REVS vs PPSR: Which Check Do You Need Before Buying a Used Car?

If you’re buying a used car in Australia today, you need a PPSR search. You don’t need a separate REVS check.

REVS was the name used for older state-based Register of Encumbered Vehicles systems. Those records were transferred to the national Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR), and the old state registers are now closed.

So when someone talks about getting a “REVS check” before buying a car, they’re usually referring to the type of check now completed through the PPSR.

Here’s Your Answer

Before buying a used car, a PPSR check can show whether a registered security interest exists against the vehicle. The official search may also include available written-off and stolen-vehicle information linked to the VIN.

The Australian Government’s PPSR replaced REVS and other state-based vehicle security registers when the national system started on 30 January 2012.

You don’t need to run both.

For a private purchase, use the vehicle’s VIN to conduct a current PPSR search, keep the certificate, and complete your other registration and mechanical checks separately.

What Was a REVS Check?

REVS stood for Register of Encumbered Vehicles.

Before PPSR, different states operated registers that buyers could use to check whether a financial interest had been recorded against a vehicle.

Those state-based REVS and Vehicle Security Registers have since closed, with their records transferred to PPSR.

Today, PPSR is the government register used for this type of vehicle check.

The term REVS is still commonly used by sellers, buyers and commercial vehicle-history services, which is why both names continue to appear online.

What is a PPSR Check?

The Personal Property Securities Register is the Australian Government’s national register of security interests in personal property.

For a used car, you conduct the search using the VIN or chassis number. You can’t run the official vehicle search using only the number plate or engine number.

The online self-service search currently costs $2 and provides a search certificate.

If you’re comparing used vehicles, this is one of the checks to complete before money changes hands.

A security interest recorded against the VIN can mean another party, commonly a financier, claims an interest in the vehicle.

REVS vs PPSR: What’s the Difference?

You don’t need a current REVS check and a PPSR check. There is no separate government REVS register operating alongside PPSR.

What Does a PPSR Check Tell You?

The main reason to run a PPSR search is to see whether a security interest is registered against the vehicle.

If one appears, the car may still be connected to finance or another secured obligation.

This is particularly important with a used car that still has finance owing. A registered secured party may have rights over the vehicle even after a later buyer has paid the seller.

A PPSR vehicle result may also include available NEVDIS information such as:

• Make, model and colour
• Written-off status, and
• Stolen status

You’ll also receive a search certificate recording the result at that time.

What Doesn’t a PPSR Check Tell You?

A PPSR result isn’t a complete vehicle-history or mechanical inspection.

The official search doesn’t tell you:

• Exactly how much finance is outstanding
• Who owns the vehicle or its full ownership history
• The odometer reading, or
• Outstanding fines.

A clear PPSR result also doesn’t confirm that the engine, transmission, suspension, or other mechanical parts are in good condition.

What Else Should You Check Before Buying?

Start by matching the VIN on the car with the registration paperwork and the VIN used for the PPSR search.

Check the current registration through the relevant state or territory authority and compare the make, model and other identifying details.

For example, the same PPSR process applies when comparing second-hand cars because PPSR is national. Registration requirements still depend on the jurisdiction where the vehicle is registered.

Service records and an independent mechanical inspection can reveal problems that won’t appear on a PPSR certificate.

If the seller’s identity or paperwork doesn’t line up either, resolve that before payment.

When Should You Run a PPSR Check?

Run your final search as close as possible to the purchase.

The PPSR recommends completing a vehicle search on the day you buy the car or the day before, so the information is as current as possible.

If you checked the vehicle earlier in the buying process, don’t assume that result is enough weeks later.

Before paying a private seller, confirm the VIN again and keep the latest PPSR certificate with your purchase records.

REVS vs PPSR: The Bottom Line

REVS is the old name many Australians still associate with checking a used car for financial interests. PPSR is the current national system.

Before buying, run an official PPSR search using the correct VIN, review the certificate and complete separate registration and mechanical checks.

You don’t need a separate REVS search as well.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is REVS still used in Australia?

The former state-based REVS registers are no longer operating. Their records were transferred to PPSR when the national register commenced in 2012. The term “REVS check” is still commonly used informally.

Is REVS the same as PPSR?

Not exactly. REVS refers to the former state-based vehicle encumbrance registers. PPSR is the current national register that replaced them.

Do I need both a REVS check and a PPSR check?

No. For a current government vehicle security-interest search, use PPSR. There isn’t a separate active government REVS register that also needs to be checked.

Does PPSR show if finance is owing on a car?

A PPSR result shows whether a security interest is registered against the VIN. It doesn’t tell you the exact amount of finance outstanding.

How much is an official PPSR car check?

An online self-service vehicle search through the official PPSR currently costs $2. It also provides a search certificate, which is the legal record of the search result.