Car Re-registration - Likely Causes

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kiwiharry

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#233712 29-Apr-2018 11:29

Hi.

I saw a car yesterday that I was interested in buying. Asking price was really sharp, about $4k-$6k lower than equivalent cars at other dealers.

Car is NZ New, first registered in Nov 2014, but noticed licence plate was a recently issued one. That didn't seem unusual too me as figured it could have been a personalised plate on it before. Checked it on CarJam when I got home and the plate history raised a red flag with me.

For some reason 4 days after the car was first registered in 2014, it was re-registered with another standard NZ plate. As above, it has again be re-registered about 10 days ago.

When inspecting the car, I did ask if the vehicle has been in an accident or had any repairs done. Was told minor repair and repaint of the front bumper.

I'm actually now wondering if the car was written off and repaired hence the low price and recent re-registration.

If car was written off, should the full reports from CarJam or MotorWeb show if it was actually de-registered? CarJam is only showing re-registered dates.

Or are there other reasons why a car may be re-registered? WOF checks was done in Nov 2017 and again this month.

If you can't laugh at yourself then you probably shouldn't laugh at others.

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#2004471 29-Apr-2018 11:32

I know someone who gets new plates on any car they get because they dont want the reputation of the old owners to be a problem. Could be as simple as the person didnt like the numbers on it?

Also are you sure it was another standard plate and not a personalizes one which just fit the format?

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Linux

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#2004475 29-Apr-2018 11:36

I looked at a silver Mazda3 NZ new out South about 3 weeks back and similar thing, Decided to avoid it like the plague

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Andib

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#2004477 29-Apr-2018 11:37

As it's NZ new the carjam report should if it's a repaired write-off. A good way of finding if it's been written off is googling its VIN. You'll often find the turners auction for when it's been sold by the insurance company.

If the registration is the only concern you have about the car I would just buy the report and take a look. Compared to the price of the car, the report will cost you next to nothing and give you piece of mind in knowing (as much as publicly is available) its history.

kiwiharry

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#2004481 29-Apr-2018 11:48

richms:

I know someone who gets new plates on any car they get because they dont want the reputation of the old owners to be a problem. Could be as simple as the person didnt like the numbers on it?

Also are you sure it was another standard plate and not a personalizes one which just fit the format?

The sequence fits the standard plate range. Original plate was HTKxxx and the new plate 4 days later was HTLxxx

The new plate is now LJAxx and was registered the same day the dealer registered ownership of the car.

If you can't laugh at yourself then you probably shouldn't laugh at others.

kiwiharry

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#2004486 29-Apr-2018 12:00

Andib:

As it's NZ new the carjam report should if it's a repaired write-off. A good way of finding if it's been written off is googling its VIN. You'll often find the turners auction for when it's been sold by the insurance company.

If the registration is the only concern you have about the car I would just buy the report and take a look. Compared to the price of the car, the report will cost you next to nothing and give you piece of mind in knowing (as much as publicly is available) its history.

No hits on the VIN.

CarJam report highlights recent plate change, but other than that doesn't indicate anything else of any major concern.

If you can't laugh at yourself then you probably shouldn't laugh at others.

RunningMan

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#2004493 29-Apr-2018 12:18

Has it actually been re-registered, or has it just had several different plates?

Re-registered implies the registration has been cancelled at some stage due to being written off, or the registration lapsing.

New plates is just new plates.

Peppery

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#2004494 29-Apr-2018 12:22

kiwiharry:
richms:

I know someone who gets new plates on any car they get because they dont want the reputation of the old owners to be a problem. Could be as simple as the person didnt like the numbers on it?

Also are you sure it was another standard plate and not a personalizes one which just fit the format?

The sequence fits the standard plate range. Original plate was HTKxxx and the new plate 4 days later was HTLxxx

The new plate is now LJAxx and was registered the same day the dealer registered ownership of the car.

Not always a good indicator - my plates are the government issued ones but they’re “personalised” since I had them done in the eurostyle.

pillmonsta

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#2004496 29-Apr-2018 12:23

Linux:

I looked at a silver Mazda3 NZ new out South about 3 weeks back and similar thing, Decided to avoid it like the plague

Linux

Same here when I was looking for another BMW. The 540 on TM with my name on it turned out to be stolen. lol

Guess it had someone else name.

kiwiharry

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#2004508 29-Apr-2018 12:40

Peppery:

Not always a good indicator - my plates are the government issued ones but they’re “personalised” since I had them done in the eurostyle.

Thanks.

That's why people like me come here to draw on others knowledge, experience and advice.

I'll look to get the car inspected in the next day or two.

Cheers

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pillmonsta

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#2004512 29-Apr-2018 12:48

Have you called VTNZ? A repaired writeoff has to be VTNZ certified before going back on the road, there may be a record.

*not VTNZ - NZTA, but here is a list of NZTA certified repairers.

https://nzta.govt.nz/assets/resources/specialist-repair-certifiers/docs/specialist-repair-certifiers.pdf

kiwiharry

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#2004516 29-Apr-2018 12:50

RunningMan:

Has it actually been re-registered, or has it just had several different plates?

Re-registered implies the registration has been cancelled at some stage due to being written off, or the registration lapsing.

New plates is just new plates.

I wouldn't think it was registration lapsing as last WOF check was done in Nov 2017 under the previous plate.

CarJam states Re-registered.

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pillmonsta

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#2004519 29-Apr-2018 12:54

It's an import. That's prob why it got new plates in 2014, just off the boat, maybe dealer plates? Importing a car from New Zealand into New Zealand is unusual though O_o

kiwiharry

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#2004520 29-Apr-2018 12:54

pillmonsta:

Have you called VTNZ? A repaired writeoff has to be VTNZ certified before going back on the road, there may be a record.

*not VTNZ - NZTA, but here is a list of NZTA certified repairers.

https://nzta.govt.nz/assets/resources/specialist-repair-certifiers/docs/specialist-repair-certifiers.pdf

No haven't called VTNZ. I'll ask the dealer tomorrow why a new plate was issued when they acquired it.

If you can't laugh at yourself then you probably shouldn't laugh at others.

pillmonsta

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#2004522 29-Apr-2018 12:58

kiwiharry:

pillmonsta:

Have you called VTNZ? A repaired writeoff has to be VTNZ certified before going back on the road, there may be a record.

*not VTNZ - NZTA, but here is a list of NZTA certified repairers.

https://nzta.govt.nz/assets/resources/specialist-repair-certifiers/docs/specialist-repair-certifiers.pdf

No haven't called VTNZ. I'll ask the dealer tomorrow why a new plate was issued when they acquired it.

Do you trust the dealer to be straight up?

kiwiharry

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#2004523 29-Apr-2018 13:01

pillmonsta:

It's an import. That's prob why it got new plates in 2014, just off the boat, maybe dealer plates? Importing a car from New Zealand into New Zealand is unusual though O_o

Yeah, unsure if that Import record is correct. Original WOF shows it was issued when car had done 5KM.

This is the odometer reading for my own car on CarJam.

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