Buy used car in New Zealand
This is just a story how I buy used car in New Zealand which at first, I have no intention of. My plan was to just use my bike to go to work and to city or town. But then, when I arrived in New Zealand, I knew that car was kind of essential to visit all the attractions around since mostly are located far way from the main road. Of course it does, it’s nature, untouched nature. No way I could go to all those places by by cycling. Some of it, yes and I did.
After a week, I have a thought of buying a used car in New Zealand after at least 3 weeks of work so that I have some saving to use. While I just checked out used car for sale in trademe, I found a car which on an auction at NZD200. It was Mitsubishi Diamante 1995 with 2.5cc engine which will end in 28 hours. So I monitored it closely and at the same time asked Troy’s advice. I Knew that I supposed to check the car condition and ask the exact location of the car before place my bid, but according to the information given, the car was at Tauranga which is easy for me to take it later if I win.
Being a stock market trader, I am used to calculated risk. So I have my budget of NZD550 for the car and I am willing to fix any problem at most of NZD 1000. It is considered cheap for that kind of car under NZD 1500 total cost. Just half an hour before the auction end, I started to place my bids. Every bid I placed, was countered by another bidder, which I guessed put on auto bid until certain amount. I kept bidding until it reached NZD500, and just a few minutes before it ends, I placed NZD 550 as my final price. Damn, I won the auction.
I told Troy about the auction, and he said I was crazy because I did not even take a look at the car’s condition physically that I might buy a ‘lemon’. (‘lemon’ is used by kiwis to say junk, or trash). I asked his favour to go and take the car, which was at Te Puke, around another 30km away from Tauranga. When we arrived at the seller’s, we saw the car, on the surface it looked good. We filled in the form for the exchange of car ownership.
How to buy used car in New Zealand?
To buy car in New Zealand is really easy. The seller and the buyer need to fill the change of ownership form. Then both parties have to submit the form at the post shop and pay NZD 9. Easy as. Boom, the car is yours now. Insurance is not obligatory to renew car’s registration. The main pain in the ass is, Warrant of Fitness(WoF). All cars before year 2000 have to undergo WoF every 6 months, while after year 2000, once a year.
Here are the steps:
- Find out which car you are interested in.
- Compare between few channels like buying online from trademe or FB group, or offline from ads put up in supermarkets and hostels.
- Go take a look on the car and best if you take it to the nearest workshop to have it checked and assessed.
- Agree on a deal with the seller and make payment.
- Fill out change of ownership form hand it over to nearest NZ post shop and pa NZD 9.
- Car is yours now.
- Make necessary renewal of WoF and registration.
- Done.
My car’s WoF has just ended few weeks before I bought it. First thing first, I have to get it checked for WoF. I sent the car to New Zealand AA centre. After thorough inspection, they gave me a list of stuffs need to be fixed. Quite a long list. I asked for approximation cost to fix it but they could not give until Monday. I went to another workshop and handover the list, they average around NZD 400, which I accepted and have to leave the car.
It was Saturday and the next day will be my triathlon event at Tauranga, Mt Maunganui. I asked if I can get a car to use while they worked on mine, they gave me one. With that car, I used to drive to the event venue the next day.
My car was fixed when the reception from AA centre called me to give the price quotation to fix my car. Guess what? They quoted me for only NZD 250. Damn it. I was ripped off for NZD 150. In addition to the WoF inspection, I changed the battery too which cost another NZD 150 because of its big engine. The total cost of my car was NZD 1100, which is considered cheap. It turns out, I got myself a ‘mean’ car. (‘mean’ is used by kiwis to refer to excellent or good).
Does it necessary to buy used car in New Zealand
However, if you ask me whether it is necessary or not to buy car for long term travel in New Zealand? I will say, it’s up to you. I have also seen fellow travelers who don’t own a car but still manage to go to work either walking or car pooling or even cycling. My very dear french friend also traveled New Zealand with only hitchhiking for the whole 1 year. So, up to you, either way will give you a great adventure.
