How to check if a car has a lien in Canada
About to pay for a used car? Search the VIN first. Pick the province it is registered in.
A lien means the seller borrowed money against the car and hasn't paid it back. If you buy a car with an undisclosed lien, the lender can legally repossess it from you, even though you paid in good faith. Every province and territory keeps a personal property registry you can search by VIN for a small fee; each page below names the registry, links to it, and states the fee as verified on the date shown.
Search it yourself
Our lien search service is paused while we confirm the rules with each registry. You can search any registry yourself using the links below.
- Ontario: search it yourself at Ontario PPSA Search · $8.00
- British Columbia: search it yourself at BC Personal Property Registry Search · $7.00
- Saskatchewan: search it yourself at Saskatchewan ISC PPSA Search · $11.00
- Manitoba: search it yourself at Manitoba PPR Search · $13.00
- Nova Scotia: search it yourself at Nova Scotia PPSA Search · $8.75
- New Brunswick: search it yourself at New Brunswick PPSA Search · $10.00
- Prince Edward Island: search it yourself at PEI PPSA Search · $10.00
- Newfoundland & Labrador: search it yourself at NL PPSA Search · $10.00
- Alberta: search it yourself at Alberta PPSA Search · $10.00
- Yukon: search it yourself at ACOL Personal Property Registry · $10.00
- Northwest Territories: search it yourself at ACOL Personal Property Registry · $10.00
- Nunavut: search it yourself at ACOL Personal Property Registry · $7.00
Quebec uses the RDPRM rather than a PPSA registry, and paid orders are not sold in Quebec yet; the free Quebec buyer's guide links to it.
Common Questions
What is a vehicle lien search?
A search of the personal property registry in the province where the vehicle is registered, by VIN. It lists any registered security interest against the vehicle: the secured party, the registration date, the expiry and the collateral, as the registry holds them.
Which province do I search in?
The province where the vehicle is registered. If it moved provinces, search the previous province too. Quebec uses the RDPRM rather than a PPSA registry, same idea, different system.
Does a lien search include the vehicle history?
No. Accident history, odometer readings and service records are a vehicle history report, which is a separate product. A vehicle history report is a separate purchase from CARFAX Canada; this order does not include one.
Buying privately? The full guide, by province
Facts checked September 2026 · Sources: the provincial and territorial personal property registries, fees verified 2026-09-16.
Guidepost is not a law firm. This is general information, not legal advice. Full disclaimer.