Background checks on Motors listings
Find out about the types of background checks on Motors listings and what to do if one of the checks fails.
We run background checks on car listings to give buyers the information they need to make a decision. Learn about the checks and what to do if you see an advisory warning.
About background checks on Motors listings
When you list a car on Trade Me, we complete several background checks through national databases. This gives buyers all the information they need to choose a car. We show the background check results on your listing.
- Premium and Standard car listings include free background checks.
- Basic car listings do not include a money owing check. Sellers can add a money owing check for an extra fee on a Basic listing.
Find out more about car listing options.
Disagree with a background check result?
1. Contact the relevant third party to discuss your vehicle’s information.
2. After the third party updates their database, we can re-run the background check on your listing.
Stolen vehicle check
The stolen vehicle check confirms if the New Zealand Police have ever reported the vehicle as stolen.
The information we show is a snapshot from the Police vehicle of interest database. The Police can't guarantee this information is completely accurate because:
- Stolen vehicles can take time to appear on the list.
- Recovered vehicles can take time to be cleared from the list.
Advisory warning on a stolen vehicle check
If you see an advisory on a stolen vehicle check:
- Contact the police directly to check the vehicle’s status.
- If the police incorrectly identified the vehicle as stolen, the seller must ask the police to update their database.
Damaged import check
The damaged import check confirms if the NZTA flagged the vehicle as having significant damage or deterioration when it entered New Zealand.
- This does not include superficial dents or scratches.
- This check excludes Australian statutory write-offs.
Go to the NZTA website and enter the vehicle’s Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to get more information about written-off and damaged vehicles.
Advisory warning on a damaged import check
If you see an advisory on a damaged import check:
- As a buyer, you may want to organise a vehicle inspection to make sure the damage won’t affect the vehicle’s safety. Talk to the seller about the vehicle’s previous damage.
- As a seller, if you disagree with the result, contact NZTA to discuss your vehicle’s information. Even if the car has been repaired and brought to road worthy standard, it will remain flagged as a damaged import.
Re-registered check
The re-registered check uses the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) Motor Vehicle Register to see if a vehicle has been de-registered and then registered again.
A car may not pass this check if:
- An insurance company writes it off.
- The previous owner sent it to an auto wrecker for parts.
- It was unlicensed for more than one year.
- The previous owner cancels the registration because they won’t use the vehicle for a while (like when they go overseas).
Advisory warning on a re-registered check
If you see an advisory on a re-registered check:
- Contact the seller to ask why the car was re-registered.
- Organise an independent mechanical inspection by a reputable company.
- As a seller, if you don’t agree with the re-registered check, contact NZTA to discuss your vehicle’s registration history.
Money owing check
A money owing check confirms if a person or company has a financial interest in the vehicle on the Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR). If they do and the money isn't paid, they could legally repossess the car.
A car might not pass a money owing check if:
- Someone purchased the vehicle on finance or with a loan.
- Someone used the vehicle as collateral for other purposes.
- The vehicle has an outstanding repair bill.
- It is an old security interest that someone hasn't removed from the registry.
- There is a partial match on the vehicle’s registration plate, chassis or VIN number. This can happen if a car gets new registration plates.
Paid off car loan
The money owing background check can still show an old loan, even after you've paid off your car. Contact the secured party and ask them to release the loan.
No money owing check on the listing
If the seller chooses a Basic car listing, we do not automatically include a money owing check.
As a buyer, if you’re interested in a car without this check, we recommend purchasing a Vehicle Information Report (VIR) from Motorweb. This report checks for money owing and more.
Advisory warning on a money owing check
If you see an advisory on a money owing check:
- Find out who the money is owed to (the secured party). Contact the seller to ask, or purchase a VIR from Motorweb. This report lists secured parties.
- Contact the secured party to see if money is still owed on the vehicle. If no money is owed, ask them to remove the security from the PPSR registry and send you a confirmation.
- If money is still owed, ask them how you should proceed with the purchase. They might want you to complete the purchase at their offices so they can get paid directly.
Look out for typos
Confirm the vehicle make, model, year, plate and Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) all match across the security, the VIR and the actual vehicle. The VIN is a long number and can easily be mistyped.
Re-run background check results
We can't remove or update background check results manually because they come from third party private and government databases.
If you disagree with the results, contact the third party first.
1. Contact the third party about your results
The table below outlines who to contact if you disagree with background check results on your Motors listing.
| Who to contact about background check results | |
|---|---|
| Stolen vehicle check |
Contact the New Zealand Police to check the vehicle’s status.
If the police incorrectly identified the vehicle as stolen, ask them to update their database. |
| Damaged import check | Contact NZTA to discuss your vehicle’s information. |
| Re-registered check | Contact NZTA to discuss your vehicle’s information. |
| Money owing check | Contact the secured party directly. If you’re not sure who’s registered the security, purchase a VIR from motorweb.co.nz. |
2. Contact us to re-run the background check
After the third party updates their database, we can re-run the background check on your listing. Use the chat icon in the bottom right corner of this page to get in touch with our Support experience team.