The New Zealand vehicle sales industry is a resilient sector which has faced many challenges over the past 30 years and has adapted to ever changing market regulations and conditions. The arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic has forever changed how new and used cars will be traded, sold, serviced, and most…

Back in 1994 when I financed my first car we didn’t have the modern advancements considered the norm today. I was a little younger and I had been driving various different death traps for far too long. I decided to buy a brand new Citroen AX (I know); we completed…

Spring is in the air, and if the urge to spring clean is taking hold of you, you can’t go wrong with a close look at your finances. This can be an excellent time of year to take stock of your position and set plans in place for where you…

Look for a CFS affiliated dealer to get the best deal on your next car and finance So you have your car loan approved with CFS, now all you need are your new wheels! Our team of CFS Relationship Managers work hard to ensure we work with quality used car dealerships who…

Another year has rolled around and it may be no surprise that you’re in need of a new car. Perhaps your old car has finally given up the ghost or maybe it’s just time for a new model. Whatever the reason, now’s a good time to find a car loan…

If you have recently bought a car, then there’s a good chance you have a car loan. Car loans are an important tool to give us the funds we need to get on the road. But it’s all too easy to set up your car loan and then forget about…

Before you buy a new car, it’s worth finding out how much you could get for your old one. Trading-in your car as part of your purchase should reduce the amount that you need to pay. Getting value for money from a trade-in requires some preparation so that the dealer can…

Buying a car at auction can appear to be a fast track to a great deal. But as with everything in life, it’s important to remember that if something looks too good to be true it’s usually because it is. Buying at auction requires an eyes wide open approach: here are…

If you’re planning on buying a second hand car, you definitely want to avoid purchasing a lemon. Not sure what a ‘lemon’ is? Think of it as a car that doesn’t live up to the value you think it represents. Instead, once purchased, it reveals a trail of costly defects,…

If you’ve had your car loan for a while or your circumstances have changed, it may be worth considering your refinance options. Refinancing your car loan could reduce your interest costs and save you a considerable amount of money. Take some time to review your situation and you can work…

Is it better to lease or buy your next car? We take a look at how both types of finance work and explore the benefits and negatives of both. If you’ve decided you need a new car, you will need to work out how you’re going to finance your purchase. You…

There was a time when buying a new model of car meant accessing a bigger engine; admiring a more curvaceous chassis; or simply enjoying the novelty of your relocated sunglasses holder.  In the technological age that we live in, buying a new car has become much more of an adventure. So…

If you’re looking to buy a family car, there’s an almost overwhelming range of options. That’s why it’s essential to prioritise the features that are important to you. Then you can review the makes and models available in the market and work out what will best suit your needs. To…

Changing your vehicle and considering trading it in? Trading can be a good option, but before you finalize the deal, take a look at these key things to know when trading in your car. What you get for your current car can make a big difference to what you’ll end…

If you’re in the market for a used car, then you may end up buying a car from a private seller. Buying a car privately is a very different process to making the same purchase with a dealer, so it’s a good idea to do some research and planning up…

Car finance 101Shopping for a new set of wheels is – as it should be – exciting. The prospect of getting something new (even if it’s used) gets the endorphins going. But perhaps because of those good-old endorphins, it’s also a time when you need to give the detail a…

Whatever type of car you have, sale time is your opportunity to realise as much value from your current set of wheels as possible. It’s more than likely that you’ll be moving on to a new car, so what you get from the sale of your current car will play…

Remember when you first thought about striking out on your own?  The freedom of self-employment like a tantalising vision glinting in the sunlight… Too much? Well, whatever your reasons were for leaving employment to build something yourself, a common experience for the self-employed, is the realisation that it is more…

Any new vehicle purchase – whether it’s pre-loved or fresh off the showroom floor – brings with it additional cost. Getting new wheels means looking at the budget and doing some number crunching to work out what’s affordable. If you’re arranging finance for your new vehicle, one of the first things…

Buying a car is a big decision and making sure you get the right car is important. The Car Smart Buyer's Guide combines our knowledge and experience in an easy to follow format, designed to help take the stress out of buying your next car. This free eBook will tell you…

Need a car?Get an affordable car loan fast at CFS Finance. Here’s how it works; Step 1 Visit Onlinecarloans.co.nz and fill out our easy application form Step 2Our friendly team will get in touch to talk about your options and help decide the best package for you. Step 3Buy the car of your dreams! Our loans…

What is car finance? Car finance is a way of paying your new car off in easy regular payments. it is typically arrange with a car finance company and the cost of using finance is the interest that you are charged. Car finance in new Zealand is goverende by some very…

Thinking of applying online for a car loan? Here’s a few helpful things you need to know. Applications can be made online by clicking here to fill out our online car finance application form or by calling 0800 88 2000 If you decide to fill out our online car finance application form you will…

When you start looking around the internet for car finance you can expect to see a wide range of car loan interest rates advertised. Making sense of them can sometimes be tricky when at the end of the day all we are really interested in is 'what rate will I…

A common question we are asked is, “I’m self-employed - will I still qualify for car finance?” And the short answer is YES! At Community Financial Services, all of our decisions are made by real people – getting approved for a car loan when you’re self-employed is easier than you think. Being self-employed…

Nowadays you see a lot of people advertising Bad Credit Car Loans or Poor Credit Car Finance, but what does it really mean? And who will qualify for this? Most of the time, when a finance company talks about ‘bad credit’ they are referring to a low credit score or poor credit report, but all…

With so many different makes and models available to buy today, how do you know which vehicle is right for you? Do you get a Toyota or a Nissan? NZ new or an import? Where do you start? Well, the best place is usually parked just outside - your current car. You need to ask yourself, "Why…

One common question that we get asked is “what sort of deposit do I need to finance a car?” and the answer is: well, that depends. To help make things a little clearer, here’s what it can depend on. When you apply for car finance as the finance company we are making…

Car finance is an alternative to saving. Choosing finance lets you get your car now and pay it off in easy weekly payments. What is pre-approval?As part of your decision-making process you will need to determine your budget.Getting pre-approved does not commit you to buying from that person or dealer or taking…

You may have already heard of comprehensive car insurance, but how much do you really know?Here is a quick and easy summary of some of the key points.While I have tried to use every day English, some terms were hard to avoid so I have included a brief explanation for…