Are you planning on purchasing a car in the near future? If so, follow these easy steps and use the Personal Property Securities Register to avoid making a simple but costly mistake.
The Situation
You purchase a car from Gary but he does not tell you that he owes $10,000 to the bank in relation to the car. After you pay Gary he pockets the cash and stops making repayments against his car loan. The bank then repossesses it, and you are left without your money or car.
The Solution
Before purchasing the car, you should check the Personal Property Securities Register to find out if there are any third-party interests registered on it.
How it Works
The Personal Property Securities Register is practically an inexpensive, online noticeboard where you can investigate any third-party interests registered with vehicles. If you see an interest on the Register, you know that you should only proceed with caution.
The Personal Property Securities Register can be used for all sorts of personal property, such as trucks, boats and even plant and equipment.
On the other hand, you can also use the Register to state your interest in personal property. This can alert other buyers of your interest before they attempt to purchase it (however, stating your interest alone will not be enough to repossess the property). This is particularly useful if you are selling property, and not being paid immediately for it.
If you are looking at purchasing personal property, we recommend that you take the time to check the Personal Property Securities Register. For more information about using the Register, you can check online at ppsr.gov.au, or you can speak to the solicitors at Kelly Kelly Legal.
This article was written by Daniel Sparrow.
