Frequently Asked Questions about How to Buy a Car
We receive new stock daily!
You can search by make, model, price, year, and other criteria. Our website features a Saved Search tool that allows you to set alerts for specific cars. When a car matching your criteria is listed, we'll email you.
You can also add listings to your watchlist to receive alerts for upcoming auctions. To use the Saved Search or Watchlist features, please register on our website. Register now.
Yes, you can test drive any of our cars before purchasing.
We encourage you to test drive and carry out a thorough inspection before buying a car. To test drive a vehicle, please bring your driver’s licence; a Restricted or Full licence (or overseas equivalent) is required. For auction cars, test drives are available before the auction. At some dealerships, there is a designated test driving area, while at others, a staff member will accompany you on a road test. To book a test drive online, click here.
We recommend obtaining an independent mechanical check before purchasing any used car. This will help identify if the car requires maintenance, has any issues, or has been involved in an accident. We can assist in arranging an independent check—please call or email your nearest Turners dealership for more information.
Buying a car is a big investment. It is important to check the following:
Is there a debt owing on the car? If you buy a car with money owing on it, you can be made to repay the original debt.
Is the seller the legal owner? Make sure the car you are buying is not stolen.
When you buy a car from Turners, we guarantee that the car is not stolen and you will not have to pay if there is an unpaid finance debt on a car bought from us. This is called clear title.
When you buy a car at Turners, you may be protected under the Consumer Guarantees Act (CGA). This means that you can be sure you’re not being misled about the nature of the vehicle you buy and that it is of acceptable quality taking into account its age and the price you pay for it. And if something goes wrong with the car you’ve bought, Turners will work with you to resolve the issue within a reasonable time.
Learn about how the CGA applies to cars bought at Turners here.
Imported Cars
Cars that were first owned and used outside of New Zealand are referred to as ‘imports’. Most imports in New Zealand come from Japan.
If you purchase a new import, you will need to pay for its registration in New Zealand. Additionally, when buying an imported car, you may not receive a complete service history or details of previous owners. You may also find that any instructions and manuals for the car are not in English.
NZ New Cars
"NZ New" refers to a vehicle that was imported brand new by a car manufacturer, such as Ford or Holden, and was first registered in New Zealand. These cars have only been driven within New Zealand. With NZ New vehicles, you can easily access information about their history and previous owners.
Whether you’re buying or selling, it pays to research what the car is worth. Here are a few tips:
Research on Turners website: There are hundreds of cars on our website, with estimated auction prices and Buy Now prices for you to review.
Attend an auction: Anyone can attend our public auctions (or watch online via Turners Live) to see what cars sell for. View upcoming auctions.
An independent mechanical check will tell you whether there are any problems with the car that might make it unsafe to drive. For help arranging an independent mechanical inspection, contact your nearest dealership.
You can also research general safety information for hundreds of cars at www.rightcar.co.nz
Most cars sold at Turners feature a Fuel Efficiency rating of between 1 and 6 stars, based on data from the Government’s Fuel Saver programme. This rating is displayed on a sticker on the car’s front windscreen and is also included in the online listing.
You can find out more about these ratings by visiting www.fuelsaver.govt.nz
When you purchase a car from Turners, we guarantee several things, including
- No money owing
- Sold by the legal owner
For more information about what we guarantee, read our Buyer Terms and Conditions.
Cars sold by auction do not come with a mechanical warranty, however you can buy Mechanical Breakdown Insurance from us.
You can also learn about the Consumer Guarantees Act and how it applies to cars bought at Turners here.
You can view the history of most cars sold at Turners for free via the CARJAM link in the vehicle listing. This check provides details such as colour, registration information, VIN, engine numbers, and mileage. Many of these details are also included in the Customer Information Notice (CIN) displayed on each car and in the online listing.
For a fee, you can obtain more detailed information about the car from CARJAM. For further details, visit www.carjam.co.nz
We always recommend getting an independent mechanical check before you buy a car. These are available through all of our dealerships, most of which have this service onsite.
You may be covered by the Consumer Guarantees Act, learn more about this here.
Mechanical problems are not covered by Turners, but you can buy Mechanical Breakdown Insurance from us that protects you if you have a breakdown.
