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A vehicle sale agreement records the private sale of a car, motorcycle, van, boat, or other vehicle. Use our free New Zealand template to document the sale under the Contract and Commercial Law Act 2017 and protect both buyer and seller.
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| MAKE | Toyota |
| MODEL | Corolla GX |
| YEAR | 2020 |
| COLOUR | Silver |
| REGISTRATION PLATE | ABC123 |
| VIN / CHASSIS NUMBER | JTDBR32E700123456 |
| ODOMETER (KM) | 48500 km |
| WOF / COF STATUS | Current Warrant of Fitness (WoF) |
| REGISTRATION EXPIRY | 31 December 2026 |
| PPSR CHECKED | Yes — PPSR search conducted; no encumbrances found |
Available as a print-ready PDF or an editable Microsoft Word (.docx) file.
A vehicle sale agreement is a written contract documenting the sale of a vehicle from a seller to a buyer. It records the vehicle, price, warranties, and the date and manner of the transfer. While a NZTA change-of-ownership notice (MR13B for the seller and registration by the buyer) handles the statutory title transfer, the contract governs the commercial relationship between seller and buyer.
In New Zealand, vehicle sales are governed by the Contract and Commercial Law Act 2017 (particularly the sale-of-goods provisions formerly in the Sale of Goods Act 1908). Private (non-dealer) sales are generally "as-is" — the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 does not apply to private sales between non-traders — but misleading or deceptive conduct is still prohibited under section 9 of the Fair Trading Act 1986 regardless of whether the seller is a dealer.
Motor vehicle dealers are subject to additional requirements under the Motor Vehicle Sales Act 2003, including registration with the Motor Vehicle Traders Register and consumer-protection obligations. Our template is designed for private sales. Dealer sales require a Consumer Information Notice (CIN) under the Motor Vehicle Sales Regulations 2003 and additional disclosures.
Our vehicle sale agreement captures all the details a New Zealand private vehicle sale needs.
Full legal names, addresses, driver’s licence numbers, and contact details of both parties.
Make, model, year, registration number, VIN, odometer reading, and colour.
Total price, deposit (if any), and balance payable at handover.
How payment will be made — bank transfer, bank cheque, or cash — and confirmation of cleared funds.
Date, time, and place at which possession and keys will be handed to the buyer.
Statement of known defects and confirmation that the buyer has inspected the vehicle.
For private sales, an "as is, where is" clause clearly stating no warranties are given.
Seller’s warranty that they own the vehicle and that it is not subject to any undisclosed security interest on the PPSR.
Seller’s confirmation that the odometer reading is accurate to their knowledge.
Current status of the Warrant of Fitness (WoF) and vehicle registration.
Acknowledgement that the seller will submit the NZTA change-of-ownership notice promptly.
Signatures of seller and buyer, dated, with optional witness signatures.
Generate a professional private vehicle sale agreement in minutes.
Provide the seller and buyer’s legal names, addresses, and driver’s licence numbers.
Enter make, model, year, registration plate, VIN, current odometer, and colour.
State the total price, any deposit, and the method of payment of the balance.
Record the "as is" status, known defects, handover date and place.
Both parties sign, exchange payment and keys, and the seller submits the MR13B change-of-ownership online or at a NZTA agent within 7 days.
Four things that make our templates more thorough than AI-generated drafts and more current than static template libraries.
Drafted with legal expertise for each jurisdiction, far more thorough than AI-generated drafts that copy generic clauses across borders.
Templates carrying statute references are continuously updated as the law changes. Your document always reflects the current legal framework.
Free to download. Vector text, embedded fonts, statute citations baked in. Print, sign, file. Ready for any signing flow including electronic signature.
Continue editing in Word after download. Add custom clauses, reuse the template for similar agreements, or share with a colleague for collaborative review.
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Even simple vehicle sales engage several New Zealand statutes and some practical pitfalls worth being aware of.
This template is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For high-value vehicles, overseas sales, or sales involving finance, seek advice from a New Zealand lawyer and check the PPSR before buying.
Reviewed for New Zealand law
Under the Personal Property Securities Act 1999, secured lenders can register financing statements over vehicles on the PPSR (ppsr.govt.nz). A buyer who does not check the PPSR risks buying a vehicle that remains subject to a security interest and can, in some cases, be repossessed. The agreement should include a seller warranty that the vehicle is free of encumbrances, and buyers should search the PPSR before settlement.
Even private sellers cannot engage in misleading or deceptive conduct in trade under section 9 of the Fair Trading Act 1986. Deliberate odometer tampering, misrepresenting accident history, or concealing known defects can breach the Act and expose the seller to damages under section 43. Dealers have additional positive disclosure duties under the Motor Vehicle Sales Act 2003.
The Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 implies guarantees of acceptable quality and fitness for purpose when a supplier supplies goods "in trade". Private (non-trader) sales generally fall outside the Act. Dealer sales are always within it, and dealers cannot contract out of the CGA for consumer sales. Our template is for private sales; an "as is" clause reinforces the absence of statutory guarantees.
Under the Land Transport Act 1998 and associated regulations, a seller must notify NZTA of a change of ownership (form MR13B or online within 7 days), and the buyer must register themselves as the new owner (form MR13A or online). Failure to notify does not void the sale but may expose the seller to liability for traffic infringements (including tolls and speeding tickets) incurred after the handover.
Create a clear New Zealand vehicle sale agreement in minutes. Protect yourself, document the price, condition, and transfer, and get the handover right.
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