Author: Tony Allardyce

Might sound silly, but it’s a good idea to know where the button is. If you have to brake in a hurry, it’s a great way to let the vehicle behind know

The Clean Car Discount applies to vehicles registered from 1 April. The Clean Car Discount consists of rebates and fees based on CO2 emissions for imported new and used vehicles the first time they are registered in New Zealand. High CO2 emission vehicles will be charged a fee, the higher the CO2 emissions the greater the fee. Low CO2 emission vehicles will be eligible for a rebate, the lower the emissions the greater the rebate. Vehicles with moderate emissions will not incur a fee or be eligible for a rebate

The emission value of a vehicle is calculated according to the requirements in the Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Efficiency and Emissions Data 2022. In rare cases where a value is not provided a default value is assigned by Waka Kotahi.

Go to Clean Car Discount – All updates | Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (nzta.govt.nz) for more info. Their site is very informative and easy to follow in relation to this.

Given it’s important to have the facts to make an informed decision, why has Government not told us how much tax we will be required to pay on our EV’s to contribute towards building and maintaining our roads? Note, too, EV’s are heavier than their non-EV equivalent so they’ll be harder still on our roads (Google it).

Second, the cost of building the infrastructure required to generate enough electricity to run EV’s will be significant. Will that be yet another tax or will it just mean less money for housing, health and education – or a combination of both?

And, of course, EV batteries cannot be recycled. Old EV batteries are already creating mountains of toxic waste all around the world (take a look at France for example). That is no small problem we are creating for future generations to have to deal with.

We are not anti-EV. In fact, if anything, we support better public transport systems. This post, then, is not a selfish one. We just think these issues need to be addressed so we have the information we need to 1/ help us make the right decisions for ourselves and 2/ know EV’s are the right way to go for the planet. We don’t want to just shift the problem.

From 1 April 2022, the Clean Car Discount scheme will mean rebates and fees are applied to imported new and used vehicles based on their CO2 emissions. It does not affect vehicles already on the road in NZ. Having said that, because new and used vehicles new to NZ will be dearer, the price of all cars will go up.

Buyers purchasing high CO2 emission vehicles will pay a higher price in recognition of the increased environmental costs they are imposing. The higher the CO2 rating the greater the fee. Buyers choosing zero or low-emission vehicles will receive a rebate, the lower the emissions the greater the rebate.

Surprisingly, there is no relief for people who need to buy vehicles for which there is no viable electric alternative.

This is what we’ve always referred to as a mechanical warranty. New cars are sold with protection; used vehicles should be as well. Personally, I would never buy a used car for private use without one. If you’re buying privately, talk to us about setting you up with an MBI. We’ll explain what is and isn’t covered, how much is paid per claim and what excess you’ll be required to pay. Pay monthly options available. Not all vehicles qualify and we need to know the vehicle is sound before we can offer you an MBI. No matter what you do, if you’re buying privately, get the vehicle checked out by your mechanic. People are selling for a reason. If it’s a mechanical or rust issue, they might not tell you or they might not know. MBI’s offer you peace of mind for just a few dollars a week

It’s useful to know if your vehicle was imported as a damaged vehicle. A dealer is obliged to tell you. If you’re buying privately, though, go to Vehicle History Check Help I Damaged Import I MotorWeb™ NZ and check before you buy. It’s not necessarily a problem because it needs to meet strict standards before it can be driven on our roads. However, it does affect the value and saleability of the vehicle. Remember too that, when you go to sell, you are required by law to disclose anything you are aware of which might influence a person’s decision to purchase. That would

These are horrible. Apart from anything else, you can bet when you take it to the mechanic it won’t do it. Finding faults like this can be time-consuming and expensive. Ask your mechanic to, where possible, disable whatever components they can and, one by one, re-activate them. That way, you’ll be able to isolate the problem much more easily

While a car dealer guarantees clear title, if you buy a car privately with money owing, you’re liable. To save you the drama, click on the link below and follow the prompts. It only costs $2.00 but could save you the cost of the car if it’s taken off you with money owing. Remember, the person you bought it from may not be the one owing money. It may go back to owners before that. We’ve been caught out ourselves so be careful

There are plenty of good reasons to buy from a dealer. We’ve covered some of those in another blog. However, if you do buy privately, there are things you need to watch out for. One is make sure the person you’re buying from is, in fact, the owner. Click on the link below and fill in the gaps Confirm registered person query (nzta.govt.nz)

Like cambelts, timing chains don’t last forever. Over time, the chain can stretch causing it to skip a gear on the cam or crankshaft. This can cause the engine to misfire, lack power or just run badly. Other signs could be small bits of metal in the oil (although that can be other things as well), a rattle in the engine or the check engine light introducing itself to you. If you ignore these signs and the chain breaks while you’re driving, replacing the chain itself may well be the least of your worries; valves, pistons and other components can be badly compromised. A good mechanic will pick up any warning signs. The fact is 1/ for as long as you own a vehicle, there will always be a cost of maintaining it and 2/ regular servicing and preventative maintenance is a good investment; the cost of that will always be less than the cost of fixing it when it breaks. There are no shortcuts. The plus side is that a well looked after car with a good service history is worth more when you go to sell it. So, it’s not all cost