Turners has a huge range of BuyNow cars on offer. These have a fixed price and you can buy them on the spot without having to wait for an auction. Learn more about BuyNow.
The simplest way to discover which cars are being auctioned today is to view our online auction catalogues. You can access them here.
Bidding is as easy as raising your hand, or bidders card in the air, but you do need to be registered to bid in a car auction.
Our auctioneer and bid spotters will be looking out for your bid.
For more information, download our Auction Catalogue.
You can bid in any of our car auctions online using Turners Live. Bidding is as simple as clicking your mouse. Turners Live enables you to bid without having to attend the auction. To bid on Turners Live you will need to register on this website.
Go to 'FAQs for Turners Live' for more information.
Turners accepts most forms of payment, however, Turners cannot release your vehicle until the funds have cleared. You can make payment immediately using cash, EFTPOS, Visa, Mastercard and Alipay. Turners do not accept cheques, American Express, Discover, Diners Club, Union Pay, UCB or Qcard. Direct credit or bank transfer are accepted, however, in most cases funds do not clear immediately.
If you require Finance, there are on-site consultants available at every branch that will be able to help you. Or you can sign-up online for pre-approved finance. We can usually approve finance within 2 hours.
Please note:
- As of 11th of May 2023, we are no longer able to accept cash payments of $10,000 or more under the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) legislation. For more information please click here.
- Each bank sets different limits as to how much money can be transferred via EFTPOS in a 24 hour period. Turners has no control over these limits.
- With direct credit or bank transfer funds usually take at least a day to clear. The vehicle cannot be released until the funds have cleared.
- A 2% fee is charged on all Paywave, Alipay and credit card transactions. You will only be able to purchase to the limit on your credit card.
- We are unable to accept cheques.
Buying at Auction:
You will need to pay a deposit of $500 or 10% of the auction price (whichever amount is higher) after the auction. This deposit is non-refundable. You must pay the balance by 12 pm the day after the auction. You can make payment by cash, EFTPOS, Visa, Mastercard or direct credit/bank transfer. Please note the limitations above of each form of payment –Turners cannot release your vehicle until the funds have cleared and are in our bank account.
Buying with Buy Now:
In-Dealership
You will need to pay a deposit of $500 or 10% of the auction price (whichever amount is higher). The balance must be paid within 24 hours. This deposit is non-refundable. Please note the limitations above of each form of payment –Turners cannot release your vehicle until the funds have cleared and are in our bank account.
Online
You will need to pay a deposit of $500 or 10% of the auction price (whichever amount is higher). The balance must be paid within 24 hours. The balance must be paid at the dealership. Please be aware that Turners cannot release the vehicle to you until the funds are cleared, and that this is usually at least 1 day for most banks.
Applying for finance has never been easier. Turners has experienced Business Managers who can work with you to get the best deal to suit your circumstances and affordability.
Find out more about finance.
When you purchase a car at one of our auctions, we charge a Buyer’s Fee. This fee covers our guarantee that the car is not stolen, that there are no money owing, and that the change of ownership is processed.
View our Buyer’s Fees.
Turners can help you arrange to have the car you’ve bought transported to another city. For more information, call your nearest Turners dealership.
There are a number of Terms and Conditions that apply to sale by auction and Buy Now.
View our Buyer Terms and Conditions.
There are a number of Terms and Conditions that apply to Turners Live.
View our Turners Live Terms and Conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions about How to Sell a Car
If you are wanting CashNow this depends on a number of factors, and we need to appraise the vehicle at your local Turners Cars branch before an offer can be made. You need to book an appointment to have your car appraised. You can complete this online form here, or call us on 0800 887 637. If you want to sell through auction, the amount you receive for your car will depend on the auction's outcome and the reserve you set.
If you do not live near a branch, give us a call. In most cases, our team can provide you with a rough estimate for your car."
Yes, we need to appraise the vehicle at your local dealership before making an offer. Please book an appointment to have your car appraised. You can do this online here, or call us on 0800 887 637.
If you don't live near a branch, give us a call. In most cases, our team can provide you with a rough estimate for your car.
