers?
What is a PPSR Check?
The PPSR serves as a comprehensive record, showing if a vehicle is encumbered with finance. This means that if a car, van, truck, caravan, or motorcycle (essentially any asset with a Vehicle Identification Number or serial number) is financed, the finance company registers an interest on the PPSR, indicating money is owed on the asset. The report will also include NEVDIS data, which will provide written off history of a vehicle.
Why are there other PPSR Check options?
While doing a search for a PPSR check provider, you'll likely be overwhelmed by the amount of different options out there. The official government website, PPSR.gov.au, offers a basic check for $2. However, other sites charge varying amounts, ranging from $9.90 to $30. What accounts for this discrepancy? What are you missing out on?
In essence, these additional websites are simply intermediaries. They access the government's PPSR check service, perform the $2 check, and then add their markup. Prominent among these are sites run by Equifax, a credit score provider, such as PPSR.com.au, PPSRcheck.com.au, and REVScheck.com.au, among others. Smaller entities also exist, often with domain names combining variations of these terms.
What extras do you get?
Beyond the basic make and model information, some sites offer added details like vehicle valuations, based on previous sale data or depreciation calculations. A few might provide historical odometer readings, which can be particularly useful, though it's not always accurate due to the lack of a centralised odometer database in Australia. However, it's worth noting that, except for New South Wales, this specific information isn't freely available from the government's PPSR website.
Free PPSR check options with a catch
There are also free PPSR checks available. For instance, Budget Direct offers up to five free checks, but there's a catch - you need to provide your personal details, which may be used for marketing purposes.
Should you spend the extra $ on a PPSR check?
So, when opting for a PPSR check, it's important to consider what information you need and whether it's worth paying extra for services beyond the official government offering. While some additional details might be helpful, is it worth the 10x price difference? Unless you're specifically looking for odometer history, Probably not.
More information about doing a $2 PPSR check can be found by following the link. As well as links to the Government PPSR check website, you'll find links to the various states and territories free rego check websites.
FAQ for PPSR Checks
1. What is a PPSR Check?
A Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) check is a crucial verification step in Australia to confirm if a vehicle (car, van, truck, caravan, or motorcycle) is encumbered with finance. It provides a comprehensive report, including if there's outstanding finance and the vehicle's written-off history.
2. Why are there so many providers offering PPSR Checks besides the official government website?
While the official PPSR.gov.au site offers a basic check for $2, numerous other sites provide this service at varying prices, from $9.90 to $30. These third-party providers are intermediaries that access the government's data, add their markup, and may offer additional information or services.
3. What extra information can I expect from these other PPSR Check services?
Some third-party services offer additional details such as vehicle valuations, historical sale data, depreciation calculations, and historical odometer readings. However, the accuracy and availability of this extra information can vary, and it's not always provided by the official government service.
4. Is it worth paying more for a PPSR Check from these third-party providers?
It depends on the specific information you need. For most buyers, the basic $2 check from the official government site is sufficient. Paying more for extra services might be beneficial if you're looking for detailed vehicle valuations or historical odometer readings, but it's essential to weigh the cost against the value of the information provided.
Sebastian Szlasa is an automotive writer for motorfind.com.au, with an extensive background in the automotive and finance industry. Seb is based in Adelaide, Australia. Links: Trademate, Linkedin & Twitter/X.com.
