API Reference - PPSR Searches

PPSR Searches

How It Works

1. Submit the search - POST the payload to /api/v2/ppsr/searches with the identifier you want to search (ABN, ACN, VIN, etc.). Your account is charged immediately for card-billed accounts. You receive a requestId in response.
2. BAPI queries PPSR - The search is submitted to the PPSR government register asynchronously. Most searches complete within a few seconds.
3. Poll for status - Use the status endpoint (GET /api/v2/ppsr/searches/{requestId}) to check progress. The status field moves from new → processing → completed or failed.
4. Retrieve results - When status is completed, the status response includes the full search results: entity details, PPSR registrations, NEVDIS vehicle data (for VIN searches), and a certificates array with one entry per registration (or one entry for searches that returned no registrations).
5. Download certificates - For each entry in the certificates array, use GET /api/v2/ppsr/searches/{requestId}/certificates/{certificateNumber} to download the government-issued PDF. Each certificate status moves independently from processing to completed. All certificates for a search are included in the single search fee - no per-certificate charge.

Search Request

A POST request creates a new PPSR search. The search type is determined by which identifier field is present in the payload - only one search type per request.

// Search by ABN
{ "abn": "51824753556" }

// Search by ACN
{ "acn": "630430429" }

// Search by ARBN (Australian Registered Body Number)
{ "arbn": "123456789" }

// Search by ARSN (Australian Registered Scheme Number)
{ "arsn": "123456789" }

// Search by VIN (Vehicle Identification Number)
{ "vin": "ZAM57YTA0T0000042" }

// Search by serial number (non-VIN: ChassisNumber, HIN, or OfficialNumber)
{ "serialNumber": "ABC123456", "serialNumberType": "ChassisNumber" }

// Search by PPSR registration number
{ "registrationNumber": "201905030000278" }

// Search by individual name (requires authorised purpose declaration under PPS Act s.172)
{
    "familyName": "Smith",
    "givenNames": "John",
    "dateOfBirth": "1990-01-01",
    "authorisedPurpose": true
}

// Search by organisation name
{ "organisationName": "Acme Pty Ltd" }

// Note: certificates are automatically included with all search types except registrationNumber

Create Response

{
    "requestId": 5001,
    "status": "new"
}

Poll GET /api/v2/ppsr/searches/{requestId} until status is completed or failed.

Status Request & Response

A GET request returns the current status and, once completed, the full search results.

{
    "requestId": 5001,
    "status": "completed",
    "data": {
        "entity": {
            "name": "2026 MASERATI GHIBLI",
            "abn": null,
            "acn": null,
            "type": null,
            "status": null,
            "address": null
        },
        "search": {
            "type": "vin",
            "number": "ZAM57YTA0T0000042",
            "ppsrSearchNumber": "249637081954",
            "resultCount": 1,
            "resultSummary": null,
            "searchedAt": "2026-03-27T22:54:56+10:00"
        },
        "registrations": [
            {
                "registrationNumber": "202601150000042",
                "changeNumber": "1",
                "registrationStart": "2026-01-15T00:00:00+10:00",
                "registrationEnd": "2033-01-15T00:00:00+10:00",
                "collateralType": "motor vehicle",
                "collateralClass": "MV",
                "collateralDescription": null,
                "serialNumber": "ZAM57YTA0T0000042",
                "serialNumberType": "VIN",
                "grantorName": "JANE CITIZEN",
                "grantorNumber": null,
                "securedPartyName": "ACME FINANCE PTY LTD",
                "spgNumber": "100042",
                "isPmsi": false,
                "registrationKind": "standard"
            }
        ],
        "nevdisData": {
            "verificationStatus": "Found",
            "vehicles": [
                {
                    "vin": "ZAM57YTA0T0000042",
                    "make": "MASERATI",
                    "model": "GHIBLI",
                    "year": "2026",
                    "colour": "RED",
                    "bodyType": "SEDAN",
                    "engineNumber": "M15700001",
                    "registrationPlate": "BAPI42",
                    "registrationExpiry": "15 Jan 2027",
                    "stolen": null,
                    "writtenOff": null,
                    "safetyRecalls": null
                }
            ]
        },
        "certificates": [
            {
                "certificateNumber": "2496370819540001",
                "registrationNumber": "202601150000042",
                "status": "completed",
                "downloadUrl": "/api/v2/ppsr/searches/5001/certificates/2496370819540001"
            }
        ]
    }
}

The registrations array contains all active PPSR registrations found. The nevdisData field is only populated for VIN/serial number searches. The certificates array is present for all search types except registrationNumber - it contains one entry per registration, or a single "no-registrations" certificate if the search returned no matches. Each certificate has its own status which moves independently from processing to completed.

Certificate Download

Use this endpoint to download a government-issued PDF certificate by its certificateNumber. Each certificate returned in the search status can be downloaded independently. All certificates for a search are included in the single search fee - there is no per-certificate charge. Not available for registrationNumber searches.

Returns the PDF file directly with Content-Type: application/pdf. Returns 202 Accepted with status JSON if the certificate is still being generated. Use the downloadUrl from the status response.

Search Types

The search type is automatically determined by which identifier field is present in the request. Each search is $6.00 and includes both raw data and a government-issued certificate at no extra charge (except registration number lookups).

Use vin for Vehicle Identification Numbers (ISO 3779 validated). For other serial number types use serialNumber with a required serialNumberType of ChassisNumber, HIN, or OfficialNumber.

Validation Rules

acn - string, exactly 9 digits

Australian Company Number. Must pass ACN checksum validation.
Mandatory: YES (if searching by ACN)

abn - string, exactly 11 digits

Australian Business Number. Must pass ABN checksum validation.
Mandatory: YES (if searching by ABN)

arbn - string, exactly 9 digits

Australian Registered Body Number. Must pass ACN checksum validation.
Mandatory: YES (if searching by ARBN)

arsn - string, exactly 9 digits

Australian Registered Scheme Number. Must pass ACN checksum validation.
Mandatory: YES (if searching by ARSN)

vin - string, max 17 characters

Vehicle Identification Number. Must conform to ISO 3779 format.
Mandatory: YES (if searching by VIN)

serialNumber - string, alphanumeric + hyphens, max 17 characters

Non-VIN serial number (chassis number, HIN, or official number). Use vin instead for VIN searches.
Mandatory: YES (if searching by non-VIN serial number)

serialNumberType - string

Type of serial number. One of: ChassisNumber, HIN, OfficialNumber. Required when serialNumber is present.
Mandatory: YES (when using serialNumber)

registrationNumber - string, digits only, max 20 characters

PPSR registration number to look up directly.
Mandatory: YES (if searching by registration number)

familyName - string, max 255 characters

Grantor's family name (surname).
Mandatory: YES (if searching by individual)

givenNames - string, max 255 characters

Grantor's given names.
Mandatory: YES (if searching by individual)

dateOfBirth - string, format YYYY-MM-DD (e.g. 1990-01-15)

Grantor's date of birth. Must be in ISO 8601 date format.
Mandatory: YES (if searching by individual)

authorisedPurpose - boolean true

Declaration under PPS Act s.172 that the search is being conducted for an authorised purpose. Must be true.
Mandatory: YES (if searching by individual)

organisationName - string, max 255 characters

Organisation name to search for as grantor.
Mandatory: YES (if searching by organisation name)