Buying a car or a van in New Zealand

On the Internet

The Internet is full of ads for used cars. Check out auction sites like Trade Me or Facebook’s Market Place.

But beware of scams. If the owner is not in the country and offers you a money transfer via Western Union, beware, it sounds like a scam. Transfers by bank transfer are a little safer because they leave a trace. For more information on this subject, see our guide Avoid scams abroad.

Here is an initial list that should enable you to find a large number of offers:

• Trade me
• Turners Cars
• Backpacker Cars

These sites can also give you an idea of prices (particularly by looking at “buy now” prices).

In the newspapers

Take a look at the classified sections of newspapers. For example, if you’re in Auckland, don’t hesitate to buy the New Zealand Herald on Saturdays, where you’ll find lots of classified ads.

In backpackers (hostels)

Wherever you find backpackers, you should find ads for vehicles. Don’t forget to look at the signs in nearby youth hostels or cybercafés. These boards are often full of ads where you might find what you’re looking for. You’ll also find quite a few ads placed directly on the windscreens of vehicles for sale.

At weekly car fairs

In major cities such as Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington, you can visit a “car fair” where used cars are put up for sale once a week. These car fairs often offer on-site mechanical inspections. Generally, you come and see the cars and are in direct contact with the owner. If you decide to buy a vehicle, you usually complete the purchase on the same day and during the week that follows. Don’t forget to come early, even before the opening!

Auckland

• On Sundays: Auckland City Car Fair. Located at 70 The Strand on Auckland Central, it’s open from 8am to 1pm. Get there early.

Christchurch

• A car fair used to exist, but this no longer seems to be the case.

Wellington

• A car fair used to exist, but this no longer seems to be the case.

Car Markets

These car markets are open all week or almost all day. So you can come and see the vehicles whenever you like. They also offer mechanical inspections (often carried out by a neighbouring garage) and even offer to take care of your change of ownership formalities. You can also do it yourself, and for less.

These car markets emphasise the safety aspect of buying cars and, as with other car fairs, negotiations are usually conducted directly between the seller and the potential buyer of the vehicle. However, vehicles at these car markets are often sold at a higher price than elsewhere, and are not in any better condition than vehicles sold on the Internet or elsewhere.

Opinions are often very divided on this type of business. A car market does not really guarantee that the condition of the vehicle is beyond reproach, as is the case elsewhere. If you buy a vehicle from them, act in the same way as if you were buying it from a private individual. What’s more, it doesn’t always appear that vehicles are sold directly between backpackers.

Christchurch

• Backpackercars.com, 196 Yaldhurst Rd, Avonhead, Christchurch, 5 minutes from the international airport. Open from 10 am to 5 pm, Monday to Saturday.
• Backpackers car market (linked to the Auckland car market), located at 33 Battersea Street, Christchurch open from 9 h 30 am to 5 pm.

Wellington

• Turners Auction: located at 120 Hutt Park Road, open from Monday to Saturday, you can buy cars at auction there.

Note that for all car fairs (whether they run weekly or daily), with the exception of Turners Auction, car sellers have to pay a flat fee of between $20 and $50 a day to display their vehicle. If you’re selling your car, you’ll probably have to take this fee into account.