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CarJam vs MotorWeb Vehicle Reports - The Definitive New Zealand Comparison

We compare the paid vehicle reports of CarJam and MotorWeb side by side to reveal which services offers the best value for money.
Updated 3 August 2024
Summary:
  • The risks of buying a car have never been greater - MotorWeb states on their website that "one in three vehicles we check will have a complication or inconsistency" which can relate to debt owing, inconsistent odometer readings and/or theft. CarJam states that "every year 23,000 vehicles are stolen and 55,000 vehicles are sold illegally".
  • With such risks in the car market, thousands of New Zealanders visit car report websites CarJam or MotorWeb every day to buy a vehicle report.
  • However, while the go-to service is usually CarJam, our comparison looks at the reports offered from both CarJam and MotorWeb to understand the difference between both services. We only focus on vehicle reports, not any of the other services offered by CarJam.
  • Our research included line-by-line comparison of paid reports for a Peugeot 308, generated in August 2023 - click to download the CarJam and MotorWeb versions. 
  • If you're looking for free information, you can enter in the licence plate to both CarJam and MotorWeb. However, while CarJam is comprehensive, MotorWeb is very limited and only displays the vehicle make, year, engine size and standard specs.

Our guide covers:

Why do New Zealanders use sites like CarJam and MotorWeb, and what risks do these reports cover?

New Zealanders visit sites like CarJam and MotorWeb to get crucial information before making car purchases. The services offered by these sites assist in various ways:
  1. Avoids Being Ripped Off: These platforms confirm if a vehicle up for sale is genuine and verifiable.
  2. Checks for Money Owed: On average, more than 800,000 New Zealand cars have money owed at any given time. Unwitting buyers could find themselves with a repossessed vehicle if sellers abscond with the sales proceeds without clearing the debt.
  3. Checks if the Car is Stolen: Users can ascertain if a vehicle is stolen. Remember, purchasing a stolen car means you don't truly own it.
  4. Check for Odometer Fraud: The sites indicate if a car's odometer might have been meddled with, pointing towards potentially unreported wear and tear.
  5. Reduces the risk of Paying Over Value: Without a vehicle history check, buyers could pay more than the market value for a car. These sites provide estimates based on sales of similar vehicles.
  6. Flags any Damaged Vehicles: They notify users if vehicles may have been imported after sustaining damages, indicating potential future repair costs or compromised safety.
  7. Guarantees: As an assurance of their services' reliability, MotorWeb offers a guarantee of up to $100,000 if a vehicle bought using their information is subsequently repossessed. CarJam offers a guarantee of up to $250,000.

Our View: Acquiring a vehicle with an outstanding debt is like a tenant selling their landlord's property. This underlines the significance of tools like MotorWeb and CarJam for potential car buyers in New Zealand, ensuring they make informed and safe purchasing decisions.

How Reliable is the data CarJam and MotorWeb use for their reports?
  • The data in CarJam reports is sourced from NZTA, NZ Police, NZCO, NZ PPSR, AU PPSR and other New Zealand, Japanese, USA proprietary sources.
  • The data in MotorWeb reports is sourced from third parties (including NZTA, MoJ and MBIE.

Comparing CarJam and MotorWeb's Vehicle Reports Side-by-Side

Using the sample CarJam and MotorWeb reports, we compare ten key criteria covered by each report:

1. Basic Vehicle Information
  • Both reports provide basic details such as Year, Make, Model, VIN, Engine number, etc

2. Visual Representation
  • CarJam: Offers a photo of a similar vehicle
  • MotorWeb: Provides a photo of a similar vehicle

3. Stolen Status
  • CarJam Clearly mentions if the vehicle is stolen
  • MotorWeb: Indicates if the vehicle has not been reported stolen

4. Ownership History
  • CarJam: Provides an in-depth ownership record, including ownership periods and details of the owners (when not protected by privacy law)
  • MotorWeb: Lists the number of owners and periods of ownership but doesn't provide as detailed information as CarJam

5. Odometer Reading and History
  • CarJam: Offers a detailed odometer history, average car usage, recent fuel cost, and usage level
  • MotorWeb: Lists odometer readings from previous inspections but lacks the average usage and fuel cost insights provided by CarJam

5. Market Valuation
  • CarJam: Provides valuation for various submodels at an additional fee (around $5)
  • MotorWeb Does not provide explicit market valuation information

