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Buying a Car in New Zealand Diary
- Authors
- Name
- irisjustdoit
- @irisjustdoit
After living here for a while, it was probably my first time buying a car by myself. I found it to be a very interesting and unforgettable memory, so I decided to document this unprofessional car-buying diary.
Originally, the plan was to work in New Zealand for 1-2 months and then buy a car after earning some income. Unexpectedly! The transportation was really inconvenient. In the first week after arriving, my friends and I decided to buy a car together.
Since we had never bought a car before, we quickly brushed up on the necessary knowledge to check the car, and it turned out to be a very deep subject!
Used Car Information
First, there are several channels for buying a car:
- FB Marketplace
- FB Groups / Community Groups
- Ask homestay landlords or work bosses for recommendations
- Trade Me
- Used car dealerships
- Weekend car fairs
Later, the information we found was mostly from channels 1-3, and we finally purchased the car through FB Marketplace from a local Aucklander.
Checking Used Cars
Completely clueless about cars, we could only cram the necessary knowledge to check the car the night before. We looked at a total of 3 cars and wrote down some small insights.
- Always test drive; after the test drive, you will find out if the car runs smoothly and if you feel comfortable overall.
- You can check past records on CarJam.
- The most common things people pay attention to are mileage and the year of the car.
- If you don't know how to check the car, it's advisable to have a third-party mechanic inspect it. We didn't have a third-party inspection on the spot and ended up buying the car, later spending $200 on repairs. So it's recommended to arrange for a third-party inspection with the owner.
- Pay attention to the expiration dates of REGO and WOF; they need to be renewed before expiration, as failing to do so or passing inspection will incur a fine of NZD $200.
- After buying the car, remember to handle the transfer process. You just need to go to NZ Post, fill out a form, and pay to officially transfer ownership.
- Purchase third-party liability insurance; although it's not mandatory, it provides peace of mind. If you plan to drive long distances, it's advisable to get insurance.
Transfer Process
After filling out the form and paying at NZ Post, the transfer is officially successful. The buyer needs to fill out MR13B, and the seller does not need to be present.
The seller needs to fill out MR13A. If the seller is a local New Zealander or has a New Zealand driver's license, they do not need to fill out this form.
REGO & WOF
REGO is the license / road tax, usually affixed to the lower left corner of the windshield. In New Zealand, all motorcycles and cars driving on the road must pay tax. The payment duration can be freely chosen from 3 to 12 months. Generally, a small car costs about NZD $170 for 12 months. You can pay at the post office or do it online at NZTA after receiving a notification letter here.
WOF (Warrant of Fitness) NZTA website is New Zealand's vehicle inspection, with different inspection periods based on the age of the vehicle to ensure safety. After passing, a compliance sticker with the expiration date will be affixed to the upper right corner of your window.
You can have a dealership handle it or go to major companies like VTNZ or Pitstop. Since the car we bought already had an updated WOF, we didn't need to handle it. But online, the cost is about NZD $40-60, so just remember to check when it expires.
Always keep an eye on the expiration dates of WOF and REGO. If they expire or fail inspection, you will be fined NZD $200, which is quite expensive, so remember to pay attention!