Check any Australian vehicle for money owing, stolen status, write-offs & security interests. Get your official REVS/PPSR certificate in 60 seconds - $34.99
Australian consumers lose an average of $15,400 when they unknowingly purchase a vehicle with hidden finance owing.
Under Australian law, security interests "travel with the goods" - if you buy a car with finance owing, the debt transfers to YOU. The finance company can legally repossess your vehicle even though you paid for it.
💡 A $34.99 REVS check is the ONLY legal protection against inheriting someone else's debt.
This is what your official REVS check certificate looks like. Delivered instantly via email.
✓ Delivered via email in 60 seconds ✓ Official PPSR certificate
Get your official PPSR certificate in under 60 seconds
Simply enter the registration plate number or VIN. Works for any Australian vehicle.
We search the official government database in real-time for finance owing, stolen status & write-offs.
Receive your official PPSR certificate via email in 60 seconds. Download, print, or save it.
See why thousands choose Car Verify for their REVS checks
"Saved me $22,000! The REVS check revealed finance owing that the seller didn't even know about. Best $35 I ever spent."
"Instant results, official certificate, and it actually found a write-off that wasn't disclosed. Super professional service."
"Clear report came through in literally 30 seconds. Used it to negotiate $3k off the price because of minor write-off history."
Government-issued certificate with legal standing. Accepted by insurance companies and banks.
See any money owed to banks, finance companies, or other lenders. Protects you from inheriting debt.
Check if the vehicle has been written off by insurance due to accident, flood, fire, or hail damage.
Verify the vehicle hasn't been reported stolen anywhere in Australia. Protects you from criminal liability.
Understanding the evolution of vehicle security registers in Australia helps explain why a REVS check is essential today. Before 2012, each Australian state and territory maintained its own register for tracking encumbered vehicles.
NSW's REVS (Register of Encumbered Vehicles) was the most well-known system, established to track vehicles with finance owing. Other states had similar but separate systems:
The major problem? These systems didn't talk to each other. A car with finance owing in NSW could be sold in Victoria with a "clean" VIC REVS check. Criminals exploited these gaps, costing honest buyers millions annually.
On this date, the Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) went live, consolidating all state registers into one national database managed by the Australian Financial Security Authority (AFSA).
This wasn't just about vehicles - the PPSR covers all personal property security interests including:
Even though the official system is now PPSR, Australians still call it a "REVS check" because:
When you order a "REVS check" today, you're getting an official PPSR certificate - same thing, different name. Both terms are correct and interchangeable.
Your PPSR certificate contains critical information, but knowing how to interpret it is key. Here's what every section means and what to watch for:
This is what you want to see. It means:
✅ Safe to proceed with purchase (pending other checks)
This means someone has a legal claim to the vehicle. Common types:
Purchase Money Security Interest (PMSI)
Standard car loan or finance. Shows lender name and amount (sometimes). DO NOT buy until paid off.
Commercial Consignment
Vehicle may be owned by a dealer or fleet company, not the "seller." High scam risk.
Lease/Hire Purchase
Seller doesn't own it - they're renting it. Cannot legally sell it to you.
⛔ DO NOT PROCEED - Demand seller clears the debt first or walk away
If your certificate shows write-off history, check the classification carefully:
Statutory Write-Off - Total loss. Cannot be re-registered in ANY state. Walk away immediately.
Repairable Write-Off - Was written off but has been repaired and re-registered. Get a professional inspection. Resale value is 20-40% lower.
Hail Damage - Cosmetic damage only. Usually safe if properly repaired, but negotiate price down 10-25%.
Your REVS check searches the National Stolen Vehicle Database. If flagged as stolen:
Did you know? Over 150 vehicles are stolen every day in Australia according to NRMA data. A REVS check is your best protection.
Average debt amount: $15,400 (ASIC data)
What happens:
Real case: Brisbane buyer purchased a Mazda CX-5 for $24,000 privately. Three months later, finance company repossessed it. $19,200 still owing. Buyer lost everything and had to pay a lawyer $4,500 trying to recover funds from seller who'd disappeared.
Impossible to insure. Potentially lethal safety issues.
What happens:
Vehicle imported from Japan/UK but never got Australian Design Rule (ADR) compliance. Cannot be legally registered long-term.
Warning signs: VIN starts with "J" (Japan), car has RHD but isn't Aus-spec, no compliance plate visible.
PPSR doesn't track odometer readings, BUT your REVS check often includes service history from our data partners. If service records show 180,000 km in 2022 but odometer shows 95,000 km today, you've found fraud.
1 in 4 Australian vehicles have defective Takata airbags that can explode and send shrapnel into the cabin, causing death or serious injury.
Our REVS check includes Takata recall status. If positive, replacement is FREE but must be done before you buy. Dealers are legally required to fix before sale, but private sellers often don't know.
Under Section 43 of the PPSR Act 2009, if you obtain an official PPSR certificate showing "no security interests" and later discover hidden finance, you have legal protection in most cases.
You're Protected When:
Court precedent: In Maiden Civil (P&E) Pty Ltd v Queensland Excavation Services Pty Ltd [2013], the court ruled that a buyer who obtained a clear PPSR certificate took the equipment free of the undisclosed security interest.
1. No PPSR certificate obtained - If you didn't get a certificate before buying, you have zero legal protection.
2. Certificate obtained AFTER purchase - Must be done before money changes hands.
3. Bought for significantly under market value - Courts may rule you should have known something was wrong.
4. Seller told you about the finance - Verbal disclosure removes protection even if not on certificate.
Bottom line: The $34.99 PPSR certificate isn't just information - it's legal insurance that can save you $15,400+. Always get it BEFORE you pay.
A REVS check is the common name for a PPSR (Personal Property Securities Register) check in Australia. Originally REVS was NSW's Register of Encumbered Vehicles, but since 2012, all states use the national PPSR system. When you do a REVS check, you're searching the PPSR to find finance owing, stolen status, and write-off history for any Australian vehicle.
Yes! REVS and PPSR checks are the same thing. "REVS" was the old NSW name, while "PPSR" is the current national system used across all Australian states since 2012. When you order a REVS check today, you're getting a PPSR certificate that's valid Australia-wide, not just in NSW.
Our comprehensive REVS check costs $34.99 and includes the official PPSR certificate, stolen car check, write-off history, vehicle valuation, and full vehicle history report. This is significantly cheaper than paying for separate checks, and you get everything you need in one report.
No, the official PPSR (REVS) register charges a fee for searches because it provides legal protection against buying vehicles with hidden finance. While some websites claim to offer "free REVS checks," they cannot provide the official PPSR certificate that protects you legally. Our $34.99 check includes the official certificate plus additional checks for stolen status, write-offs, and valuation.
Our REVS check is instant! You'll receive your comprehensive report including the official PPSR certificate via email within 60 seconds of completing your order. The certificate is delivered as a PDF that you can save, print, or show to sellers.
If finance is registered against the vehicle, DO NOT buy it until the seller clears the debt. The finance company legally owns the vehicle and can repossess it from you even though you paid for it. Ask the seller to pay off the finance first, or walk away and find a different car.
Don't risk losing $15,400+ to hidden finance. Get your official PPSR certificate in 60 seconds.
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