6. Fuel Economy and Emissions
  • Both reports provide details on fuel economy, CO₂ emissions, and yearly fuel cost

7. Safety Features
  • CarJam: Offers a detailed list of crash avoidance and crash protection features
  • MotorWeb: Doesn't provide an explicit list of safety features

8. Vehicle Reviews
  • CarJam: Provides access to a Dog & Lemon review (for an extra charge)
  • MotorWeb: No mention of vehicle reviews

9. Running Costs
  • CarJam: Provides a detailed breakdown of running costs, including fuel, servicing, tyres, and engine oil
  • MotorWeb: Offers only the annual fuel cost

10. Registration and Licence Information
  • Both reports provide details on registration, license type, expiration, and other related information

Which Vehicle Information Reports(VIR) is the best to buy?

Both reports offer comprehensive details about the vehicle, but there are differences in the depth and presentation of information:
  • CarJam: Offers more in-depth insights, particularly regarding ownership history, odometer readings, market valuation, safety features, vehicle reviews, and running costs. It is geared towards anyone who want a deeper understanding of the vehicle's history and potential costs.
  • MotorWeb: Provides a more concise report, which may be better for anyone who wants a quick overview without detailed insights.

Costs: CarJam's standard reports costs $14.75 while MotorWeb's report costs $14.05.

Given the costs for both reports are nearly identical, we argue that there's far more value out in the CarJam report due to its depth and comprehensiveness. It provides a deep dive into the vehicle's history and potential costs, and is much more comprehensive than that offered by MotorWeb.

Further Considerations for Purchasing CarJam or MotorWeb Reports:

  1. Vehicle Import History: Both reports show if the vehicle was imported and its origin. Knowing the import status can alert you to potential rust issues or differing vehicle standards.
  2. WoF History: Both reports provide historical WOF data, but specific reasons for failures aren't detailed.
  3. VIN Verification: Both reports confirm the vehicle's VIN and its legitimacy, ensuring you're viewing the right vehicle.
  4. Vehicle Specifications: Both reports detail the vehicle's make, model, engine size, fuel type, and more to confirm what's being advertised and assist in determining its value.
  5. Environmental Details: Only CarJam provides data on the car's emissions and fuel efficiency, which is valuable for eco-friendly buyers or those assessing fuel costs.
  6. Report Validity: Both reports capture the vehicle's status at specific moment in time. For data like debts or stolen status, which can change, it's best to act quickly on the information and not rely on old reports.

CarJam - Free vs Paid Reports

As outlined above, MotorWeb offers next to no detail for free about a car. In contrast, CarJam offers a lot of information free - you can see how this looks by entering a licence plate. We've summarised what's displayed for free, and what the paid reporrt offers:

Free Report Inclusions:
  1. Basic Vehicle Information:
    • Year, Make, Model
    • Colour, Submodel, Body Style
    • VIN, Plate, Engine No.
    • CC rating, Fuel Type
    • Description of the vehicle type (e.g., Grey Hatchback)
    • Country of Origin, Assembly Type
    • Gross Vehicle Mass, Axle Type, Wheelbase
  2. Stolen Status: Information on whether the car has been reported stolen.
  3. Vehicle Type and Specifications:
    • Vehicle Type (e.g., Passenger Car/Van)
    • Number of Seats, Doors
    • Power, Transmission
    • Assembly Information (e.g., Imported Built-Up)
    • Country of Origin
    • Physical details like Gross Vehicle Mass, Axle Type, Axles, and Wheelbase.
  4. Damage and Write-off Checks:
    • Water/Fire Damage status
    • Statutory Write-off status
  5. Vehicle Fitness Information:
    • Whether the vehicle is subject to a WOF or COF
  6. Registration and License Information:
    • Original registration details, including plate type, origin, use, cause of latest registration, and first registration date in NZ.
  7. Odometer:
    • Recent usage statistics (e.g., 21 Km/day)
    • Odometer history, including historical readings from past WOF Inspections.
  8. Ownership History:
    • Number of owners the vehicle has had in New Zealand.
  9. Market Valuation (partial):
    • Model and submodel specifics, but the exact valuation amount is not provided for free.
  10. Fuel Economy: Mention that there is no fuel economy data available for the vehicle.
  11. Vehicle Safety: Information that the safety rating is based on the 2022 UCSR rating for models from 1999-2007, but specific rating details are not provided.
  12. Carbon Dioxide Emissions: A mention that the car is already registered in New Zealand and is not eligible for a Clean Car fee or rebate.
  13. Clean Vehicle: Status on eligibility for rebates or fees.
  14. Running Costs: A breakdown of estimated running costs, including fuel, servicing, tyres, and engine oil costs.

