Transport guide · New Zealand
CarJam vs MotorWeb NZ: Vehicle Report Comparison
Compare CarJam and MotorWeb NZ vehicle reports, current published prices, checks, guarantees and limitations before paying for a used-car history report.
Reviewed 26 August 2026
Reviewed by KiwiTools editorial team — NZ transport researchers using NZTA, Consumer Protection and provider sources
A vehicle-data result is a point-in-time check, not proof of ownership or mechanical condition. Match the VIN and plate, verify the seller and obtain the checks appropriate to the purchase.
Key points
CarJam versus MotorWeb in brief
Both providers offer New Zealand vehicle-history reports covering major purchase risks such as reported theft, money owing and inconsistent odometer records.
CarJam publishes free cached basic reports and free stolen checks alongside paid components; MotorWeb centres its public offer on the paid Vehicle Information Report (VIR) and a free basic vehicle-facts search.
Choose by the exact fields, timestamp, price and guarantee terms you need—not by brand alone—and still match the VIN, verify the seller and obtain an independent inspection.
CarJam vs MotorWeb comparison at a glance
This table reflects the providers’ published consumer information reviewed on 25 August 2026. Products, prices and eligibility can change, so confirm the checkout page and terms before purchasing.
| Check | CarJam NZ | MotorWeb NZ |
|---|---|---|
| Public product | Free cached/basic information plus paid full reports and components | Free basic vehicle facts plus paid Vehicle Information Report (VIR) |
| Search identifiers | Registration plate, VIN or chassis number | Public vehicle search and VIR workflow begins with vehicle identifiers such as the plate |
| History and risk checks | Advertises stolen, money owing, odometer, plate, WOF/COF, RUC and other available history | Advertises more than 70 applicable checks including money owing, stolen, odometer, RUC and safety/security information |
| Published consumer pricing | NZ$13.95 casual full report; NZ$12.95 registered-user full report | Three-report VIR pack NZ$27.95; confirm the current single-report checkout price |
| Guarantee advertised | Optional NZ$250,000 Ownership Guarantee listed at NZ$3.95, subject to terms | NZ$100,000 Repossession Guarantee included with VIR, subject to terms |
| Important limitation | Free basic information can be cached; report scope varies by product selected | VIR is point-in-time and may not show overseas, accident, repair or unavailable history |
What are CarJam and MotorWeb?
CarJam and MotorWeb are private New Zealand vehicle-information providers. Neither is NZTA, New Zealand Police or the Personal Property Securities Register. Both package data and checks into products intended to help buyers investigate a vehicle before money changes hands.
MotorWeb is owned and operated by Trade Me and calls its paid report the Vehicle Information Report, or VIR. CarJam offers casual, registered and business products, including free cached basic reports and separately priced report components.
What a CarJam vehicle report includes
CarJam describes its NZ full report as covering vehicle information, stolen status, history, money owing and more. Published report details include available plate and odometer history, WOF or COF information, RUC records, ownership-related information subject to privacy restrictions, alerts and optional valuation or overseas-history products.
CarJam currently lists free stolen checks and free cached basic reports. Cached information may not reflect a recent WOF, vehicle-licence or register update, so read the report timestamp and refresh conditions rather than assuming every free result is current.
Read the related carjam guideRead the related carjam alternative guideRead the related nz number plate check guide
What a MotorWeb VIR includes
MotorWeb says its VIR performs more than 70 checks where relevant. Its consumer pages identify money owing, reported stolen status, inconsistent odometer information, flood-damaged import flags, outstanding RUC, fuel-economy information and available safety or security features among the report fields.
MotorWeb also provides a Seller Check with a purchased VIR and a purchase agreement. Its published help makes clear that a VIR cannot show every problem: unavailable overseas history, some accident or repair history, unreported theft and incomplete odometer records can remain outside the report.
CarJam vs MotorWeb prices reviewed in August 2026
For a one-off CarJam lookup, the useful comparison number is NZ$13.95. Signing in trims that to NZ$12.95, while the advertised NZ$10.95 repeat price only applies when another registered-user report is bought within 14 days. Do not use the cheapest figure in a comparison unless the purchase actually qualifies for it.
MotorWeb publishes a three-report VIR pack for NZ$27.95 and says that saves NZ$7.90 compared with buying three separately. Because the public single-report price was not clearly stated on the reviewed information page, confirm it in the MotorWeb checkout rather than relying on an inferred figure.
Compare the CarJam and MotorWeb guarantees carefully
MotorWeb advertises a conditional NZ$100,000 Repossession Guarantee where qualifying money-owing or reported-stolen information was available to MotorWeb at the time but not displayed on the VIR. The exact eligibility, exclusions, evidence and claim process are controlled by MotorWeb’s guarantee terms.
CarJam lists an optional NZ$250,000 Ownership Guarantee for NZ$3.95 alongside its report products, also subject to separate terms. A higher headline limit does not automatically mean broader cover. Read what triggers each guarantee, which report must be purchased, timing requirements and exclusions before treating it as part of the comparison.
Which vehicle report is better for a New Zealand buyer?
CarJam may suit someone who wants an initial free cached check, modular add-ons or its particular report presentation. MotorWeb may suit a buyer who wants the VIR workflow, included seller-check features or a discounted three-report pack for a shortlist. The best choice depends on the current product contents, not a universal winner.
For either provider, match the plate and VIN to the physical vehicle, check the report generation time and investigate every warning. If money owing is the main risk, understand whether the report includes a current PPSR search and which identifiers were searched.
What neither report can prove
No database report proves that a vehicle is mechanically sound or that every accident, repair, overseas event or emerging fault is recorded. NZTA and Consumer Protection both explain that a current WOF is not a pre-purchase inspection and does not assess important components such as the engine, clutch or gearbox.
A registered person is also not necessarily the legal owner. Confirm the seller’s identity and authority to sell, use appropriate PPSR and stolen checks, retain the listing and report, review service records, test-drive the car and obtain an independent inspection.
Frequently asked questions
Is CarJam better than MotorWeb?
Neither service is best for every buyer. Compare the current report fields, timestamp, price, guarantee terms and whether you need one report or a shortlist pack, then complete the same independent checks.
How much is a CarJam report in New Zealand?
As reviewed on 25 August 2026, CarJam lists NZ$13.95 for a casual full NZ report and NZ$12.95 for a registered user. Confirm current pricing before paying.
How much is a MotorWeb vehicle report?
MotorWeb publishes a three-VIR pack for NZ$27.95. Confirm the current single-report price in its checkout because the reviewed public information page did not state it clearly.
Do CarJam and MotorWeb check money owing?
Both advertise money-owing checks in their full consumer reports. Confirm that the selected product includes a current security-interest search and check which plate, previous plates and VIN were covered.
Do CarJam and MotorWeb show if a car is stolen?
Both advertise reported-stolen checks. A negative result is not a guarantee because theft may be unreported, data can be delayed and identifiers can be changed or cloned.
Is MotorWeb the same as Motochek?
No. MotorWeb is a commercial provider owned and operated by Trade Me. Motochek is NZTA’s registered-user Motor Vehicle Register query service.
Does a clear vehicle report replace a mechanic?
No. A history report cannot assess the present engine, transmission, battery, tyres, hidden damage or every safety issue. Obtain an appropriate independent pre-purchase inspection.
Does either report prove who owns the vehicle?
No. NZTA states that the registered person is not necessarily the legal owner. Verify the seller, documents, vehicle identifiers and any registered security interests separately.
Put the guide into practice
Continue with related KiwiTools calculators
Test your own numbers, compare scenarios and return to the guide to check assumptions and limitations.