Buying & Finance
Encumbrance (finance owing)
A registered security interest meaning the car is collateral for a loan.
If a vehicle is encumbered when you buy it and the seller doesn't pay out the loan, the financier can legally repossess the car from you — you get nothing back. PPSR reveals every encumbrance. Pay the financier directly (not the seller) to clear it at settlement.
Related terms
PPSR (Personal Property Securities Register)
The federal register that shows whether a vehicle has finance owing, is stolen, or has been written off.
WOVR (Written-Off Vehicles Register)
The national record of vehicles that an insurer has declared a total loss.
VIN (Vehicle Identification Number)
The 17-character unique identifier stamped into every car built after 1989.
Vehicle rebirthing
Re-VINning a stolen vehicle using identity parts from a written-off car.
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