Know your rights when buying a car
The stress of buying or servicing a car leads to one of the highest rates of problems for consumers, according to a government survey.
The issue has prompted Consumer Protection to launch an awareness campaign to help shoppers understand their rights.
Consumer Protection manager Mark Hollingsworth said shopping for a car could be stressful and buyers may not know what questions to ask before buying or what to do if something goes wrong after they drive away.
‘‘We surveyed more than 1200 New Zealanders to gain a better understanding of what the common consumer pitfalls are, and what consumers know about their rights in those situations,’’ Hollingsworth said.
The survey found about one in five people experienced issues from both private sellers and dealers, or issues with vehicle repair and maintenance businesses.
The biggest groups of people who experienced issues were those between 18 and 36 years old, families with young children, or those of Ma¯ori or Pacific ethnicity.
‘‘Half of those who reported an issue with their vehicle purchase didn’t take any action to resolve it,’’ Hollingsworth said.
Car buyers needed to do their homework before buying, he said.
‘‘For example, have the vehicle mechanically checked and know what you should be looking for during a test drive,’’ he said.
‘‘If something goes wrong, most providers want to put things right. It pays to first return to the place you purchased or serviced the vehicle, and there are always other options if an acceptable resolution can’t be found.’’
Some tips on Consumer Protection’s checklist are:
❚ Compare makes and models.
❚ Check online reviews.
❚ Check safety and fuel ratings at rightcar.govt.nz.
❚ Understand the difference between buying a car privately and from a dealer.
❚ Check your finances to find out how much you want to spend.
❚ View and test cars.
❚ Call in the experts.
❚ Be wary of any offers that are too good to be true.
❚ Let the New Zealand Transport Agency know you bought a car.
❚ Safeguard yourself with insurance.