Please bring the following with you for your appraisal:
- Driver licence
- Bank account details
- Spare key (Only if you have it)
- Vehicle's service history (if it has one available)
If you plan to sell your vehicle to us on the day, please arrange a ride home in advance. While there may be public transport, taxis, or Ubers available near your branch, it's best to check ahead and plan accordingly.
We will purchase almost any car or help you sell it through auction. To proceed, you'll need to bring your car in for an appraisal, and an appointment is required. You can do this online here, or call us on 0800 887 637.
CashNow is great if you’re in a hurry to sell or don't want to sell by auction. Book an appraisal, bring your car in at the agreed time and we'll make you an offer on the spot.
You should contact your finance company to discuss your current finance contract and determine if you can sell the vehicle before your loan is paid off. If you can, then we can help.
When you bring your car in, we’ll give you a free appraisal conducted by our experienced consultants. To book an appraisal, please call or email your nearest Turners dealership.
When you sell a car at one of our auctions, we apply a Seller’s Fee to cover the management of the sale process, including marketing your car and arranging the change of ownership. Additionally, an administration fee is charged each time the car is auctioned.
View our Seller’s Fees.
All the cars we sell are advertised on the Turners website as well as on other major car sales websites across New Zealand.
Selling a car at Turners is really easy. Just book an appraisal, come in at the agreed time and we’ll do the rest. All we need you to do is set the reserve – we take care of advertising, buyer negotiations and change of ownership. There are fees to sell by auction find out more here).
Our auction consultant will help you decide on a fair reserve price. Before you set your reserve, it pays to do some research. Here are a few tips:
Research on our website: There are hundreds of cars on our website, with estimated auction prices and Buy Now prices for you to review.
Attend an auction: Anyone can attend our public auctions (or watch online via Turners Live) to see what cars sell for. Find upcoming car auctions.
Get an appraisal: We offer auction sellers a free appraisal to help set their auction reserve. You must bring your vehicle on site to get this appraisal done.
Clean and tidy cars generally achieve a better price at auction. Ensure you remove any rubbish and personal belongings, clean the car thoroughly, and vacuum it. Alternatively, you can opt for a valet service at any of our dealerships – contact your local Turners car dealership for details.
Unfortunately, no. This is to respect the privacy of the purchaser.
There are a number of Terms and Conditions that apply to sale by auction.
View our Vendor Terms and Conditions.
An offer is valid for 7 days, provided the vehicle remains in the same condition and has not traveled more than 100 km since the appraisal.
If you sell your car to us through CashNow, payment for your car will be received within 2 to 3 days business days. Business days being Monday-Friday. Not the weekend.
If we sell your car on your behalf through auction, then you will get the money not more than 2 business days after we get paid. As Tina says, boom – money in the bank.
Frequently Asked Questions about Turners Live
Turners Live allows you to view, bid and buy from our live auctions held at any of our branches without having to attend the physical auction.
To use Turners Live, you must register on our website. Register now.
PLEASE NOTE: To be able to bid online using Turners Live, you must register a credit card before the auction. After that, simply click on the Turners Live icon next to any auction to watch it live. You can watch more than one auction at once. Bidding is as easy as clicking the ‘Bid’ button on your screen.
If you’re having problems using the new Turners Live please contact our Helpdesk on 0800 887 637 during the following hours:
- Mondays, Tuesdays & Thursdays: 8am - 6.15pm
- Wednesdays & Fridays: 8am - 4.30pm
- Saturdays: 10am -12.30pm
All you need to do is log into your account and register your credit card here.
How do I access my Turners website account for the first time?
Once you have registered on our website, your account will need to be activated before it can be used.
An activation email will be sent to the email address you gave when you registered. It will contain a link that you need to click on to activate your account.
Once your account is activated you will be able to log in with your email address and password.
If you do not receive an activation email, please call our Helpdesk on 0800 887 637 or email us at support@turners.co.nz
Important note for all online users:
If you have an email address, or your email is handled by Yahoo or Xtra, you may not be able to receive our activation email unless you add us to your address book in your webmail.
(Please note this has to be done in your webmail and cannot be done using a desktop application like Outlook).
The activation email could also be in your spam or bulk folder so we suggest you check in all junk mail/spam or bulk folders as well.
