New Zealand Cars

New Zealand has one of the highest rates of car ownership in the world, and good quality cars are very reasonably priced. Most cars in New Zealand are second hand Japanese cars, and most New Zealanders purchase used in preference to new cars.

• New Zealand Car Prices  
• New Zealand Car Websites and Pre-Purchase Checks
• New Zealand Car Jargon
• New Zealand Petrol Prices
• WOF and Regsitration
• New Zealand Car Insurance

New Zealand Car Prices

A highly spec'd' Japanese 2 litre saloon of under 5 years and less than 80,000 kms can be purchased for around $15,000. Japanese cars are very popular in New Zealand, with a number of dealers importing 2-3 year-old cars direct from Japan. Due to problems in the past with odometer clocking, cars that have been patched up after accidents, and old inefficient cars being imported, car import restrictions in New Zealand are getting increasingly stringent, but it is very uncommon for an imported car to come with the full service history that you often get when you buy a car in the UK.

European cars are rather pricey new here, but their values plummet once they are a couple of years old. A 10-year-old prestige European car can be purchased for as little as $10,000, and will usually be in very good condition, as the roads in New Zealand aren't salted.

A car purchased at a dealer will generally be 20%-30% more expensive than a car purchased privately.If you're buying a car through a dealer it is worth checking that they are registered.

New Zealand Car Websites and Pre-Purchase Checks

The two major car sales websites in New Zealand are Auto Trader and Trade Me Motors. If you do buy a car privately rather than through a dealer, it is well worth getting your car’s history checked with VIR (Vehicle Information Report) or CarJam - they  will tell you whether the car has been stolen or if there is money owing on it. There is also a $1 txt service that allows you to check instantly whether there is any money owing on a second-hand vehicle.

It is very common to get a used car checked out by an independent mechanic before you buy it - some dealers sort this out automatically for you, though you can usually pay and get a more thorough check. There is also an excellent (if somewhat irreverent) guide published every year detailing the pros and cons of the majority of car makes and models in New Zealand, The Dog and Lemon Guide, www.dogandlemon.com.Their 5-minute car buyers check is excellent.

New Zealand Car Jargon

If you are looking around at cars, you will notice that some of the terminology in New Zealand is different to what you are used to in the UK -

New Zealand Petrol Prices

Petrol prices in New Zealand fluctuate with the exchange rate among other things. As of April 2011 a litre of 91 octane fuel is just over $2.18, and 95-grade high octane is around $2.27. Diesel is approximately $1.67 a litre. If you use diesel fuel you will need to pay Road User Charges of about $40 per 1000km (depending on the size of your vehicle), payable in advance. Most New Zealand supermarkets offer fuel discount vouchers of 4 to 20 cents per litre. For absolutely up-to-date petrol prices throughout New Zealand (they do vary a bit by region, especially in remote areas), see PriceWatch.

WOF and Registration

You will need to get a Warrant of Fitness every 12 months for a new car in New Zealand, and every 6 months for an older one. This generally costs around $25 - $50. The sticker is displayed in the top-right of your windscreen.

You will also need a Vehicle Licence Certificate, which costs around $300 for 12 months for a standard car, and includes an ACC levy. This is displayed in the bottom-left of your windscreen. Change of Ownership paperwork must be completed when you buy a car - the form is on the car's Certificate of Registration.

New Zealand Car Insurance

Insurance in New Zealand is well priced. Third party insurance is not compulsory, which makes it all the more important for you to have comprehensive insurance. When you are cancelling your car insurance in the UK, make sure you get a copy of your no claims certificate; this may help you to get favourable terms with a NZ insurer. 

Please contact us if you have any questions about the financial side of life in New Zealand, and don't forget to order your free copy of our comprehensive New Zealand Guide.