Tips to get it right

Buying a car

Dealer versus private

Buying a new or used car from a dealer – whether online, at a car yard or at an auction – gives you more consumer rights than if you buy a car privately.

That’s because dealers have to trade under the Consumer Guarantees Act. So you can seek a repair, replacement or refund if the car doesn’t meet one of the CGA guarantees.

Don’t get landed with someone else’s debt 

You can check if there is money owing on the car before you buy it.

• If you are buying from a dealer, ask to check the CIN (Consumer Information Notice).
• If you are buying privately, you can check if there’s money owing on it - Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR)(external link)

Fixing a car

If your mechanic hasn’t fixed the repairs you took your car in for, you can take it back to your mechanic and ask them to make it right.

It’s also a good idea to get a quote from your mechanic, before you book your car in. That way you know exactly what work is going to be done, and how much it will cost.

Faulty product

When you buy from a shop or a website, if the product arrives damaged or doesn’t work properly, you have a right to go back to the seller and ask for it to be fixed, to be replaced or to get your money back.

If something breaks down just after its warranty has expired, you can also ask for a repair, replacement or refund.

Shopping online

Shopping online is easy, but it can be harder to sort out problems, especially if you buy from overseas websites.

Before you click ‘buy’, stop and check:

• Is the seller a New Zealand business? A website address with .nz at the end isn’t always a New Zealand business. Look for a phone number on the website and give it a call.
• Is the website secure? Look for a padlock symbol next to the URL in your browser and check the website address starts with https.

If you buy from a private seller through a website, be careful as consumer laws may not apply if something goes wrong.

Getting a loan

There’s alot to think about before signing on the dotted line.

• Can you afford the loan repayments?
• How much will you be charged in interest and fees?
• Do you understand the contract?

Get some help before you commit:

• The MoneyTalks helpline gives free budgeting advice to help you plan. They can also put you in touch with a local budgeting service in your area. Contact MoneyTalks(external link) .  
• The Citizen’s Advice Bureau (CAB) can help out with understanding loan documents. Look for a CAB near you - Citizens Advice Bureau(external link) .