CarJam is a New Zealand car-history and information website that lets people check registration records, odometer readings, stolen status, money owing, WOF/COF history and other recorded details before buying or selling a car.
The service is operated by CARJAM ONLINE LIMITED, a registered New Zealand company.
Short Answer: What Is CarJam?
CarJam is a New Zealand car-checking service. Users can search a registration plate, VIN or chassis number and get recorded information about a car’s history.
People mainly use it before buying a used car.
It can help answer questions such as:
- Is money owing on the car?
- Has it been recorded as stolen?
- Do past odometer readings look consistent?
- What registration information is recorded?
- Does the seller match available ownership records?
- What information exists about an imported car?
CarJam is a records service, though. It doesn’t replace a physical pre-purchase inspection.
CarJam at a Glance
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Brand | CarJam |
| Company | CARJAM ONLINE LIMITED |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Company number | 2137334 |
| NZBN | 9429032721645 |
| Company registration | 5 June 2008 |
| Early website name | carfax.co.nz |
| Directors | Anton Koukine and Paul Richard Osborne |
| CEO | Paul Osborne |
| Main use | Car-history and registration checks |
| Registered users | More than 539,000 as of September 2026 |
| Business accounts | About 5,130 as of September 2026 |
| NZTA authorisation | 1 May 2026 to 30 April 2029 |
| Website | CarJam.co.nz |
Public company records list CARJAM ONLINE LIMITED as a registered New Zealand company and name Anton Koukine and Paul Richard Osborne as its directors.
How Does CarJam Work?
The process is simple.
A user enters a:
- Registration plate
- VIN
- Chassis number
CarJam then checks records available through its data sources and puts relevant information into a report.
Some information can be viewed without buying a full report. Other checks are paid.
What appears depends on the report selected and what has been recorded about that car.
That distinction matters.
A database can’t report an accident, repair or fault that was never entered into one of its source systems.
What Does a CarJam Report Show?
The exact information depends on the report.
CarJam currently provides checks that may cover:
- Registration information
- Car specifications
- WOF or COF history
- Odometer readings
- Stolen status
- Money owing
- Ownership-related checks
- Imported-car records
- Market valuation information
- Previous registration details
Some reports contain more information than others.
So users should check what is included before paying.
Can CarJam Check Money Owing on a Car?
Yes. CarJam offers checks for registered financial interests linked to cars.
This is one of the most useful checks for someone buying privately.
A car may look fine and still have money owing against it.
CarJam says its money-owing search can check identifiers such as the current plate, previous plates, VIN and chassis number.
That gives buyers another way to check the paperwork before handing over money.
Can CarJam Tell If a Car Is Stolen?
Yes. CarJam provides stolen-car checks using available records.
Stolen checking became a public issue for CarJam in 2023.
Waka Kotahi proposed charging third-party services 19 cents for each stolen-record query.
CarJam CEO Paul Osborne publicly opposed the proposed charge. During a Newstalk ZB interview, he said the cost could reach around NZ$1.5 million per month based on CarJam’s search activity at the time.
The company later took the issue further.
A CarJam petition concerning the data charges was formally recorded by the New Zealand Parliament in April 2024.
Does CarJam Show Odometer History?
Yes. Past odometer readings can appear in CarJam records where that information exists.
This can help buyers notice unusual mileage changes.
For example, a later reading that is lower than an earlier reading deserves checking.
But an odd reading doesn’t automatically mean someone changed the odometer.
Mistakes can happen during data entry.
CarJam has previously explained that incorrect WOF or COF odometer readings may enter NZTA records.
So treat an unusual reading as a reason to investigate.
Not automatic proof.
Does CarJam Show Previous Owners?
CarJam offers ownership-related checks, but access to names and addresses is controlled.
Personal details from New Zealand’s Motor Vehicle Register aren’t simply open to everyone searching a plate.
Access depends on legal rules and NZTA authorisation.
That means CarJam can work with ownership information in certain situations without making every registered owner’s personal information freely searchable.
Is CarJam Authorised by NZTA?
Yes. NZ Transport Agency lists Carjam Online Limited as an authorised Motor Vehicle Register access provider for specified purposes.
The current authorisation period runs from:
1 May 2026 to 30 April 2029
The permission relates to specified access to names and addresses held on the Motor Vehicle Register.
There are conditions attached.
It doesn’t give every CarJam user unrestricted access to someone’s personal information.
NZTA has described CarJam as a third-party portal that can provide certain registration information where the required access rules are met.
Where Does CarJam Get Its Data?
