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Why do a PPSR ordinal search?
When a PPSR registration is created, updated or expires, the PPSR creates a record of this called a registration event. If you need check the order that two PPSR registration events happened, you can do an ordinal search.
For example, if you find two different security interest registrations for the same car, you might need to know which registration was created first to establish which the registration has priority.
Depending on the search criteria you choose, an ordinal search will give you information to help you understand:
- which registration was created first
- if one registration was created before the other one expired
- if one registration was changed before the other one expired
- if one registration was changed before the other one was changed.
Note: You cannot use an ordinal search to compare two registration end times. You can only compare a registration end time with a registration start or change time.
The two registrations you are comparing don't need to have the same collateral (such as car, boat, etc).
What a PPSR ordinal search costs
A search can be done two ways:
- Online self-service: $2.00
- Assisted phone service: $7.00
You can pay using a credit card or debit card.
What you need to do an ordinal search
To do an ordinal search you’ll need:
- a credit or debit card
- the PPSR registration numbers for the two registrations you want to compare.
- if you are comparing a registration change, you will need the change number that relates to that change. You can get this by first doing a PPSR registration number search and looking at the registration history.
Note: a PPSR registration number isn’t the same as a vehicle registration number (the number plate). To find out more about motor vehicle searches, see Do a used car search.
How to do an ordinal search
You don't have to have a PPSR account to do an ordinal search. However, if you do have one you can log into your account before you start.
To do a PPSR ordinal search, go to the PPSR ordinal search page, then follow the instructions for the type of ordinal search you'd like to do:
- Enter one PPSR registration number in Registration event 1
- In Event type 1 select Start time.
- Enter the other PPSR registration number in Registration event 2.
- In Event type 2 select Start time.
- Continue on to Payment & results.
- Enter one PPSR registration number in Registration event 1.
- In Event type 1 select Start time.
- Enter the other PPSR registration number in Registration event 2.
- In Event type 2 select End time.
- Continue on to Payment & results.
- Enter one PPSR registration number in Registration event 1.
- In Event type 1 select Change number.
- Enter the other PPSR registration number in Registration event 2.
- In Event type 2 select End time.
- This will take you to a Change number screen. In Registration event 1 select the change number from the drop down list.
- Continue on to Payment & results.
- Enter one PPSR registration number in Registration event 1. Select Change number
- Enter the other PPSR registration number in Registration event 2. Select Change number.
- This will take you to a Change number screen. Select the change number from the drop down list for both Registration event 1 and 2.
- Continue on to Payment & results.
- If you'd like to include a reference number for your own records, enter this in the Client billing reference field.
- Review your search criteria and if it's correct select Next.
- Enter your payment details. You can pay by credit or debit card.
- Enter your email address to be sent the tax invoice. Select Next.
- You'll now see a Search result summary. Select View certificate to download and open your search certificate and find your detailed search results. You can also select Email certificate to have the search results emailed to you.
- Save your search certificate somewhere safe. This is your legal record of your search.
Your search results
When you’ve done your search, you’ll get a PPSR search certificate. This will show you all the security interests registered on the PPSR against the serial number you’ve searched for. The PPSR search certificate is a legal record.
The certificate can be emailed to you or viewed on screen and saved as a PDF. You can get a copy of your search certificate at a later date at no additional cost.