What does a vehicle history report show?
A MotorWeb VIR® (Vehicle Information Report) runs over 70 checks against NZTA, the PPSR and other government and private sector sources and returns results in around 15 seconds. Here is what the report covers and what each section means for your purchase decision.
Owner and registration
For privacy reasons the report does not show a private registered person’s name, but the free Seller Check that comes with it checks the seller’s licence with the Government and tries to confirm they are the registered person. It shows the vehicle’s current ownership status (for example a change of ownership that is incomplete or recent, or a fleet or leased vehicle) and whether the registration (rego) is current or lapsed. Buying a vehicle with expired rego means you cannot legally drive it until it is renewed.
Money owing (finance and PPSR)
The report searches for registered security interests (finance, loans, or encumbrances) held against the vehicle on the Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR). If you buy privately and a lender has registered finance against the car, that claim stays with the car: the lender can repossess it from you unless the debt is paid, even after you have paid the seller. Buying from a registered dealer, the law protects you from finance the dealer didn’t disclose.
Stolen status
Every report checks whether the vehicle is reported stolen. If the vehicle has been reported stolen, the report flags it prominently. Purchasing a stolen vehicle (even unknowingly) does not give you legal ownership, and the Police can seize it without compensation.
Odometer history
The report shows the odometer readings recorded by NZTA over the vehicle’s life, including readings taken at WOF and COF inspections. The report flags any reading that goes backwards, and shows if NZTA has deemed the odometer to have been tampered with. A higher genuine mileage affects both the vehicle’s value and its remaining service life.
WOF, COF, and Road User Charges
The report includes the current Warrant of Fitness (WOF) status for light vehicles, or Certificate of Fitness (COF) for heavy vehicles. It also shows the distance the Road User Charges (RUC) licence is paid up to, and works out any RUC owing once you enter the odometer reading. This is relevant for diesel and heavy vehicles and, since 1 April 2024, light electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.
Damage flags
The VIR® shows whether NZTA have flagged the vehicle as being a damaged import or a flood damaged import. It is unlikely to be able to show the accident, damage and repair history of the vehicle.
Security and VIN checks
The report checks for security mismatches: cases where the plate, VIN, chassis, make, model or year on a registered security does not match the vehicle’s NZTA record. It can be a clerical error by the lender, or a sign the security belongs to a different vehicle.
Vehicle specifications and safety
The report includes the vehicle’s make, model, body style, fuel type, engine size, and fuel economy rating. Where available, it also includes a driver safety star rating for the model, with the programme that rated it, and the safety systems recorded for the model.
The $100,000 Repossession Guarantee
Every VIR® is backed by MotorWeb’s $100,000 Repossession Guarantee. If the vehicle you buy is repossessed because it had money owing (registered security) or is seized because it was flagged as reported stolen, and that information was available to us at the time but was not displayed on the VIR, we will compensate you up to $100,000. It comes with every report, at no extra cost.
Sample report
Below is a sample VIR® showing what the report looks like and how results are presented.