You can watch any live auction using Turners Live without registering, but you cannot bid.
Any auction with a green VIEW LIVE link can be viewed in Turners Live.
All our vehicle auctions are accessible both in person at the branch and via Turners Live.
In order to register your credit card you need to be registered on our website and logged in.
1. Once you are logged in, go to ‘My Account’ and select ‘Account Details – Edit’
2. Click ‘Bid Online’ from under ‘Turners Live Bidding Status’
3. A DPS (Direct Payments Solution) form will appear. Enter your credit card details
4. An automated credit card check will take place and your credit card will be approved
PLEASE NOTE: All credit card entries and information are not kept in the Turners Live database. All credit card information and the check is done by the credit card company itself. As part of this process $1 will be held temporarily against your card, it will be back in your account within a few days.
Once your credit card has been approved, you will be able to bid. Register a credit card now.
Simply log into your account and go to ‘My Account’ and select ‘Account Details – Edit’. You will then see a button to update your credit card details.
We will not deduct any money from your credit card unless you make an online purchase. When registering your credit card, $1 will be held temporarily against your card, it will be back in your account within a few days.
When you buy online through Turners Live, a deposit of $500 or 10% of the purchase price (whichever is greater) will be deducted immediately following the auction.
You will need to pay the rest by EFTPOS, credit card, direct debit or cash by 12pm the next day.
Please make sure you have sufficient credit funds on your credit card to cover the initial deposit before you bid.
Turners does not record or store your credit card details.
All credit card entries and transactions are done on the website of DPS (Direct Payment Solutions) who are certified with banks in Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Islands, Singapore, South Africa and Malaysia.
When you register for Turners Live you can opt to be registered as a dealer. Once approved you can access trade sales and enjoy the many benefits of being a trade approved client.
You will be contacted by Turners Credit department within 2 working days of your initial registration to verify your dealer details and set up your dealer account.
In the meantime you can register as a non-dealer which will allow you access to all public auctions.
If you require access to trade areas sooner please contact our credit department directly on (09) 580 9376 or dealer_registrations@turners.co.nz.
It works on all modern browsers. It does not work on IE8 and below.
In an auction there could be a lot of bidding activity whether is on site, over the phone or online.
All bidding gets processed during the auction and if you are bidding online it may take a moment for it to register with the clerk.
When you win an auction, a message will appear on your screen saying 'Congratulations on your purchase'
A system generated email will then be sent to you. A consultant will be in touch to arrange payment and pick up of the car.
Mobiles and tablets – this will be at the bottom of your screen.
Other devices – this will be at the top right hand corner of your screen.
This will automatically scroll as the auction progresses, displaying the current lot and the next lots to be offered. If you want to look at lots further down the list, simply scroll down.
The sale has not yet commenced. Once the sale is underway the screen will automatically change to the lot that is being auctioned.
When a good is getting close to the reserve ‘getting close’ will be displayed.
When the reserve has been met ‘now selling’ will be displayed.
The words ‘getting close’ will appear on the bidding screen if the bidding is close to reserve. If you are the highest bidder a consultant will contact you after the auction to see if a sale price can be negotiated.
Turners Live has been set up so it can’t accept double bids from the same bidder once the item is selling (has met reserve).
However, before the item meets reserve you are able to bid against yourself so that the you can met the reserve and buy the item.
You will see ‘You Lead’ if you are currently the highest bidder.
There are a number of Terms and Conditions that apply to Turners Live.
View our Turners Live Terms and Conditions.
Yes, it works on all modern mobiles and tablets.
If a good is saved to your watchlist, and you’re logged in, you will see the icon below.
Simply click on the tab in the relevant section.
This is what the audio device looks like.
As a default, the audio will provide the following notifications:
1. New lot is opened. The voice will say ‘Lot 1’, ‘Lot 2’, ‘Lot 3’ etc.
2. A lot has been opened that is on your watchlist. A bell will sound and the voice will say ‘This lot is on your watchlist’.
3. A click sound will be made each time a bid is made.
Can I choose my notifications?
You will have the option of hearing all announcements or turning some of them off. You can also adjust the volume or mute the sound altogether. To do this, simply click on the settings button shown below.
