The short answer
Why buying a car feels like a pain
It isn't the car. It's the process around it.
- Scrolling listings at 11pm. Thousands of cars, most of them wrong for you, and the good ones go fast.
- Driving across town for a dud. The photos were kind. The car wasn't.
- Guessing what they left out. Listings show what sellers want you to see.
- Haggling with a stranger. Nobody enjoys it, and the other side usually does it more often than you.
Each one has a fix. Some take time. Some take someone who does this every day.
How to buy a used car in NZ, step by step
- Work out what you need. Size, budget all in, how far you drive, where it sleeps at night. The fuel types guide helps here.
- Search wider than one site. Dealers, private listings and auctions all carry different stock. Some good cars never get listed publicly at all.
- Shortlist on facts, not photos. Same model, right variant, sensible kilometres, a price inside the range. The fair price guide shows how to check.
- Run the checks. Search the plate or VIN on the NZ Police stolen vehicle database. Check the PPSR for money owing. At a dealer, read the Consumer Information Notice.
- Get it inspected. An independent pre-purchase inspection, before you pay a deposit. The real cost guide covers what to look for.
- Agree the price. Use comparable listings and the inspection report, not gut feel.
- Transfer ownership and insure it. You and the seller must both notify NZTA of the change of ownership, within 7 days. It can be done online. Arrange insurance from the moment you take the keys.
What you do yourself vs what a carfinder does
| Job | Doing it yourself | With a carfinder |
|---|---|---|
| Working out what you need | Research and guesswork | A 1-minute quiz, then a chat with a real person |
| Searching | Evenings on listing sites | We search, including cars that aren't publicly listed |
| Shortlisting | Comparing dozens of listings | 3 hand-picked cars, with why each made the list |
| Checks and inspection | Booking and paying for each one | History check and inspection included with Premium |
| Price | Haggling on your own | We negotiate for you with Premium |
| Getting it home | Your weekend, or a road trip | Delivered to your door with Premium |
How does a carfinder work?
You answer a few questions about what you need. About a minute. A carfinder, a real person with years in the trade, does the hunting. You get 3 cars that fit, including some that aren't listed publicly yet.
The Starter package is free. It includes an initial consultation, 3 vehicle matches and buying advice, and your matches are yours to keep whether or not you go further with us.
The Premium package is $499. You get a dedicated carfinder specialist and unlimited sourcing. We run the vehicle history check and inspection, negotiate the price for you, and deliver the car to your door. Finance options and support are included, and so are free WOFs for as long as you own the car.
How do we make money? Dealers pay us nothing, and we don't take commissions. You pay $499 for Premium, or nothing at all for Starter. That's it. It's why we can stay on your side of the desk.
“Most people know exactly what they need. What they don't have is twenty spare evenings to find it.”
[Carfinder name], carfinder
You know what you need. We know where to find it.
Tell us in 60 seconds, and a carfinder will come back with 3 cars that fit.
Buying a car outside your town
The right car isn't always in your city. If it's in Invercargill and you're in Whangārei, the usual answer is a long drive or a gamble.
With the Premium package, we organise the inspection, purchase and delivery from a distance. You see the checks and the history before you commit, and the car comes to you.
The short version
- Work out what you need before you start scrolling
- Check the police stolen database and PPSR on every car
- Get an independent inspection before any deposit
- Both you and the seller notify NZTA within 7 days
- Or hand the lot to a carfinder: free to start, no obligation
Common questions
What do I need to do when I buy a used car in NZ?
Check it isn't stolen or carrying money owing, get it inspected, and agree a price. Then you and the seller both notify NZTA of the change of ownership within 7 days.
Is there a service that finds a car for you in NZ?
Yes. carfinder is a New Zealand car-buying service. A real person finds and checks cars for you, and dealers pay us nothing.
How much does carfinder cost?
The Starter package is free and includes an initial consultation, 3 vehicle matches and buying advice. The Premium package is $499 and adds a dedicated carfinder, unlimited sourcing, a history check, an inspection, negotiation, delivery to your door, finance support and free WOFs while you own the car.
Do I have to buy one of the 3 cars?
No. There's no obligation, and your matches are yours to keep.
Can carfinder find a car if I'm not in Auckland?
Yes. We work nationwide and organise delivery, so where the car is matters less than whether it's the right one.
[Short bio: what they specialise in, and the kind of buyers they help most.]
