How to check a used car's history in New Zealand

Updated 2 Oct 2026

A car can look tidy and drive well and still come with problems you can't see: money owing to a finance company, a theft report, a wound-back odometer or old flood damage. Most of these can be checked before you pay, usually online and in a few minutes. This guide walks through each check, where to do it, and what it won't tell you.

Make sure you're checking the right car

Every check below depends on the plate number or the VIN (vehicle identification number) or chassis number. Before you look anything up, write down the plate and find the VIN or chassis number on the car itself. Ask the seller to show you where it is if you can't find it.

Compare those numbers with the certificate of registration and the latest WoF or CoF paperwork. If the plate, VIN and paperwork don't all match, stop there. Mismatched numbers can mean stolen plates, a rebuilt car or simply the wrong paperwork, and none of those are things to sort out after you've paid.

Rego, WoF and RUC expiry dates

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) has a free online tool to check a vehicle's licence (rego), inspection and RUC expiry using the plate number. It's worth doing for three reasons:

Rego. If the licence has expired, you'll pay licensing from the date you buy the car.
WoF or CoF. A car without a current WoF or CoF can only be driven to get it repaired or inspected. NZTA says you can insist the WoF is less than one month old when you buy, unless you agree in writing to accept an older one.
RUC. Diesel vehicles, EVs and plug-in hybrids pay road user charges. If the RUC licence isn't current, you can end up responsible for the distance that hasn't been paid for.

Our guide to WoF, CoF and rego explains each one in more detail.

Odometer readings

The odometer is read and recorded at each WoF and CoF inspection, so there's an official trail of readings over the car's life. Consumer Protection notes that several vehicle history report providers show these readings along with ownership history, previous damage and money owing. Some are free and some charge a fee.

When you look at the readings, watch for:

a reading that's lower than an earlier one
long gaps with no readings at all
low kilometres on a car with badly worn pedals, steering wheel or driver's seat
service records that don't line up with the odometer.

On Cruizy, listings show the official odometer readings where our data provider supplies them, and we flag a listing if the stated reading is lower than an earlier official one. If a private seller deliberately misled you about the kilometres, Consumer Protection says you may be able to make a claim under the Contract and Commercial Law Act.

Money owing: the PPSR

If the current owner borrowed against the car and hasn't paid the loan off, the lender may have a security interest in it. The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) records these. The PPSR's own guidance says that if a search shows a registered security interest, the car could be repossessed from you, even though you weren't the one who borrowed.

To search, you'll need an online account, and you enter the plate, VIN or chassis number. Enter as many as you can, because the search matches any of them. There's a fee for each search; check the PPSR site for the current amount. The results are accurate as at the time of the search, so search again on the day you pay.

If money is owing, don't hand over the full price to the seller. Ask them to pay the lender off first and give you written confirmation from the lender, then search again. Registered dealers must tell you about money owing on the Consumer Information Notice displayed with the car. The PPSR guidance for buyers has more detail.

Stolen vehicle check

NZ Police let you check whether a vehicle has been reported stolen. It's free and you get an answer straight away. Cruizy checks listings against the Police list every day, but do your own check on the day you buy.

The check only covers vehicles that have been reported to Police. It won't catch a theft that hasn't been reported yet, and it can't tell you if the plates have been swapped from another car. That's why matching the VIN to the paperwork matters.

Damage, water and recalls

NZTA keeps a list of written-off and damaged vehicles that you can search with the VIN or chassis number. It covers vehicles reported with fire, structural or water damage, and imports that were written off in the country they came from. Repaired vehicles stay on the list, and NZTA says the list may not include every damaged vehicle.

If a vehicle has a damage or safety flag on the register, it can't get a WoF or CoF until it has been properly repaired and inspected again.

Water damage is worth asking about directly, especially after severe weather. NZTA's page on water-damaged vehicles explains the risks. Also ask whether any recalls, such as the Takata airbag recall, have been done.

The paperwork and the seller

Paperwork tells you a lot about how a car has been looked after:

Service records should match the car's VIN or plate and show regular servicing.
Ask how long the seller has owned it and why they're selling.
If you can, view the car at the seller's home or workplace.
Ask to see photo ID and check the name matches the registration paperwork.

If someone seems to be selling a lot of cars, search the Motor Vehicle Traders Register. A person who sells more than six vehicles in 12 months may need to be a registered trader, and buying from a trader gives you more rights.

When the checks come back clean, the last step is an independent pre-purchase inspection. History checks tell you about the car's past, not its mechanical condition.

Frequently asked questions

Is a paid vehicle history report worth it?

It can be. A report brings ownership history, odometer readings, money owing and damage records together in one place. You can also do most checks yourself: the NZTA expiry check and the Police stolen check are free, and the PPSR charges a fee per search.

Can I find out who owns a car from its plate?

Not usually. NZTA protects personal information on the Motor Vehicle Register and only releases the names of individuals for specific purposes, such as enforcing the law. Ask the seller for photo ID and compare it with the registration paperwork instead.

When should I do these checks?

Do them before you agree to buy, and repeat the PPSR and stolen checks on the day you pay. A PPSR search is only accurate at the time it's made.

What if the seller won't let me check?

Walk away. An honest seller has nothing to lose from a history check or an inspection.

Find your next car

Browse cars for sale on Cruizy. Each fact on a listing shows its source and date, and our safety centre covers the scams to watch for. Selling instead? You can list your car; check our fees first for the current price, including any launch offer.

This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. Rules and fees change, so check the official sources linked here before you rely on them.