Moving to Rarotonga? Thinking of living in the Cook Islands and wondering where to start with looking for a used car on the island? Here is everything you need to know about buying a car in Rarotonga.
Albeit pinning down any car-buying tips in Rarotonga as a soon-to-arrive expat can feel like opening a can of worms from afar…
But fear not! With a few tips on where to start looking to buy a car in Rarotonga and some hints to stay on the right side of local regulations, this is your ultimate island roadmap.
Plus the good news? We have done it twice!
This is our second time living in Rarotonga and moving to the Cook Islands. So not only can we share with you all about buying a car in Rarotonga. But we also have all the deets about shipping, health checks, and renting a house in Rarotonga!
Read All About:
- PART 1 – Moving to Rarotonga, Cook Islands
- PART 2 – Navigating Health Checks for Your Move to Rarotonga
- PART 3 – Shipping for Your Move to Rarotonga
- PART 4 – Finding and Renting a House in Rarotonga
- PART 5 – Buying a Car in Rarotonga
Ready? Buckle up and let’s get started!
- Buying a Car in Rarotonga
- Car Prices in Rarotonga
- Where To Buy?
- What To Look For?
- Owning a Car in Rarotonga
- WOF
- Registration
- Maintenance
- Selling a Car in Rarotonga
How to Get Around Rarotonga
The truth is you can get around the island by bus. There is a Clockwise and Anti-Clockwise bus service that loops the island.
But the reality is that if you are living and working in Rarotonga the simplest way to navigate the island independently is to buy a car in Rarotonga.
Hey! We are Away With The Steiners. Want to know more about Moving To Rarotonga?
Buying a Car in Rarotonga
Buying a second-hand car anywhere is a little bit hit and miss. Though it’s always trickier negotiating as a foreigner.
You don’t want to come across as a cheapskate or offend anybody. But you likely don’t yet have the same kind of contacts as the locals do.
There is no equivalent online app like Trade Me in New Zealand or Gum Tree in Australia.
So ultimately, without the prior local connection, there are two options for buying a car in Rarotonga:
- You can Buy Privately from an Individual Seller (see below for Facebook pages) or
- From a Commercial Rental Service or Car Dealer
The deciding factor in these two options is largely based on budget.
How Much Does it Cost to Buy a Car in Rarotonga?
There is a range – albeit limited in choice – in vehicles and prices on the island.
A new car from Pickering Motors or similar costs upwards of $25,000 NZD.
However, the good news is that there is a great second-hand car market. But please note that to purchase a used car listed online via Facebook you need to be quick! They do move fast.
Our Best Advice
Advice that was given to us before we moved to the Cook Islands was that to buy a car in Rarotonga the price is something like what you would pay in New Zealand plus $3000 on top. For example, if you’d pay $3500 for that same car in New Zealand, you’d likely pay $6500 to buy that car in Rarotonga.
Remember as a bit of disclosure before you get into the nitty-gritty; you now live on a tropical island and the car had to get there somehow.
This is what we have come to know as ‘Paradise Tax’!
As an example, these are some prices of cars listed for sale to buy in Rarotonga:
- Small Car
eg. 2007 Nissan March, Toyota Passo
Price: $5000 – $8000 - Medium Car
eg. 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Sienta
$6000 – $10,000 NZD - Large Car
eg. 2010 Mazda MPV, Nissan Teana
$10,000 – $15,000
This seems to be reasonably accurate in judging a fair price for an older model of second-hand vehicle.
Where to Buy a Used Car in Rarotonga
There are a variety of ways to buy a used car in Rarotonga:
- Facebook Marketplace
- Rarotonga Buy & Sell Facebook Pages
- Used Car Dealer
We have successfully bought a used car in Rarotonga online from Facebook Marketplace twice and from a Car Dealer in Arorangi. Plus we have bought two cars directly from friends leaving the island. This is a great option I might add, as you know who has owned and used the car for the last few years of their work contract.
Facebook Pages for Buying a Car in Rarotonga:
The car dealer in Arorangi that we recommend is called ‘CarWorx’.
What To Look For Buying a Car in Rarotonga?
There are a few quirks to look out for that are particular to buying a car in Rarotonga.
Inspect the car on a dry, sunny day if possible – you’re more likely to see the clues to the car’s real condition. Take your time to examine everything you see; don’t just look at what the seller chooses to show you.
What To Look For
A few things that are common and to look out for when buying a car in Rarotonga:
- Check the Lights: It’s likely some lights don’t work.
- Acknowledge the RUST: Acknowledge – and accept and ignore. Here they call a bit of rust the ‘Golden Touch’ and you won’t be the only one.
- Do Check for Leaks or Mould Inside the Vehicle: It will possibly or likely have both! Don’t be alarmed but do take note once again.
- Look at the Tires: But don’t panic – tires are reasonably cheap over here and readily available.
Bear in mind overall that the speed limit here is 50kmph.
- Tip: A car cover costs $30 NZD from Raromart and with a bit of additional string works almost fairly well in a storm!
Owning a Car in Rarotonga
Once you’ve navigated buying a car in Rarotonga your next step is to get registered and make sure you’ve got a WOF.
WOF – Buying a Car in Rarotonga
Check that the car has a current Warrant of Fitness. This means that the car is fit and safe to drive on the roads.