CarJam says its reports use information from several sources.
These include records connected with:
- NZ Transport Agency
- New Zealand Police
- New Zealand Companies Office
- New Zealand Personal Property Securities Register
- Australian Personal Property Securities Register
- Japanese car-history sources
- United States car-history sources
- Other government and commercial records
This explains both the value and limits of CarJam.
It can bring many records together.
But it can only show data available to it.
Is CarJam Reliable?
CarJam can be useful for checking recorded car history.
But no car-history report should be treated as proof that a car has no physical problems.
There is a simple reason.
Some damage never reaches a database.
A crash may have happened overseas. Repairs may have been done privately. A structural issue may never have resulted in an official written-off record.
A 2026 New Zealand case showed why that matters.
A car had serious problems discovered after purchase even though available CarJam data did not show a recorded damage or written-off history.
Paul Osborne explained that the government-source information CarJam received did not contain that history.
So the sensible approach is:
Check the CarJam records first. Then have the actual car inspected.
Both checks answer different questions.
Does a Clean CarJam Report Mean a Car Is Safe?
No. A clean CarJam report doesn’t guarantee that a car is mechanically or structurally sound.
CarJam checks recorded information.
A mechanic checks the actual car.
Those aren’t the same thing.
Before buying a used car, a buyer may want to combine:
- Car-history check
- Money-owing check
- Seller check
- Test drive
- Mechanical inspection
- Structural inspection where needed
A clean report is useful.
It isn’t a warranty.
Does CarJam Check Imported Cars?
Yes. CarJam offers history products for cars imported from Japan, Australia and the United States.
That’s especially useful in New Zealand because many cars arrive as used imports.
Japan Car Checks
Available records may include information connected with:
- Odometer history
- Previous use
- Damage
- Collision history
- Theft
- Recalls
The amount of information depends on the source records.
Australia Car Checks
Australian reports may cover:
- Written-off records
- Stolen status
- Registration information
- Financial interests
- Other recorded car information
United States Car Checks
US reports may contain:
- Title history
- Salvage records
- Odometer events
- Theft records
- Previous damage
- Liens
- Other recorded history
Checking overseas information can matter because a car’s New Zealand records begin after it arrives here.
Its earlier history may be somewhere else.
What Was CarJam Called Before?
CarJam originally operated under the carfax.co.nz name.
CarJam’s own archive shows the old service was operating in early 2008.
An archived post from that period describes traffic growing faster than expected and putting pressure on the site’s server.
Anton was mentioned as handling system administration at the time.
Then the name changed.
On 23 September 2008, the company announced that carfax.co.nz had become CarJam.
The services remained largely the same. The branding changed.
At the time, CarJam said the site had passed 100,000 unique visitors per month.
When Was CarJam Founded?
The online service was already active in early 2008.
The company behind it was formally incorporated on 5 June 2008 as CARFAX LIMITED.
Its legal company name later changed to CARJAM ONLINE LIMITED.
The public-facing CarJam name had already appeared during 2008.
So there are two dates readers may see:
Early 2008: the online service was operating.
5 June 2008: the registered company was incorporated.
Who Founded CarJam?
Anton Koukine is publicly identified as CarJam’s founder.
He has also been closely linked with its technical work.
Early CarJam material mentions Anton handling system administration while the service was still young.
RUC Market has identified him as CarJam’s founder and CTO.
Koukine remains a director of CARJAM ONLINE LIMITED.
Who Is the CEO of CarJam?
Paul Osborne is publicly identified as CarJam’s CEO.
He is also a director of CARJAM ONLINE LIMITED.
Osborne has spoken publicly about car-data issues affecting the business.
His comments have appeared in New Zealand media, including coverage of Waka Kotahi’s proposed stolen-car search charges.
Who Owns CarJam NZ?
Public company records show 1,000 issued shares in CARJAM ONLINE LIMITED.
The recorded holdings are:
- Bizoffice Limited — 780 shares
- Paul Richard Osborne — 150 shares
- Geoffrey Edward Means — 70 shares
Bizoffice Limited holds the largest stake.
Anton Koukine is recorded as the owner of Bizoffice Limited, linking him indirectly to the largest CarJam shareholding.
There is no sound public basis for giving CarJam a made-up valuation or estimated company net worth.
So those figures shouldn’t be guessed.
Does CarJam Offer Car Valuations?
Yes. CarJam offers market valuation checks.
This can give buyers or sellers another reference point when looking at a car’s asking price.
A valuation is still an estimate based on available market information.
Condition matters.
Mileage matters.
