What is a purchase money security interest (PMSI) in consumer goods?

A purchase money security interest (PMSI) arises in situations where the secured party provides the funds necessary to purchase the subject collateral. This can arise through a loan for identified collateral or when the secured party sells and then finances the collateral for the purchaser. A PMSI is automatically perfected when the security agreement attaches to collateral that is consumer goods. Consumer goods are goods primarily for personal use by the purchaser rather than for business use or resale.

Note: Consumer goods do not include vehicles subject to a certificate of title or fixtures.

Example: I purchase a refrigerator from Appliance World for my personal use. Appliance World finances the purchase by allowing me to pay over the next 12 months. We undertake the steps necessary for the security interest to attach. Appliance world has an automatically perfected security interest in the refrigerator

An automatically-perfected PMSI in consumer goods is subject to certain exceptions. These exceptions allow subsequent purchasers of the collateral to take the collateral free of the secured party's security interest. The purchaser of the consumer goods from the seller will take free in clear if all of the following conditions are met:

No Knowledge of Security Interest - The buyer cannot know about the security interest in the collateral;

Note: This means that the security interest is not filed in an appropriate public office, the secured party is not perfected by possession, and the purchaser has not been given notice of the security interest.

Provide Value - The buyer must provide value for the goods;

Note: This means that the debtor cannot give me the goods as a gift. If I do not provide value (money or goods) in exchange for the goods, the goods are still subject to the secured party's security interests.

Personal Use - Must primarily use the goods for personal, family, household purposes.

Note: So, the seller-debtor must have originally purchased the goods for personal use and the subsequent purchaser must use the goods for personal use. If either party purchases the goods for business use it will destroy the exemption.

References:

• 9-103
• UCC 9-309(1)
• 9-320(b)

Related Topics

• Secured Transactions Law (Intro)
• What is a Security Interest?
• Collateral 
• Pledge as Collateral
• Collateralize
• Cross Collateralization
• After-Acquired Collateral
• Unsecured Loan Definition
  
• Unencumbered Asset
• What is a Secured Creditor?
• Unsecured Creditor
• What are the benefits of security interests for creditors?
• Limited Recourse Debt
• Uniform Commercial Code - Article 9
  
• What are the common types of security interest in real property (land)?
• What is a mortgage?
• How does a security interest protect the mortgage holder?
• Lis Pendens
• Deficiency Judgment
• What is a Deed of Trust or Security Deed?
• What is a Land Sale Contract?
• What is a security interest in personal property?
• How does one establish a security interest in personal property?
• What is Perfection of a security interest?
• What are the methods of perfecting a security interest in personal property?
• UCC-1 Statement
• How does one establish a security interest in real property (land)?
• Register of Deeds
• What is Automatic Perfection of a security interest?
• What is a Purchase Money Security Interest (PMSI) in consumer goods?
• What is a Purchase Money Grace Period for a PMSI in non-consumer goods?
• How does one continue perfection of a PMSI in non-consumer goods?
• What is Temporary Automatic Perfection in Proceeds from the sale of goods?
• How is a security interest created in Assignment of Accounts Receivable and Contract Rights?
• How does one perfect a security interest by Possession of the collateral?
• How does on perfect a security interest by Control of collateral?
• How does one perfect a security interest by Filing a Financing Statement?
• What authorization is required to file a financing statement?
• Where is the appropriate office to file a financing statement?
• Defeasance
• Continuation Statement
• What is Priority of a security interest?
• What role does perfection play in establishing the Priority of a secured party?
• What are the common conflicts arising as to priority of a security interest?
• What is the priority of parties secured by common law and statutory liens?
• Lien - Definition
• Blanket Lien Definition
• Unperfected Lien
• Possessory Lien 
• Non-Possessory Lien 
• Tax Lien
• Mechanics Lien Definition
• Construction Lien
• Cloud on Title
• What is the priority of a buyer of collateral that is subject to a security interest?
• What is required to be a buyer in the ordinary course of business?
• How does 9-320(b) protect consumers who purchase goods from other consumers?
• What is the Shelter Principle?
• What are the general Priority Rules for Conflicting security interests?
• Subordination Agreement
• Who has Priority in Proceeds from the sale of collateral?
• What is a secured party's priority in future advances to a debtor?
• What is the priority of a PMSI in goods (other than inventory and livestock)?
• What is the priority of a PMSI in inventory?
• What is the priority of conflicting PMSIs?
• What is the priority of security interests in fixtures?
• What is the scope of fixture priority rules?