The short answer
What a vehicle history report shows
| Check | What it tells you | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Money owing (PPSR) | Whether a lender has a security interest in the car | If it isn't cleared, the car can be repossessed from you |
| Stolen status | Whether it's been reported stolen to Police | Buying a stolen car means losing it, and your money |
| Odometer history | Readings recorded at WOF inspections and at the border | Readings that jump or go backwards point to tampering |
| Ownership history | How many owners, and how often it changed hands | Lots of short ownerships can mean a problem gets passed on |
| Import records | Odometer and condition at entry, for used imports | Confirms where the car came from and what it had done |
| Recorded damage | Statutory write-offs, and some water or fire damage | Some damage affects safety and resale for good |
| WOF and rego | Current status and past inspections | Gaps can mean the car sat unused, or off the road for a reason |
Source: CarJam: about the report and CarJam pricing. A standalone PPSR search costs under $2.
What a history check doesn't tell you
This is where people get caught. A clean report isn't a clean car.
- Mechanical condition. Nothing on the report says how the gearbox shifts or how healthy a hybrid battery is.
- Servicing. Service history lives in the logbook and the receipts, not on the register.
- Unrecorded damage. A crash repaired privately, with no insurance claim, often leaves no record at all.
- How it was driven. Short trips, towing or hard use don't show up anywhere.
- What happened between readings. The report only knows what was recorded, when it was recorded.
Odometer readings are about to get further apart
Most odometer readings on a car's NZ record come from WOF inspections. From 1 November 2026, light vehicles registered on or after 1 November 2019 move from annual to 2-yearly WOFs. Older cars in that age band follow from 1 November 2027.
Fewer inspections mean fewer odometer readings, and longer gaps for things to go unrecorded. Service receipts, which usually note the kilometres, become more useful as a cross-check. Source: NZTA.
What about Japanese imports?
Many used cars in NZ came from Japan. Their NZ record starts at the border, with the odometer reading taken on entry. What happened before that sits in Japanese auction and history records, which a separate, extra-cost report can cover.
For a recent import, the auction sheet is worth seeing. It grades the car's condition and notes repairs before it was shipped.
“The report tells you what's been written down. Our job is to find out what hasn't.”
[Carfinder name], carfinder
Rather someone else ran the checks?
Tell us what you're after. A carfinder will find 3 cars that fit, and tell you why each one made the list.
How to read a history report in 5 minutes
- Match the VIN. The VIN on the report should match the VIN on the car itself. Plates can be swapped; VINs are much harder to fake.
- Check money owing. Anything registered on the PPSR needs a clear plan to be paid off before you hand over money.
- Scan the odometer readings. They should only go up, at a believable pace.
- Look for damage flags. A statutory write-off or flood record is usually a walk-away.
- Count the owners. Then ask the seller why they're selling.
The short version
- A history report checks the paperwork: money owing, stolen, odometer, damage records
- It doesn't check condition, servicing or unrecorded repairs
- Match the VIN on the car to the VIN on the report
- Use service receipts to cross-check the kilometres
- Follow a clean report with an independent inspection
Common questions
How do I check a car's history in NZ?
Buy a full vehicle report from a provider like CarJam or MotorWeb, using the plate or VIN. It covers money owing, stolen status, odometer readings and recorded damage.
How much does a vehicle history check cost in NZ?
A full NZ report on CarJam costs $13.95 for a casual user. A standalone PPSR search for money owing costs $1.95.
Can a history report tell me if a car has been in an accident?
Sometimes. It shows statutory write-offs and some recorded damage. A crash repaired privately, with no claim, may leave no record.
How can I tell if an odometer has been wound back?
Compare the readings on the history report. They should only go up, at a steady pace. Then check them against the dates and kilometres on service receipts.
Is a free CarJam check enough?
It's a good first look. The free check includes basic details and stolen status. Money owing and full ownership history need the paid report.
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