WOF tests have to be conducted on old cars every six months. The date of the next WOF is displayed on a sticker on the windscreen of every car in Rarotonga.
You can buy the car ‘As Is Where Is’. But under this option you’ll need to drive the car directly from where you buy it to a garage or inspection station to get a warrant.
It is then likely you might need to get the car up to repairs to get a WOF.
There are several places to get a WOF on Rarotonga:
- CarWorx – Arorangi
- Cook Islands Motor Centre – Panama
- Autotech
- The Humble Mechanic – Matavera
A Warrant of Fitness costs $40 NZD in Rarotonga.
Registration For Your Car
This is a Road Tax in the Cook Islands that is required to be displayed on the windscreen of the car.
A car’s Registration can be renewed at the BCI Bank in Avarua.
The cost for Car Registration in Rarotonga is:
- $38 NZD
Station Wagon <2600cc
Vehicle Registration is required to be purchased from the end of March and is valid for 12 months.
Insurance
It is not compulsory in Cook Islands to have car insurance.
However, it is recommended that you get Third Party Insurance at least so if you cause an accident, you are covered for any damage you cause to other cars.
Vehicle is available for purchase from Tower Insurance in Avarua.
Ownership – Buying a Car in Rarotonga
Both the buyer and seller are required to notify the change of ownership of vehicle after it is bought and sold.
This is a straightforward and simple process you can do at BCI Bank in Avarua.
Maintenance
The biggest challenge of owning and buying a car in Rarotonga is assuredly the likelihood of rust. Vehicle maintenance in general in Rarotonga is of a much lower standard than in New Zealand.
This is partly because you are only going to be driving at 50kmph. Thus, the reality of WOF checks and safety standards aren’t as tight.
Our Experience (Honestly)
Our latest vehicle was a Toyota Sienta with a brand new WOF but missing the lens cap on the righthand headlight. That absolutely wouldn’t fly in New Zealand. But here, because the headlight still worked (just with a bit of clear 100-mile-an-hour tape over) it was still worthy of a WOF. So when you are looking at a car to buy in Rarotonga do remember that things aren’t as strict.
Many – MANY – vehicles have a huge amount of rust. We’re talking big old rust chunks out of the doors and skirting sills. Like, some with gaping holes where the car body used to be. These don’t matter for the WOF. So don’t also panic if there are minor (not the gaping holes) details of rust on your car. You won’t be the only one.
As far as maintenance you can do more to look after your car in Rarotonga and hold on to its value for future resale. There are automotive shops to buy basic auto parts you need.
Automotive Shops: Buying a Car in Rarotonga
There are two main Auto Shops in Rarotonga:
- Michigan Motors
- Cook Islands Motor Centre Ltd
Car essentials like oil, seat covers, or floor mats cost slightly more than what you would pay in an automotive shop in New Zealand. But costs aren’t outrageous.
There is one main tyre shop on the main road in Panama.
A set of brand-new tyres (4x 14”) is reasonable and readily available. The fitted cost is $160 NZD per tyre.
Fuel: Buying a Car in Rarotonga
Fuel costs on the island are standard across the different fuel stations.
Albeit the wholesale prices for petrol, diesel, and LPG have increased recently with the international increase in fuel prices respectively.
- Tip: The maximum allowable retail price for petrol to consumers in Rarotonga is currently $2.94 NZD per litre.
Selling a Car in Rarotonga
Selling and buying a car in Rarotonga have essentially the same process. The easiest way to sell your car at the end of your time is to list it on the Facebook pages with a date it will be available.
Plus, the really good news? In general, these kind of second-hand cars on the island hold their value.
So, if you look after it for the few years of your contract here, it is likely to sell again for a similar – or not too different – price than that which you paid.
Driving in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands
Driving in Rarotonga and the Cook Islands is pretty straightforward.
There’s only one main road that circles the whole of Rarotonga with no traffic lights and just two roundabouts. The Cook Islands drives on the left-hand side of the road and at a relaxed speed no faster than 50kmph.
It is similar in the outer islands (albeit motorcycles aren’t required with helmets in the Pa Enua). But road rules still (largely) apply.
Conclusion: Buying a Car in Rarotonga
The good news is that buying a car in Rarotonga is a bit like adjusting to island life. It is a pretty relaxed process, and you’ll likely make some new connections on the island in doing so 😊
Useful Links for Travel in Oceania & Beyond
These are the companies we use and can recommend for planning and booking travel.
- Booking.com – The best all-around accommodation booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation. It is easy to filter and sort into price and availability with all the extras you are looking for personally.
- 12GoAsia – Book trains anywhere online.
- Skyscanner– This is by far our favourite flight search engine. They are able to search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites often miss. We book all our flights through Skyscanner.
- GetYourGuide– Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions offered all around the world. Everything from walking tours, to street-food tours, cooking classes, desert safari’s and more!
- SafetyWing – A global travel insurance that covers people from all over the world while outside their home country. You can buy it short or longterm; and even if you are out of the country.
- World Nomads – Make sure you have insurance before embarking on travel anywhere in the world!
Gavin is our people-meeter wherever we go. For all the stories we share about the kindness of strangers in Uzbekistan, Morocco, Saudi Arabia and more, it is Gavin that extends a handshake and meets a new friend without even sharing the same language.
