Search “free car history check” and you will find plenty of tools promising to tell you everything about a used car for nothing. Some are genuinely useful. Others show almost nothing — or exist mainly to upsell you. Here is the honest picture of what is actually free, what is not, and what you need before you hand over money for a used car.
Quick answer: Free checks exist and are worth doing, but they are limited. Free state rego lookups confirm registration and basic details. The check that reveals money owing, write-off and stolen status is the PPSR (Personal Property Securities Register) — an official government check that costs a small fee (around $2). Free tools rarely include a genuine PPSR certificate.
What a free check actually shows
Most free tools draw on state transport registration data. Depending on the state, a free rego check can confirm registration status and expiry, the make and model, and basic details to match against the seller’s paperwork. That is useful for a first sanity check — but it does not tell you whether there is finance owing on the car, whether it has been written off, or whether it has been reported stolen.
What only a PPSR check shows
The PPSR check is the one that protects your money. For a small official fee it reveals:
- Money owing — whether a lender holds a security interest. If you buy a car with finance owing, the lender can repossess it even after you have paid the seller.
- Write-off and stolen status via the national registers.
- The details you need to buy with confidence.
Because it carries real legal and financial weight, an official PPSR certificate is a paid product — anyone claiming a “free official PPSR” is not giving you the genuine article.
PPSR vs REVS vs rego check — what is the difference?
“REVS check” is the old name people still use — REVS was replaced by the national PPSR in 2012, so a REVS check today means a PPSR check. A rego check is the free state lookup. In plain English: rego check equals free basics; PPSR is the paid check that shows money owing, write-off and stolen status.
The safe way to check a used car
Do the free rego check first to confirm the basics match the seller’s story, then run a PPSR check before you pay — it is cheap insurance against buying someone else’s debt. Pair it with a pre-purchase inspection so you have covered both the paperwork and the mechanical condition. You can start with our car history check guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is a free car history check reliable?
For registration basics, yes — but free checks generally do not show finance owing, write-off or stolen status. For those, you need a PPSR check.
Is a PPSR check free?
No. It is an official government check with a small fee (about $2). Be wary of any site claiming a free official PPSR report.
What is the difference between a REVS check and a PPSR check?
They are effectively the same thing — REVS was replaced by the national PPSR in 2012.
What happens if I skip the PPSR check?
You risk buying a car with money owing (which a lender can repossess), or one that has been written off or stolen. It is the single most important check before you pay.
Buy with confidence
Not sure what a car’s history is telling you? Car Buyers Assist helps you check, inspect and buy safely — or get help buying the right car.
Written and reviewed by the Finance Director at Car Buyers Assist.
This article is general information only and is intended to help used-car buyers. It does not constitute legal, financial or credit advice. Always run your own checks and seek professional advice where appropriate.