Doing a little homework can save you a whole lot of pain. There's so much to think about once you've got past the stage of choosing what kind of car you are going to buy – two-door or four-door sports car, family sedan, stationwagon, van or 4WD. The first big decision is whether to buy from a dealership or buy privately. Either way, check everything right down to the state of the tyres and pay an expert to do that for you if you don't know a lot about cars – whether that is the AA or your trusted mechanic.
Legally, you are much better protected buying a new or used car through a dealership than you are if you buy privately. Buying from a dealership gives protection under the Consumer Guarantees Act and the Fair Trading Act. Neither of these apply if you buy privately, though certain circumstances are covered under the Contractual Remedies Act that allow you to take a case to the Disputes Tribunal if you feel the buyer has misled you.
Any car sold is required by law to have a warrant of fitness that is less than a month old unless the seller obtains a written undertaking from the buyer that if sold without a warrant, the car will not be used until a warrant is obtained or if the warrant is more than a month old, the buyer accepts this. For more info, follow this link.
The NZ Transport Agency has lots of great tips and information for car buyers and is well worth having a look at. It goes through the advanced safety systems now available in different models and explains what they do and how they work. It also advises prospective buyers on how to choose a safe and fuel-effective vehicle, what to look for when you are shopping for a new car and taking one for a test drive.
The Citizens Advice Bureau also offers general advice on buying from a dealer. It spells out the benefits in buying from a dealer, your rights when buying from a dealer and things like extended warranties. Have a look at here.
Vehicle safety ratings are listed here. The site also offers safety tips protecting you from a crash, staying in control, seeing and being seen and reinforcing good driving techniques.