About Kerbie
Kerbie is independent help for buying and owning a car in New Zealand, starting with buying a used car: what to check, what it costs and what to sign. Every figure is sourced and dated, and every guide says when it was last checked.
What does Kerbie cover?
Kerbie covers buying a used car in NZ, from a dealer or a private seller, and the first year of owning it. That means the checks before you pay: money owing, the car's history, the WoF. The costs, with official fees kept apart from charges a dealer sets. The paperwork, from change of ownership to rego and road user charges. And what to do if something goes wrong.
New guides are added as they're finished and checked, so you won't find half-written pages marked "coming soon".
Who is Kerbie for?
Kerbie is written for people who aren't car people and don't have someone to ask. If you're buying your first car, you're new to how it works in NZ, or the last time you bought one a mate did the talking, start here.
The answer comes first on every page, then the detail. Terms like CIN (Consumer Information Notice) and PPSR (Personal Property Securities Register) are spelled out the first time they appear.
How are the guides made?
Every guide starts from the official source: NZTA, the Consumer Guarantees Act, the Fair Trading Act and the other government pages a buyer would otherwise have to piece together. Each number comes from a dated data file, not from memory, and the sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
AI tools do most of the research and drafting, and run the first fact-check. Before anything is published, a person reviews every guide and checks its claims against the listed sources. Every guide carries a "Last checked" date so you can see how fresh it is.
What Kerbie isn't
Kerbie is general information, not legal advice. For your own situation, contact Consumer Protection, a Community Law centre or Citizens Advice Bureau. For a large claim or a dispute, get advice before you act.
Kerbie is an independent NZ website and is not connected to any car dealer, car buyer or inspection company.
Why "Kerbie"?
The kerb is where most used cars sit before you buy them: on the roadside with a sign in the window, or lined up on a yard. Kerbie is the guide you read before you walk up to one.
Spotted something wrong?
Tell us at hello@kerbie.co.nz. We fix errors and note the change on the page.
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