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A used car can be great value, as long as you know what you're buying.
A few checks before you hand over any money can save you from inheriting someone else's problems: money still owing, a hidden history, or an expensive repair.
Here's what to check, what you can do yourself, and when it's worth getting a professional pre-purchase inspection.
Last updated November 2026.
Money owing: search the Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) to see if there's finance registered against the car.
Stolen: check the NZ Police stolen vehicles database.
History: a vehicle history report shows past owners, odometer readings and whether the car was imported with damage.
WOF and registration: check both are current.
Test drive: drive it on different roads, and ask whether you're insured while you do.
Your own checks: look over the body, tyres, engine and fluids, ideally in daylight and dry weather.
Pre-purchase inspection: worth it for most used cars, especially private sales, where you have fewer rights.
These checks protect you from the biggest risks: buying a car with money owing on it, or one that's stolen.
Money owing: search the car on the Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR). You'll need to register, and there's a small search fee.
Stolen? Check the NZ Police stolen vehicles database.
History: a vehicle history report, available from providers such as Carjam or the AA, shows the number of owners, odometer readings, whether the car was imported and any damage history.
WOF and registration: make sure both are current. If they've expired, ask why before going any further.
If you're financing the car with us, we check it before your loan goes through, including whether there's still money owing on it.
Take someone car-savvy with you if you can. A second set of eyes and ears helps.
Drive it on different roads, including the motorway if you can (within the speed limit).
Turn the radio off and listen for odd noises when accelerating, braking and turning.
Ask the seller whether you're insured during the test drive, as you may be liable for any damage.
Before paying for a professional inspection, there's a lot you can check yourself:
View it in daylight and dry weather. It's hard to spot marks and dents on a wet car.
Check the body panels are straight and the gaps between them are even. Ripples or dents can mean previous damage.
Look for rust, or bubbles under the paint, especially around joins and the bottom of doors.
Check the tyres. The minimum legal tread depth is 1.5mm. Uneven wear can mean the wheels need aligning. Check the spare too.
Look and listen to the engine. Watch for smoke from the exhaust when idling and revving, and listen for knocking.
Check under the car for oil or coolant leaks, and look at the ground where it's usually parked.
Check the oil and coolant levels. Very low levels can be a sign the car hasn't been well looked after.
Test the shocks. Push down on each corner. The car should come straight back up without bouncing.
Ask about the cambelt. If the car has one, find out when it was last replaced. It needs replacing at the interval the manufacturer sets, and it's a costly job.
Check the service history. A record of regular servicing is a good sign.
A pre-purchase inspection is a professional check of the car's condition by a qualified inspector before you buy. It gives you an independent view of any damage, wear or mechanical problems, which you can use to decide whether to buy and to negotiate the price.
It's especially worth it for a private sale. When you buy from a dealer, you're covered by the Consumer Guarantees Act; private sales generally aren't. Inspections are offered by organisations like the AA and VTNZ, and some providers come to the car. Consumer Protection's checklist for buying a used car is also worth a look.
If you're financing the car with us, we set its value using a valuation guide, but we don't inspect it mechanically, so a pre-purchase inspection is worth getting for your own peace of mind.
Cars listed on online marketplaces can be higher risk. See the car in person, check its background (step 1), and don't pay any money until the checks are done. If something feels off, like a price that seems too good, pressure to pay quickly or a seller who won't meet, walk away.
We can help with finance for a car from a dealer or a private seller.
See our car loans, our step-by-step guide to how to buy a car in NZ, or how to finance a car.
We won't let you get in over your head: we'll go through your budget with you to make sure the repayments fit. Find out more about responsible lending.
For most used cars, yes, especially private sales, where you generally aren't covered by the Consumer Guarantees Act. An independent inspection can spot damage or mechanical problems you might miss, and give you grounds to negotiate the price or walk away.
You book an inspection with a provider such as the AA or VTNZ, and a qualified inspector checks the car's condition, including the body, engine and mechanical parts. Some providers come to the car. You get a report you can use to decide whether to buy and to negotiate the price.
You can do a lot of checks yourself: the body, rust, tyres, fluids, leaks and a test drive. But a professional inspector can spot problems that are hard to see without training or equipment, so it's worth getting one for most used cars.
It depends on the provider and the type of inspection, so check current prices with providers such as the AA, VTNZ or a mobile inspector before you book.
Check the PPSR for money owing, the NZ Police stolen vehicles database, a vehicle history report, and that the WOF and registration are current. Then test drive the car, check it over yourself, and get a pre-purchase inspection.
Yes. If you're financing a car with us, we check it before your loan goes through, including whether there's still money owing on it. We don't inspect it mechanically, so a pre-purchase inspection is still worth getting.
