How to Check a Campervan's History Before Buying in NZ

Most campervans in NZ are Japanese imports. Before you hand over any money, a $14 history report can save you thousands. Here's how to use CarJam to check a campervan before you buy - and what to do if something comes up.

What CarJam checks

• Stolen status — Checks the NZ Police database in real time. If the van is flagged, you do not own it - even if you paid for it.
• Finance owing — Searches the Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) across all plates the vehicle has ever had, not just the current one. If there's debt registered, the lender can repossess the vehicle from you.
• WoF/CoF history — Shows every warrant of fitness or certificate of fitness inspection on record, including the dates and outcomes. Gaps are a red flag.
• Ownership history — How many owners, and how long each held it. A van that has had six owners in three years is worth asking about.
• Odometer history — Readings captured at every WoF inspection. Sudden drops or inconsistencies are a sign of tampering.
• Japan/USA import history — For Japanese imports - collision damage, flood damage, fire, odometer wind-backs, and radioactivity contamination checks. Approximately 30% of Japanese imports have odometer discrepancies.

Free vs paid - what you actually need

CarJam's free report gives you the basics: make, model, rego details, stolen status, and current WoF status. It's useful for a quick sanity check before you drive an hour to view something.

The paid Full History Report costs $13.95. For a private campervan purchase, buy the paid report every time. It adds: full PPSR finance search across all past plates, complete ownership history, odometer history chart, import history (Japan/USA), market valuation, and a $250,000 repossession guarantee - if CarJam's report shows no finance and the vehicle later gets repossessed, CarJam covers your loss up to $250,000.

How to run the check

1. 1
   Click "Check vehicle history" on the Vanzy listing - this takes you straight to CarJam with the plate already entered.
2. 2
   Review the free report - confirm the make, model, and year match what you're being told.
3. 3
   Buy the Full History Report for $13.95 - do this before you commit to a viewing if you're travelling far, or at minimum before you hand over any money.
4. 4
   Work through the alerts section - any red flags on stolen status or finance are dealbreakers.
5. 5
   Check the odometer history graph - look for gaps between WoF dates, or readings that drop.
6. 6
   If it's a Japanese import, consider adding the Japan History report - it covers what happened to the van before it arrived in NZ.

What to do if something comes up

• Finance owing — Do not proceed unless the seller can prove the debt has been cleared before you pay. Get this in writing. If they say "I'll sort it after settlement" - that is not good enough.
• Stolen flag — Do not buy the vehicle. Contact NZ Police.
• Odometer discrepancy — Get a full mechanical inspection. Factor the uncertainty into your offer or walk away.
• Japan import damage history — Ask the seller directly. Get a pre-purchase mechanical inspection from a qualified NZ mechanic. This is not a dealbreaker on its own - it depends on what was repaired and how - but it should change the price you're willing to pay.

A $14 report is a small price to pay for the peace of mind that comes with knowing exactly what you're buying. If everything checks out - no finance, no flags, clean history - you can contact the seller with confidence, hand over the money, and hit the road.