Every car has a past.
Find out what this one’s hiding.
KTY204ExampleEverything one plate tells you
Example results · KTY204- Vehicle details2016 · 2.8L diesel · auto
- Ownership3 owners since 2016
- OdometerWent backwards 41,190 km
- Money owingFinance owing to a lender
- Stolen checkNot reported stolen
- Rego & WoFWoF valid to Mar 2027
- Road user chargesRUC paid to 172,000 km
- Market value$32,500–$38,000
- Safety rating4 of 5 stars
The past of KTY204
- Mar 2016Imported, first registeredAuckland · 18 km
- Jun 2019Changed hands2nd owner, then a 3rd in 2023
- Feb 2023WoF pass at 209,400 kmTauranga
- Aug 2024Finance registered on itIt can be repossessed from you
- TodayOdometer: 168,210 km41,190 km less than 2023
Don’t hand over the cash until these two are cleared.That’s the past the ad won’t mention. A full history check finds it before you hand over the cash.
Check a car →Start here
Which car are you looking at?
Make and model is enough. We’ll pull the documented faults and a model-specific checklist before you even see the seller.
How it works
From the driveway to a decision in three steps
Identify the vehicle
Walk the car
Decide with numbers
Why trust it
Documented faults, not vibes
Every risk we flag traces back to a curated database of known issues for that make, model, generation, and engine — each one documented in published sources before it reaches a report, and scoped so a car is only shown faults that apply to its own generation and engine. The AI helps you look; it cannot invent a fault that is not already in the database.
Engine-specific fault records
AI photo analysis, human verdict
Honest by design
FAQ
Used car inspections, answered
How do I inspect a used car before buying in New Zealand?
Look up the exact make and model to see its documented faults, then walk the car with a model-specific checklist covering the paperwork, body, interior, engine, and a test drive. KickTyres guides you through all of it and adds a market valuation and a negotiation figure from $24.90.
How much does a used car inspection cost?
A KickTyres AI inspection is $24.90 per vehicle (a guided inspection without AI analysis is $14.90, and a data-only check starts at $13.49). A physical mechanic or AA pre-purchase inspection in NZ is typically $150–$300. Use KickTyres to shortlist and negotiate, then book a mechanic on the one you decide to buy.
Can I check a car from a Trade Me or Facebook Marketplace listing?
Yes. Enter the make and model, a registration plate, or paste a listing, and KickTyres pulls the documented faults and a checklist so you know exactly what you are looking at before you view it.
Which cars does KickTyres cover?
The makes and models most common on NZ roads, from Toyota, Ford, Mazda and Subaru to BMW, Audi, Kia and newer EV and Chinese brands. Browse every make and model from the car inspections page.
Is there an online car inspection in NZ?
Yes. KickTyres is an online pre-purchase check: it tells you what that exact make, model and engine are known to fail at, walks you through checking each one at the car, analyses your photos for damage cues, and produces a report with a valuation and a negotiation figure. It is done by you, guided by the software, rather than by a mechanic, so it is a first check for every car on the shortlist, not a replacement for a mechanical inspection on the one you buy.
Looking at a car this weekend?
Thirty minutes at the kerb now can save you a five-figure mistake later.