Used car buying guides

Plain guides to buying a used car in New Zealand and Australia without getting stung.

• How to check a used car before you buyA step-by-step used car check in the order you walk the car: outside, inside, under the bonnet, the test…
• Pre-purchase inspection cost in NZWhat a pre-purchase car inspection costs in NZ in 2026: AA from NZ$199, workshops NZ$130–280, history reports…
• Used car inspection cost in AustraliaPre-purchase car inspection prices in Australia in 2026: mobile mechanics A$195–299, RedBook Inspect from…
• Using an OBD2 scanner when buying a carA NZ$30 OBD2 scanner can show faults a seller hasn't mentioned.
• Buying from a private seller in NZPrivate car sales in NZ have fewer protections than buying from a dealer.