Free car financial check: how to check if a car has debt for free?

Why should you check if the car has a debt?

How to check if a used car has a debt and do this check for free?

While there are many websites that offer payable rego checks, you can easily get a free registration check by visiting the website of the state or territory Department of Transportation where you live (see our list below) and entering your license plate or vehicle identification number . Number (VIN) of the used car you want to buy.

These free government rego checks will tell you the vehicle's registration status, expiration date, CTP make, model and insurer details, and the expiration date of this policy. 

However, to find out if the used car you are looking at has debt, you need to go one step further and search the PPSR (Personal Property Securities Register). Again, there are many sites that offer to do this search for you for a fee, such as PPSR, and they will prepare a PPSR report for you that includes information about where the vehicle was stolen, scrapped, or has money owed. it, and add, among other things, the assessment of the vehicle. However, do not believe the word "free" on this website, because it is not.

There are actually a large number of sites posing as official PPSR sites and charging varying amounts of money - up to $35 - for what used to be called a REV check, but the site you're looking for is the official PPSR one.

On this site, you will be able to get all the information you need and while it is not free, it is very close because it only costs $2 to search (yes, you would think the government would provide such a vital service for free, but they do not do).

However, there is one way to get PPSR "for free" and save that $2, but it involves giving your details to the insurance company. Budget Direct offers a "Free PPSR Vehicle History Check" on their website.

As it says on its website, "While some providers charge up to $35 for an online PPSR check (or VIN lookup, as it's also known), Budget Direct can arrange it for you for free."

So why is PPSR testing important and should you be concerned?

Why should you check if the car has a debt?

In Australia, we already pay way too much for cars, so the idea of ​​buying a car for which there is already money seems especially unreasonable and absurd.

No one, of course, would do this on purpose, but it could be a trap for the unwary. And the incredible fact is that private sellers are not required to tell you if there is a debt on their car, which means that you can buy a car with debts, and these debts will become your problem. 

The finance company that issued a car loan retains a "financial interest" in that car until the money is paid off, and has the legal right to demand that money from its owner - which could be you if you're not careful. In the worst case scenario, your new used car may even be confiscated and sold to pay off any debts.

No, it's not a perfect system, but it's easy enough to make sure you're out of money by doing a vehicle history check, formerly known as a REV (Register of Active Vehicles) check, and now a PPSR check.

Where in your state or territory can you get a free rego check?

Here is our helpful list of places to click in your area for a free rego check:

- In New South Wales, visit the Service NSW website.

- In Victoria, go to the VicRoads website.

- In Queensland, visit the Department of Transport and Highways website.

- In the Northern Territory, go to the Northern Territory Government website.

- In Western Australia, visit the Department of Transport website.

- In South Australia, go to the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure website.

- In Tasmania, visit the Tasmanian government website.

- In ACT, go to the Access Canberra site.