You will then see the options shown below where you can select your preferences.
No, we do not store your credit card information.
Frequently Asked Questions about Online Auctions
If you're set up to bid on Turners Live, you're already set up to bid on these auctions. If not, please see the instructions below.
Private customers & companies
- Log into your Turners website account
- Go to MY ACCOUNT
- Click ACCOUNT DETAILS - Edit
- Go to the ACCOUNT TYPE section at the bottom of the page and tick the box that says BID ONLINE. Or you will see a red 'BID ONLINE' button on the top right hand side
- You will then be prompted to enter your credit card details. To authorise your card we need to charge $1 to it, this will be credited back onto your card after a couple of days.
Registered Motor Vehicle Traders, Licensed Second-hand Dealers & Licensed Dismantlers
- Log into your Turners website account
- Go to MY ACCOUNT
- Click ACCOUNT DETAILS - Edit
- Click the red 'BID ONLINE' button on the top right hand side
- If you can't see the red button you may not be registered with us as a licensed dealer. Go to the ACCOUNT TYPE section at the bottom of the page and ensure the correct account type is selected, fill in the additional details and we will send a General Agreement to Trade form. You will need to complete this form to be registered as a dealer within our system
Go to MY ACCOUNT, and select ACCOUNT DETAILS – Edit. You will then see the LINK MY TRADE ME ACCOUNT button below
Alternatively, if you click on the BID or BUY NOW button in an online auction you will be prompted to link your account.
This is because our Turners Trade Me Auctions are held in partnership with Trade Me, you need to link your Turners account to Trade Me to be able to bid or Buy Now.
You do not need to link your account to Trade Me for Turners Online Auctions.
You can still search for and view goods in online auctions. You can even ask questions, but you can’t bid on or buy the good if it's a Turners Trade Me Auction - you can if it's a Turners Online Auction.
If you don’t have a Trade Me account and would like to bid on Turners Trade Me Auctions you will need to create one. Then link your Turners account to Trade Me.
You can still search for and view all goods on www.turners.co.nz without linking to Trade Me.
Turners Live allows you to bid on live auctions that are taking place physically and are run by an auctioneer in front of customers.
Online auctions are only held online, there is no physical auction or auctioneer. The customers are all online.
Autobid will place bids at the next minimum amount up to your maximum, if you are outbid.
If the reserve has not been met and your autobid exceeds the reserve, a bid will be placed at the reserve amount.
1) Specify the maximum you want to bid in the box
2) Tick the autobid box - MY BID (on the left hand side) will then change to MY MAXIMUM BID
3) Click AUTOBID
Your screen name is dispayed next to your bid.
Turners Trade Me Auctions
Your screen name will be your Trade Me user name, as these auctions are held in partnership with Trade Me.
Turners Online Auctions
If you don't have a screen name your Turners website account name will be displayed. You can set your screen name here.
For Damaged and End of Life Cars the identity of the other bidders is kept completely private.
Payment options will vary, but are likely to include; direct credit, cash, EFTPOS, Visa or Mastercard*.
Our standard terms are that funds need to clear before goods can be released.
*Please note that we charge an extra 2% on all Paywave, Alipay and credit card transactions. We are unable to accept cheques.
Turners Trade Me online auctions
There are no additional buyers fees. What you bid, is what you pay.
Turners online auctions
Standard buyers fees will apply on top of your bid price.
To view our buyers fees, click here.
Goods bought via online auctions will be available for pick up and/ or shipping at the buyers expense. Talk to your local branch about your shipping options.
Please use the QUESTIONS & ANSWERS tab at the bottom of the listing. You need to be logged into your account to ask a question.
Because our Turners Trade Me Auctions are held in partnership with Trade Me, you will receive emails from them depending on your Trade Me notification settings.
To check your Trade Me notification settings:
1) Go to www.trademe.co.nz
2) Login in
3) Go to ‘My Trade Me’
4) Click on 'view my Trade Me'
4) Under ‘More options’ click on ‘Email options’
To find out more about Turners Finance and to apply, please visit www.turners.co.nz/Finance
There is a lot of helpful information including, application forms, booking a no obligation consultation and a loan calculator.