[akp713]

I'll be arriving back in NZ in February and this time I need to buy a car right away. I'll be renting a car until I buy one and have it registered and ready to drive. I don't want to rent a car for too many days because my budget is very small as I'm a grad student. So what I want to know is, how many ays should I expect it to take from when I land in Auckland, on a Wednesday morning, to when I have a car of my own. I have bought cars in the US before, but I don't know how long it takes to register a car, get it inspected, etc. in NZ.

I will probably find cars on the web and go see several my first day in Auckland. But I want to get the car I choose inspected by a mechanic. If anyone can suggest a good mechanic in Auckland, that would help too. At the moment I am thinking 4 days sounds right, but I'm not certain. Mind you I'm looking for cheap old imports for $4,000 so I will need to be careful I don't get a lemon. This car needs to last a couple years at least.

Any suggestions on mechanics, good car models, what is required to buy a car etc. are welcome.

[willsken]

We looked and bought cars a couple of days after we landed. They were ready for collection the following morning. That was through a car sales place though. Not sure about private sales.

[jubjub]

In our experience, car sales yards can have a car ready for you the next day. So if you see one you like on your first or 2nd day, you should be able to have it for your first weekend

[Nathan]

We drove ours home the day after we picked it out and cut the deal....less than 24h. They took a down payment and we gave them the rest a week later, after the exchange came through. Making insurance arrangements, including price comparisons, took a couple hours in the morning before we picked the car up. The dealership took care of all the registration, etc, and it was included in the price. They also offered insurance, but it was a little higher than what we ended up getting.

[benandclare]

On our first day here in Christchurch walked on to large car lot that supports Canterbury rugby, took car for test drive by ourselves did the deal and then wandered up into town, picked up bankers cheque and sorted insurance had lunch whilst PK sorted regs out and then picked car up and drove it home :clap

[alan999]

Landed in Auckland on Wednesday, went to Turners Auction on Thursday, had a good look round, bought car, drove it away, arranged insurance from my B and B.

[akp713]

Thanks for the responses. Any suggestions on good insurance companies, and by good I mean cheap. I've never had anything but third person insurance on my car in the US, and I pay about US$50/month on my 1994 Volvo. I'm hoping it will be cheaper in NZ. Also it sounds like you all bought them from dealers so you didn't have a mechanic check them, but if anyone has, let me know what that costs.

[Nathan]

See: http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=14488&highlight=insurance for insurance companies.

AA checks are available. See their website... www.aa.nz.co

Search engine on this site works well for finding answers to many questions.

Nathan

[dilanium]

AA checks are available. See their website... www.aa.nz.co


This link is not working for me. My computer says it cannot find the server. Is it correct?

[Oregonkiwi]

http://www.aa.co.nz/motoring/Pages/default.aspx

[CJ22]

I'm puzzled by the whole 'insurance is not compulsory' thing. If I'm driving around and some boy racer piles into me and isn't insured, how do I go about recouping the damage. I'd have fully-comp insurance, but would my insurance pay for the damage? Does the boy racer get away scott-free? How does it work?

[Oregonkiwi]

I'm puzzled by the whole 'insurance is not compulsory' thing. If I'm driving around and some boy racer piles into me and isn't insured, how do I go about recouping the damage. I'd have fully-comp insurance, but would my insurance pay for the damage?

Yes.

Does the boy racer get away scott-free? How does it work?

Well, he'd have to pay for the damage to his own vehicle, so he wouldn't be entirely "scott-free". Also, your insurance company would try to get money out of him. My policy says that I don't have to pay an excess (deductible) if the damage is caused by an identifiable driver of another vehicle, as long as I give them enough information to establish the other driver was at fault, and give them the other car's licence plate number and driver's name and address, and give them "reasonable help" to recover my claim from the other driver.

[IanW99]

The way that car insurance works is a little different from the UK, and a bit strange to understand (for me at least) in the beginning.

A few things you need to realise.

1. All medical injuries are covered by ACC so you wouldn't sue the other driver for damages.

2. Because insurance is NOT compulsory, then the driver is not breaking the law and so the driver is less likely to shirk responsibility.

3. It is common for the driver at fault to just pay for the damage.

We did actually have an accident with a non-insured driver (their fault) and it was all very straightforward, our insurance even allowed them to pay for the repairs by installments.

That said, would still recommend insurance and I'm sure that there are plenty of times when the driver at fault does get away with it.

Ian

[Nick88]

I agree with Ian, I would go fully comp, it is not as expensive as you would think. That way the insurance company deals with everything that happens, and you know that you will always be covered.

If you have the time get a main dealer to check out the car, they have alot more equipment than the AA or a VTNZ, and they will know about any little issues a model or engine type might have. It may cost a bit more but the peace of mind would be worth it.