Buying a car or a van in New Zealand

How much does a vehicle cost in New Zealand?

While the price of unconverted cars is fairly stable throughout the year, the price of converted cars and vans varies considerably depending on the season and the city. Many backpackers try to make a profit from reselling their vans. As a result, prices sometimes tend to rise while the real value of the van (linked to the vehicle’s year, mileage and general condition) falls considerably from road trip to road trip.

To give you a price range (in 2024), expect to pay :

• between NZ$ 1 500 and 3 500 for an unconverted car all year long,
• between NZ$ 6 000 and 9 000 for a self-contained car in summer (such as Toyota Estima, Honda Odyssey or Mazda MPV),
• between NZ$ 3 000 and 5 000 for a self-contained car in winter,
• between NZ$ 8 500 and 16 000 for a self-contained van in summer (such as Toyota Hiace or Nissan Caravan),
• between NZ$ 4 000 and 8 000 for a self-contained van in winter.

When should you buy a vehicle in New Zealand?

The best time to buy a van in New Zealand is therefore autumn or early winter. In autumn, backpackers who have already travelled all summer are thinking about returning home or settling in a city. This is the period when prices are theoretically expected to fall, as the supply of vehicles increases quite significantly. However, this means deciding to live in a van in winter (not impossible, but temperatures are dropping, especially in the South Island) or having a parking space to park your van.

Conversely, it’s best to avoid buying a van in late spring or early summer, around November/early December. Prices soar at this time of year (some people have bought vans at low prices during the autumn or winter, hoping to make a good profit later).

How to get yourself a good deal?

As you can see, choose to buy during the low season over buying during the high season. It’s best to avoid buying a van that has already been through 50 backpackers, each of whom has used it a lot. Firstly, the price will certainly not correspond to its real value. Secondly, the vehicle is likely to be in average condition, as people who only stay a few months in New Zealand often take less care of their car/van and don’t always make the necessary repairs, unlike someone who plans to keep their vehicle for several years.

You should also avoid car markets aimed at travellers, working holiday makers and backpackers. Prices there are often higher than those for cars sold by private individuals or on the Internet, even if this does have its advantages. We’ll come back to this later.

Similarly, if you can, try to get away from the cities. Prices will be lower there. Travellers often agree that it’s better to avoid buying a car in Auckland and opt for cities like Christchurch.