Car Loans common questions

For the full fee schedule, rates and terms click here.

Yes. Give our team a call on 0800 85 30 30, and we’ll see what we can do to change your loan to suit your circumstances (there may be a fee to restructure your loan).

The security will be the asset you’ve purchased, although we may ask for additional security and/or a guarantor.

Yes. If you want to increase the amount of your loan, give us a call on 0800 85 30 30. If approved, we can confirm this over the phone and you won’t need to fill in another loan application.

To be eligible, you must be at least 18 years of age, have a full or restricted driver licence (if purchasing a vehicle), and intend to remain in New Zealand. This is not an exhaustive list – we evaluate each loan application individually to determine eligibility.

Yes. If you would like to know how much you can borrow before you go shopping for an asset, you can apply for the loan as normal and, if approved, you can use the approval confirmation with any registered trader. If you’re purchasing from a private sale, we will pay the private seller on your behalf.

If you’re applying for a loan with your spouse or partner, you’ll need information regarding their personal details, income and expenses. Expenses should be entered into the application as a combined whole for the both of you as a couple.

Yes. We also offer finance for boats, jet skis, caravans and motorbikes.

$10,000 is the minimum amount that can be borrowed.

We will be in contact within two business hours from receiving your application. This might be the next working day, depending on what time you apply.

• View your loan balance
• Manage your loan payments
• Access your payment schedule
• Generate and download statements
• Update your contact details

For further information, please visit our how-to guides.

By a NZ Gazette Notice commencing on 1 November 2022, the NZ Transport Agency/Waka Kotahi (NZTA) has authorised Heartland Bank Limited (Heartland) to have access to certain names and addresses of persons currently registered to motor vehicles (Registered Person) on the NZTA Motor Vehicle Register (Motor Vehicle Register). You are considered a Registered Person if you own a vehicle that is registered with NZTA in your name. Heartland may access the Motor Vehicle Register and obtain the name and address of a Registered Person in the following circumstances:

• Checking the Registered Person of a vehicle when Heartland is assessing an application to provide finance in relation to that vehicle.
• Checking the Registered Person of a vehicle when Heartland has a security interest in that vehicle.
• Checking the Registered Person when purchasing a vehicle.
• Any other purpose necessary to facilitate the sale and purchase of vehicles aside from marketing.

Opting-out
If you are a Registered Person on the Motor Vehicle Register, you may be able to restrict access to your personal information by making a request to the NZTA Registrar. You can do this on the NZTA website by opting-out or obtaining confidential status: https://www.nzta.govt.nz/vehicles/how-the-motor-vehicle-register-affects-you/who-can-access-register-information.

If you want to change the day or frequency of your payments, you can do this, two ways:

• Call 0800 85 20 20 and our customer service representatives will assist you
• Via the Heartland Mobile App under “Edit repayment schedule” (*please note, the Mobile App option is only currently available to consumer vehicle loan or business vehicle loan holders and there are no balloon payments or other variable payment options attached to your loan).

Your vehicle loan comes with important responsibilities, like making regular repayments to keep everything on track. If you have missed a repayment, the steps you need to take depend on how long your account has been in arrears:

Within seven days of missing a payment
Please contact our Customer Service team on 0800 85 20 20 or send a secure message on the Heartland Mobile App. They can:

• Set up a direct debit to bring your account up to date, or
• Confirm the overdue amount and provide the correct account name and number if you prefer to make a direct credit payment.

More than seven days in arrears
Please contact our Collections team on 0800 42 08 42. Depending on your circumstances, options may include:

• Setting up a direct debit,
• Making a direct credit payment for the full overdue balance, or
• Arranging another suitable payment plan to clear your arrears as quickly as possible.

We will explain available options, but we cannot provide financial advice.

When buying a vehicle privately, it’s your responsibility to make sure the vehicle is free of debt, safe, and legally able to be sold.

1. Pre-purchase inspection

Arrange an independent vehicle inspection to gain a clear understanding of the vehicle’s condition and safety before buying—so you can drive away with confidence.

2. PPSR (Personal Property Securities Register) check – is money still owing on the vehicle you want to purchase?

If the seller still owes money on the vehicle, or the lender has a security interest, the vehicle could be repossessed even after you’ve bought it.

You can use the Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) to check by entering the vehicle details including the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).

Go to www.ppsr.govt.nz. There is a small fee to pay for each search.

3. Is the registration and warrant up to date?

Make sure the vehicle has a current registration (rego) and Warrant of Fitness (WOF).
Check the registration details online (Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency) to confirm:

• The vehicle is registered,
• The WOF is valid,
• The details (plate, make, model, colour) match the vehicle.

Go to www.nzta.govt.nz

4. Ownership

Ask to see the seller’s ID and check it matches the name on the registration papers. Only buy a vehicle from the registered owner.

5. Paperwork – protect yourself

It is common practice to record key details of the sale, such as the vehicle’s information, sale date, purchase price, both parties’ names and signatures and the bank account for payment.

Both the buyer and seller are required to notify Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency that the vehicle has changed hands. This can be done online through Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency’s online service, so the vehicle is officially registered in your name.