Common Questions - Personal Property Registry

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1. Can I mail my documents to the Personal Property Registry for registration and/or a search?

No, documents must be sent to an Alberta registry agent or if you have access to Registries On-line, you may perform some registrations (if accredited to do so) or searches directly.

2. Can I do a search in Alberta for an interest that was registered in another province?

No, a search must be performed in the province where the interest is registered.

3. Do you have contact information for other registry offices in Canada?

Yes, they are as follows:

4. How can I tell what the registration date is of a registered document?

Consider the following example - registration number 99081203457:
  • The first two digits are the year - 99 (1999)
  • The third and fourth digits are the month - 08 (August)
  • The fifth and sixth digits are the day of the month - 12

The full 11 digits together constitute a registration number.  Each registration number is unique and is not duplicated.  Each and every document is assigned a new number reflecting the date.

5. How do you enter the debtor name for the estate of a deceased person?

On a registration, select "Business" and then record the first name, middle name and last name of the deceased followed by the word 'Estate'.

6. Is there a fee for a total discharge?

There is no government fee for a total discharge.

7. Why does the garage keeper have to file the lien within 21 days from the date of the release of the vehicle?

The Garage Keepers' Lien Act specifies 21 days.

8. A garage keeper has failed to register his interest within 21 days from the date he released the vehicle. What can he do now?

The garage keeper may make application to the Civil Division of the Provincial Court to file a civil claim by contacting the Clerk of the Court.

9. What can a garage keeper do if he does not have a Court Order to extend the time of the lien and the registration expires tomorrow?

The garage keeper may make application to the Civil Division of the Provincial Court to file a civil claim by contacting the Clerk of the Court.

10. Why can't a farm vehicle be registered as the serial number collateral for all types of registration?

A farm vehicle (category code FV) is defined only in the Garage Keepers' Lien Act.  Because of this, a FV is only recognized when registering a Garage Keepers' Lien.

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