Used car prices in NZ

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LittleGreyCat

153 posts

Master Geek

#353722 20-Jul-2010 04:23

Not so different from the UK.

WOF = Ministry Of Transport (MOT) test (valid for 12 months)
Vehicle Licence=Road Tax or Road Fund Licence (6 or 12 months)
Registration = Registration (which includes a registration document as proof of ownership).

When buying a car in the UK you would expect 12 months MOT from a dealer, and 12 months from a private sale or a big discount.
IIRC the MOT costs around £70.
No way would you buy something which hadn't been checked recently for minimum roadworthiness - 6 months MOT minimum.

Change of ownership does not cost anything - then again the Road Tax (which doesn't go to pay for the roads) provides more than enough revenue to cover this.

Thanks again for all the useful info.

Cheers

LGC

sleemanj

1490 posts

Uber Geek

#353774 20-Jul-2010 09:39

One important fact, in NZ, Registration (or Licencing) is not proof of ownership (even though it's often called "changing ownership"!). There is no real proof of ownership other than a receipt you get from your seller if you remember to get them to sign one. So remember to get them to sign one, just a simple "Received the sum of $XXXX from [ you ] on [date] as full and final payment for [vehicle description with VIN etc]" with address details of the vendor, signed by you both.

Also as has already been mentioned, wise to check to see if there is money owing on the vehicle, if there is, I wouldn't bother, plenty more less complicated fish in the sea.

---
James Sleeman
I sell lots of stuff for electronic enthusiasts...

martyyn

1971 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#353847 20-Jul-2010 12:04

LGC,

I came to NZ six years ago from the UK and have bought and sold cars a plenty in both countries. Ive also helped a couple of friends do exactly what you want to do now.

Flick me a PM and Ill be more than happy to help answer any remaining questions you may have.

Cheers

dman

953 posts

Ultimate Geek

#354139 20-Jul-2010 19:39

LittleGreyCat: Thanks for all the information - very useful.

My biggest question now is where to start - Auckland or Christchurch.
Looking online yesterday and today there seems to be more car choice in Auckland and more wagons under $5,000.

We have to make our minds up in the next couple of weeks so we can buy our air tickets.

Cheers

LGC

I would strongly recommend starting in ChCh, as I know plenty of travelers and the general flow more often than not is from Auckland to ChCh. It has been mentioned before cars (in that specific price zone which backpackers/travelers are interested in) is cheaper somewhat than in Auckland.

https://www.youtube.com/c/SoundSpeeding

dman

953 posts

Ultimate Geek

#354142 20-Jul-2010 19:42

oh yeah, and as soon as you land in Christchurch ask the people who work at the backpackers where is the local backpacker car fairs, then you can buy it privately direct from somebody else who is flying out. There most probably is one within the next week of when you land. They are frequent up here in Auckland, just you tend to have to ask around at the Hostel or check out their noticeboards to find them.

https://www.youtube.com/c/SoundSpeeding

LittleGreyCat

153 posts

Master Geek

#354194 20-Jul-2010 21:26

Thanks again everyone :-)
Interesting that nobody has championed Auckland.

On the subject of selling at the end of the trip.
In the UK I would probably put the car through a local auction (or eBay) - you take a hit on the price but you are pretty sure it will sell.
Nobody has suggested this for NZ.

Is this a bad strategy?

Cheers

LGC

Oh, and as we arriving at the start of the season, will there be many people going back (when winter is about to start in Europe)?

sleemanj

1490 posts

Uber Geek

#354197 20-Jul-2010 21:31

LittleGreyCat:
In the UK I would probably put the car through a local auction (or eBay) - you take a hit on the price but you are pretty sure it will sell.

If you are prepared to take a possible hit, sell it on TradeMe with a dollar reserve, it USUALLY winds up at about the market value (or more) but...

---
James Sleeman
I sell lots of stuff for electronic enthusiasts...

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BlakJak

1275 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#354198 20-Jul-2010 21:31

Trademe (local equivalent of ebay) or te.co.nz are going to be the best ways of selling your car on when youre done - pretty much the same rules that apply to buying will apply to selling.

Car shopping in Auckland will give you a bigger market to pull from, but it is more geographically dispersed and if you have no intention to spend any time up there I wouldnt make a trip there just for that reason.

/Aucklander :)

No signature to see here, move along...

LittleGreyCat

153 posts

Master Geek

#354300 21-Jul-2010 03:20

BlakJak: <snip>
Car shopping in Auckland will give you a bigger market to pull from, but it is more geographically dispersed and if you have no intention to spend any time up there I wouldnt make a trip there just for that reason.

/Aucklander :)

We are going to do both islands (I especially love the Bay of Islands) so it is just a case of which island we do first, North or South.

We will either fly into Auckland and out of Christchurch or vice versa.

The plan is to fly in, stay in an hotel for a few days and hire a car.

We will then shop for a car and caravan/tent to see us through the rest of the trip.

As we are arriving in mid October the North will probably be a bit warmer, but the main aim is to go to the best place to equip ourselves for the four month stay.

Cheers

LGC

LittleGreyCat

153 posts

Master Geek

#354301 21-Jul-2010 03:54

Looking at
<http://realwholesalecars.co.nz/vehicles.asp?manufacturer=4&model=&year_from=&year_to=&price_from=&price_to=&page=1&Action=Search>
there seem to be some reasonably priced cars.

Now I've learned to look in the $3k-$4k range.

Anyone know anything about this particular dealer?

Also, are large engine cars (3 litre+) difficult to sell?

Cheers

LGC

Batman

Mad Scientist
29766 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#354308 21-Jul-2010 07:18

i'd do this:
try www.trademe.co.nz
then turners auction (www.turners.co.nz)
heard of addington car fair but no experience with it

lots of dodgy cars on their final breath but also lots of good bargains! good luck

BlakJak

1275 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#354398 21-Jul-2010 10:42

LittleGreyCat:
BlakJak:
Car shopping in Auckland will give you a bigger market to pull from, but it is more geographically dispersed and if you have no intention to spend any time up there I wouldnt make a trip there just for that reason.

/Aucklander :)

We are going to do both islands (I especially love the Bay of Islands) so it is just a case of which island we do first, North or South.

We will either fly into Auckland and out of Christchurch or vice versa.

The plan is to fly in, stay in an hotel for a few days and hire a car.

We will then shop for a car and caravan/tent to see us through the rest of the trip.

As we are arriving in mid October the North will probably be a bit warmer, but the main aim is to go to the best place to equip ourselves for the four month stay.

Cheers

LGC

Auckland may work out quite well for you then. There's a massive car fair in Ellerslie on Sundays http://www.carfair.co.nz/ which i've had success with in the past, both as buyer and seller. There's also been one in Manukau in the past though I don't know if it still operates. Ellerslie recommended.
There's also an outfit called 'U-Sell' - http://www.autobase.co.nz/dealers/DealerVehicleList.aspx?dealerid=2343&type=all - on Aucklands North Shore which provides a 'car yard' style place for folks to conduct private sales, seen some good affordable wheels there as well.

No signature to see here, move along...

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