Motor Vehicle Sales Act 2003

Introduction

You could also call this:

"Protection for Car Buyers"

Illustration for Motor Vehicle Sales Act 2003

This Act is about helping people who buy cars. You are protected when you buy a car. The Act looks after your interests. The Act wants to make sure you are treated fairly. It helps you when you buy a car from a seller. This is so you can trust the person selling you the car. You can feel safe when buying a car because of this Act. It makes sure sellers are honest with you. This helps you make a good choice when buying a car.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM188103.

This page was last updated on 25 December 2025 — View changes

Highlights from this law

10: Motor vehicle traders must be registered

You must be registered to sell cars or say you are a car seller.

13: Tampering with odometers prohibited

Don't touch or change a car's odometer, it's against the law.

14: Particulars about used motor vehicle must be displayed

Information about used cars must be clearly displayed when selling

15: Particulars (including statement about buyer taking motor vehicle free of security interests) that must be contained in notice attached to used motor vehicle

Information that must be displayed when buying a used vehicle

16: Written acknowledgment that buyer has received copy of notice must be obtained

Traders must get your signature to confirm you received important information when buying a used vehicle

95: Offence to carry on business of motor vehicle trading or to hold out to be motor vehicle trader unless registered

It's an offence to sell cars without being registered or to pretend you're a car seller when you're not.

99: Offence to tamper with odometers

It's against the law to tamper with a car's odometer without a good reason.

101: Failure to display particulars about used motor vehicle offence under Fair Trading Act 1986

Breaking the rules about displaying used car information is against the law

Topics:

Money and consumer rights > Consumer protection

1: Title, or

"The Law About Selling Cars in New Zealand"

Motor Vehicle Sales Act 2003

Reprint as at:: 2025-11-27
Assent:: 2003-04-09
Commencement:: see section 2

The Parliamentary Counsel Office has made editorial and format changes to this version using the powers under subpart 2 of Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019.

Note 4 at the end of this version provides a list of the amendments included in it.

This Act is administered by the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment.