VIR® - FAQ
When will I receive my report?
If you purchase the report online it will appear on your screen in less than 15 seconds. We also email you a link to it.
Does the VIR® show all the problems that may exist with a vehicle?
No, there may be information that is not publicly or electronically available. The VIR® is unlikely to be able to show:
- any history of the vehicle while it was outside of New Zealand
- any history of the vehicle prior to 1994/95
- details of import damage if the vehicle has not been previously registered in NZ
- accident, damage and repair history of the vehicle
- all past odometer readings
- the registered person’s name if it is a private person
- if the vehicle is stolen and has not been reported as stolen or if the police database link is down
Will the VIR® always show if the odometer has been wound?
No, the VIR® contains all odometer readings currently available from the NZTA, and analyses these for any inconsistent readings.
However, some older vehicles have not had all their odometer readings recorded by the NZTA. The VIR® will identify if NZTA deemed the odometer to have been tampered with but cannot directly determine if a vehicle’s odometer was wound back prior to arriving in New Zealand. The VIR® does everything it can to identify problems - but it cannot guarantee that the vehicle’s odometer has not been wound.
Where does the information come from?
The information is sourced from several government and private sector organisations, then collated and analysed.
- PPSR (Personal Property Securities Register)
- NZTA (New Zealand Transport Agency)
- NZ Police
- MotorWeb’s own private database
How accurate is the information?
The information is sourced from several third party organisations in real time when you purchase a VIR®.
To the best of our knowledge, the information is correct at the time the VIR® is generated.
Please note:
- The information is only as accurate and up-to-date as what is held in the government databases.
- The information should only be considered valid at the time the VIR® was generated. Anything can happen after that.
How does the VIR® differ from other vehicle history reports?
The VIR® is the most comprehensive vehicle history check on the market and comes with a $100,000 Repossession Guarantee. Find out more
Does my VIR® update over time?
No, VIRs are only valid at the time of issue.
Reports accessed through a reference number may be out of date due to subsequent changes made in the government databases. Think of it as a snapshot of the vehicle at the time of issue.
Is there a free number I can call to check for money owing on a vehicle?
Not anymore, the Government’s free calling number ceased operations in 1999.
What if something goes wrong?
We don’t generally give refunds for our products and services (for example, for a change of mind), however there may be exceptions so if you experience any issues, please contact our customer support team at support@motorweb.co.nz
Privacy and security
Is this a secure site?
To prevent unauthorised access, maintain data accuracy, and ensure the privacy of your information, we’ve put in place systems to help safeguard and secure the information we collect on-line.
Card payments are handled by Paystation, a Level 1 PCI DSS service provider. Level 1 is the highest compliance level for payment service providers, which requires an annual assessment by an independent Qualified Security Assessor.
You enter your card details on Paystation’s secure payment page, not on MotorWeb. Your card number never passes through or is stored on our systems, and our checkout is built to meet the PCI DSS requirements for businesses that take payments through a hosted payment page.
Everything you send us travels over an encrypted HTTPS (TLS) connection, the same standard used by banks and government agencies.
Our privacy policy
MotorWeb (including VIR) is a service provided by Trade Me Limited. This means Trade Me’s privacy policy applies to our use, collection, storage and disclosure of your information when you use MotorWeb or purchase a VIR.