Importing a vehicle has never been easier and many cross our borders with every passing month, but how can you guarantee the speedo is a true reflection of the distance travelled?

Buying a used vehicle from Japan

If you’re buying a used vehicle recently imported from Japan, it’s best to look for an odometer verified windscreen sticker, as well as an accompanying authorisation certificate which shows that the vehicle has been inspected before it leaves Japan.

We conduct odometer inspections on second hand cars before they leave the port with our Odometer Verification partners Bordercheck, Japan Export Vehicle Inspection Center (JEVIC) and Jacanna.

Look for these windscreen stickers:

These checks can include:

• Examining all available service records to ensure they match the car's stated odometer reading
• Checking the car's history and comparing it to all other information about the car
• Checking the car's overall condition for signs of wear that are inconsistent with the odometer reading

Buying an import from another country

If the used car that you’re interested in has just entered New Zealand from another country, there is often very little information available about its history. In these instances, it’s worth getting an independent expert to give the vehicle a once over so they can assess whether its overall condition matches the number of kilometres it reads.

Before buying a used car, we always recommend booking an AA Pre Purchase Vehicle Inspection.

Car repair bills are often unexpected and can leave you out of pocket. A thorough inspection can uncover secrets of a vehicle’s past that you can’t spot yourself, offering some reassurance that you’re buying a reliable car before handing over your hard-earned money.

Visit aa.co.nz/ppi to book an AA Pre Purchase Inspection.

Vehicles already registered and used on NZ roads

If you’re buying a vehicle that’s already registered and on the road in New Zealand, you can buy an online AA Vehicle History report which informs potential buyers of any discrepancies in the odometer readings, based upon the figures that were recorded during every Warrant of Fitness.

An AA Vehicle History report looks for regular patterns and brings up warnings if something doesn’t quite line up. It highlights any security interest on the vehicle that can be inherited by a new buyer and also lets you know if it has been imported as damaged.

Essentially, you want to make sure the vehicle condition reflects what you would expect for the age and mileage. The newer the vehicle or the lower the kilometres, the less acceptable any defects should be.

Visit aa.co.nz/historyreport to buy an AA Vehicle History Report.

AA Motoring recommendations

We recommend that anyone looking to buy a used car visits an AA Preferred Dealer. The AA series of checks on used cars gives drivers peace of mind that the used car they’re interested in buying isn’t hiding any secrets.

AA Preferred Dealers are trustworthy and will provide you with complete confidence in your used car purchase. Visit the AA website to find an AA Preferred Dealer.

Find out more on how the AA can help you when buying a car

• AA Preferred Dealers - aa.co.nz/preferred
• AA Pre Purchase Inspections - aa.co.nz/inspections
• AA Valuations - aa.co.nz/valuations
• AA History Report - aa.co.nz/vehiclehistory
• AA Money - aa.co.nz/money
• AA Insurance - aa.co.nz/insurance
• AA Car Reviews - aa.co.nz/car-reviews

Vehicle experts you can trust