Our View: CarJam's free report provides a substantial amount of information about the vehicle, and for many, it might be enough for preliminary checks. However, if you're serious about purchasing the vehicle or want more in-depth information, especially related to potential hidden issues, purchasing the full report is proven way to limit any risks.

Paid Report Inclusions:
  1. Last Odometer Reading: The most recent reading of the vehicle's odometer and a measure of how trustworthy the odometer reading is. There's also more detailed records of the vehicle's odometer readings after 2013.
  2. Imported with Damage: Information on whether the car was imported with any damages.
  3. Last Inspection: When the last inspection of the vehicle took place, and the outcome or result of that inspection.
  4. WOF Expiry: When the current Warrant of Fitness (WOF) will expire.
  5. Licence Type, Expiry, Issued On, and Continuous Licence: Details related to the vehicle's licensing.
  6. Plates History & Current Plate: History of plates associated with the vehicle and the current one.
  7. Registration Status & NZ Last Registration: The current status of the vehicle's registration and when it was last registered in New Zealand.
  8. Ownership History: Detailed history of the vehicle's ownership, including names and address details (subject to privacy laws).
  9. Market Valuation: The current market value of the particular model.
  10. Fuel Economy: Data about how fuel-efficient the vehicle is.
  11. Vehicle Safety: Safety rating for the car based on the 2022 UCSR rating.
  12. Carbon Dioxide Emissions: Information on the CO2 emissions of the vehicle.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I purchase a vehicle report from CarJam or MotorWeb?

The reports provide comprehensive details about a vehicle's history. This can include past owners, any outstanding debts, accident history, stolen status, and other essential information that can influence a purchase decision.

How reliable are the information sources for these reports?

Both CarJam and MotorWeb access official New Zealand databases; the NZ Transport Agency's register. They are both reputable services known for providing accurate and up-to-date information, and trade on their reputation of accuracy and completeness.

I'm buying a car privately; should I still get a report?

Yes - when buying privately, it's even more critical to be assured of the vehicle's history, as there might not be any warranties or guarantees as you might find with a dealer.

What do I do if the report shows money owing on the vehicle?

If there's money owing, it indicates the vehicle might be used as security against a loan. It's crucial to ensure that the debt is settled before you purchase; otherwise, you risk the finance company potentially repossessing the car.

How up to date is the data in these reports?

The data is typically very current, with many of the databases being updated regularly. However, there might be a slight delay in some data, such as recent accident reports.

Does the report cover accident history?

Yes, these reports often include accident history if it has been officially recorded. However, minor accidents or those not reported to insurance might not be included.

Are stolen vehicles listed in the report?

Yes, if a vehicle has been reported as stolen, it will appear in the report, ensuring you don't inadvertently purchase a stolen vehicle.

Can I trust the odometer reading provided in the report?

While these reports provide recorded odometer readings at different times in the vehicle's history, potential buyers should still be cautious. Discrepancies in readings could indicate odometer tampering.

What if I have issues or disagreements with the information in the report?

Both CarJam and MotorWeb have customer support services. If there's an issue or if you believe there's an error in the report, it's advisable to contact them directly for clarification or correction.

Our Conclusion

  • New Zealanders commonly gravitate towards CarJam and MotorWeb, although our research suggests CarJam gets significantly more requests for vehicle data.
  • From our rigorous line-by-line comparison of the two reports, CarJam is far more comprehensive for the free and paid reports.
  • MotorWeb's concise paid report might appeal to those who prefer brevity, but CarJam's detail-oriented approach provides a deeper dive, arguably invaluable for serious buyers.
  • With both reports hovering just under $15, CarJam offers significantly more, given its depth of information.
  • CarJam's free report is commendably detailed. It's a comprehensive overview of a car's history, from basic vehicle stats and stolen status to even running cost breakdowns. MotorWeb's free offering, however, is noticeably sparse in comparison.
  • The New Zealand car market has many issues, and the risk of being burned has never been higher. Given transparency is key, CarJam emerges as the frontrunner. Its detailed reports, especially the free version, paired with a comparable price point for those wanting the complete details, make it a clear winner. However, MotorWeb, with its concise reports, may appeal to a certain niche.
  • If depth, value for money, and comprehensive insights matter, CarJam is the best vehicle information service in the market.
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