Guide
PPSR Search in Victoria: How to Check for $2
Cars by VIN, companies by ACN, and the encumbrances that derail Melbourne business sales.
In short
There is no Victorian PPSR. The Personal Property Securities Register is national, run at ppsr.gov.au under the Personal Property Securities Act 2009 (Cth), and costs $2 per search certificate. Search vehicles by VIN and companies by ACN — never by number plate or trading name.
Melbourne buyers search for "PPSR VIC" expecting a state register. There isn't one, and that is good news: one national register covers every vehicle, every item of plant and every company in the country.
Where to Search
- ppsr.gov.au — the official register, operated by the Registrar of Personal Property Securities. $2 per certificate.
- Resellers — vehicle history and credit reporting providers bundle the PPSR certificate with written-off vehicle, stolen and odometer data for a higher fee. Convenient, same underlying register.
Buying a Car in Victoria
Search by VIN, taken off the compliance plate or the vehicle itself, not off the advertisement. A number plate search is not a PPSR search, and plates change hands. The certificate tells you:
- Whether a financier holds a registered security interest over that vehicle
- Whether the vehicle is recorded as written off or stolen
- The registration start and end dates of any interest
If money is owing and you buy privately, the financier can repossess the car from you even though you paid the seller in full. The $2 certificate is the entire defence, and there is a statutory protection for buyers who search and rely on a clear certificate — which is why you keep it.
Buying Plant, Equipment or a Business
Search by grantor identifier:
| Grantor | Search using | Get it from |
|---|---|---|
| Company | ACN | ASIC register |
| Sole trader / partnership | ABN | ABN Lookup |
| Individual | Name + date of birth | Driver licence |
| Trust with ABN | Trust ABN and trustee identifier | Trust deed + ABN Lookup |
In a Victorian business sale this matters enormously. Registered interests routinely cover kitchen fit-outs, excavators, medical equipment, vehicles and all present and after-acquired property under a bank's general security agreement. Anything encumbered must be released at completion, and the release needs to be a condition of your contract, not a handshake.
Reading the Certificate
A registration is not proof that money is owing — it is notice that someone claims a security interest. Common reasons for a stale registration:
- The loan was repaid and the financier never discharged the registration
- The registration covers a different asset in the same collateral class
- It relates to a lease that has since expired
The correct step is a written payout or discharge confirmation from the secured party before settlement — not an assurance from the seller.
What the PPSR Does Not Show
- Land and mortgages over land — that is Land Use Victoria's title register
- Unregistered security interests, which can still exist and still be enforceable between the parties
- Unsecured debts, tax liabilities and employee entitlements
- Court judgments and winding-up applications
Related Reading
See our national PPSR guide, PPSR search NSW, PPSR search QLD and how to register a security interest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a separate PPSR for Victoria?
No. The Personal Property Securities Register is a single national register created by the Personal Property Securities Act 2009 (Cth) and run at ppsr.gov.au. A search from Melbourne returns exactly the same results as a search from Sydney or Brisbane — there is no Victorian register.
How much does a PPSR search cost?
$2 per certificate for a standard search by serial number (for example a VIN) or by grantor identifier such as an ACN or ABN. Third-party resellers charge more but bundle the search with vehicle history, ASIC and court data.
How do I check if a car in Victoria has money owing on it?
Search the PPSR by VIN, not by registration plate. The certificate tells you whether a financier holds a registered security interest over that vehicle, and whether it has been recorded as written off or stolen. Keep the certificate — it is your evidence of the search.
What do I need to search a Victorian company's assets?
The grantor's ACN for a company or ABN for a business, taken from the ASIC register rather than from a letterhead. A search against the wrong or outdated identifier is worse than useless, because it returns a clean certificate that gives false comfort.
Does a PPSR search show a mortgage over land?
No. The PPSR covers personal property — vehicles, plant, equipment, inventory, accounts receivable, intellectual property and company-wide security. Land is dealt with by Land Use Victoria's title register.
Do I need a PPSR search before buying a Victorian business?
Yes, always. Assets you assume are unencumbered are frequently subject to registered security in favour of a bank, an equipment financier or a supplier trading on retention of title. Buying without a search can mean paying for plant that a financier is entitled to repossess.
Next Step
Buying a Victorian business, or supplying goods on credit? Book a 15-minute call — we will scope the right search pack and the security you should be registering, on a fixed fee.
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