Hi Geoff,

First and foremost, don’t go within a million miles of a car auction place, with Tan around! I did, and bought a heap of junk just to stop her insane twitching. Mind you, she was half her current age then.

I’m not sure if you’ve got the Rough Guide to NZ but when I took it out of the library it said under ‘cars’ be sure whatever you buy has its warranty of fitness certificate, valid for up to six months. This needs renewing every six months so you obviously don’t want to buy something with only a couple of weeks validity left. Also, check it’s been registered recently. Registration costs $110 every six months. It said you can get an AA vehicle inspection for $100 or so; and that reasonable cars start at $1500 …!

Also, if you’re buying privately, they suggest calling Autocheck debt check on 0800 658 934 to make sure the seller doesn’t owe money as you the buyer will become liable to it!

Finally, they mention having a fitness check done by the AA.

Well, that’s the Rough Guide.

Personally, I’d suggest checking the tyres to make sure they have some decent tread on them – ie, not shiny and bald – and asking the seller to show you where the jack is and where the specially strengthened places are for jacking the car up. Also, find the spare tyre and give it a prod to see if it’s not flat (and bald).

Apart from checking the oil, water, and brake fluid, etc, there’s not a lot you can do unless you take it for a test run and see if it changes gear okay and the brakes don’t pull. Also, not too much exhaust smoke (burning oil). You might cast a glance at the radiator for obvious leaks …

Buying a car off a traveller who’s leaving NZ (hopefully within a few hours, and therefore desperate) would probably be best because the price should be low and – presumably – the car’s done okay for them.

For insurance, we just took out the basic state insurance company third party policy.

Good luck. Trust your instincts and you should be okay.

Ah, the joys of car purchase!

A NZ rule you might not be familiar with although it sounds like the French priorite de droit is you’re expected to give way to traffic crossing or coming from your right. So, for example, if you’re pootling along and about to turn left into another road and a car coming towards you wants to turn right into the same road, he rather than you apparently gets to go first.