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us2atxtra
By us2atxtra | AA Member | 2 Posts | 20 October 2012 at 10:26pm

I have just purchased a new (Japanese import) car from a registered motor vehicle dealer and am the first New Zealand owner. I have no problems with the vehicle.

What I am not too impressed about is that on their Consumer Information Notice, Sale Agreement and Vehicle Appraisal the car is shown as first registered overseas in 2005 and this is one of the things I based my purchase choice and negotiation on. However when I received my Certificate of Registration from NZ Transport Agency it show the vehicle being first registered in 2004.

Now some people might think why is this guy splitting hairs over 1 year, but if they did this to every car they sell (and they have a pretty good turn over) this can work quite well in their favor and I believe if you are selling in good faith you give the correct facts and information. I am not wanting a car for free just a fair deal and hey I have just purchased a car and it has depreciated (by a year) in less than a week.

Can you please tell me
Do the NZ Transport Agency have a margin of a year either side they work on, therefore that is why it is a year older than stated by the trader or is the first registered date they state correct?
Do I have rights regarding this?
Who would be giving me the correct information the trader or NZ Transport Agency?

Anon
By Donavan | AA Expert | 1049 Posts | 23 October 2012 at 12:24pm

The Japan export certificate will have the correct first registration date on it. The NZTA will be working off the date on the original document supplied by the importer. In this case it seems the NZTA are correct. You should make sure you are not confusing manufacturing date with first registration date (but this is not normally stipulated). If the CIN had the incorrect information on it then it contravenes the Fair Trading Act. You should contact the selling dealer and try resolving this issue with them as the first registered date, to some extent, will influence the sale price. Hopefully the dealer will resolve this matter with a fair outcome.

us2atxtra
By us2atxtra | AA Member | 2 Posts | 23 October 2012 at 1:53pm

Thanks for your advice. I will contact the dealer and see what they have to say.