Specification matters.
And the real sale price can differ.
Can You Buy or Sell Cars Through CarJam?
CarJam now provides tools beyond history reports.
Its website includes car listings and services connected with buying and selling.
CarJam has also offered:
- Sales agreements
- Seller checks
- Car valuations
- Business accounts
- Batch car reports
- Driver licence verification services for eligible users
That makes the site useful to both private users and businesses.
Is CarJam Free or Paid?
CarJam has both free and paid functions.
Some basic searches can be carried out without purchasing a full report.
More detailed reports and specialist checks cost money.
Current paid products include areas such as:
- NZ car-history reports
- PPSR searches
- Market valuations
- Australian reports
- US reports
- Japanese reports
Pricing changes.
So the live CarJam pricing page is the best place to check current costs.
How Many People Use CarJam?
CarJam’s website displays current account figures.
As of September 2026, the site shows more than:
539,000 registered members
and about:
5,130 business accounts
These numbers can rise over time, so they should always carry a date when quoted.
The scale is quite different from CarJam’s early years.
When it announced the CarJam name in September 2008, the company said the site had passed 100,000 unique visitors per month.
Is CarJam Legit?
Yes, CarJam is an established registered New Zealand business.
CARJAM ONLINE LIMITED appears in New Zealand company records.
The business has operated since 2008.
NZTA lists Carjam Online Limited as an authorised Motor Vehicle Register access provider for specified purposes through 30 April 2029.
Its CEO has also appeared in established New Zealand news coverage discussing car-data matters.
That doesn’t mean every CarJam report will contain every fact about a car.
It means the business itself has a traceable legal and public record.
Who Should Use CarJam?
CarJam is most relevant to people dealing with used cars.
That includes:
- Private buyers
- Private sellers
- Car dealers
- Fleet businesses
- Finance-related businesses
- People checking imported cars
For buyers, the main value is getting more information before paying.
For sellers, a report may help answer questions from prospective buyers.
For businesses, bulk and account-based services can make repeated checks easier.
What CarJam Cannot Tell You
This part is easy to miss.
CarJam isn’t a crystal ball.
A report may not tell you about:
- Unrecorded repairs
- Mechanical wear
- Hidden rust
- Poor previous repair work
- Interior condition
- Every accident
- Every overseas event
- Future mechanical failure
Those require physical checks.
So don’t buy a car based on one database report alone.
Use the report as one part of the buying process.
Why CarJam Matters for Used-Car Buyers
Buying a used car often involves a lot of trust.
The seller knows the car.
The buyer usually doesn’t.
CarJam helps reduce that information gap by giving buyers access to recorded history before money changes hands.
It can flag something worth checking.
A strange odometer sequence.
Money owing.
A stolen record.
An overseas history entry.
A registration issue.
Sometimes nothing unusual appears.
That’s useful too.
But the next step should still be checking the car itself.
Final Thoughts
CarJam has been part of New Zealand’s online used-car checking market since 2008.
It started under the carfax.co.nz name and later became CarJam.
Today, the service is operated by CARJAM ONLINE LIMITED, with Anton Koukine and Paul Osborne recorded as directors and Osborne publicly identified as CEO.
Its main job is straightforward: help people check recorded information about a car before buying, selling or working with it.
That can catch problems.
But not every problem.
The safest buying process is still simple.
Check the history. Check the money owing. Then check the actual car.
FAQs
What is CarJam NZ?
CarJam is a New Zealand car-information website used to check registration, odometer, stolen, financial and other recorded car information.
Who owns CarJam?
CARJAM ONLINE LIMITED operates CarJam. Bizoffice Limited holds the largest recorded shareholding in the company.
Who founded CarJam?
Anton Koukine is publicly identified as the founder of CarJam.
Who is CarJam’s CEO?
Paul Osborne is publicly identified as CarJam’s CEO and is also a company director.
When did CarJam start?
The online service was operating in early 2008. The company behind it was incorporated on 5 June 2008.
What was CarJam’s old name?
The website previously operated as carfax.co.nz before adopting the CarJam name in September 2008.
Is CarJam authorised by NZTA?
Yes. NZTA lists Carjam Online Limited as authorised for specified Motor Vehicle Register access from 1 May 2026 to 30 April 2029.
Can CarJam check money owing?
Yes. CarJam offers checks for registered financial interests associated with cars.
Does CarJam show stolen cars?
CarJam provides stolen-status checks using available records.
Can CarJam check Japanese imports?
Yes. CarJam offers history reports for imported cars from Japan as well as Australia and the United States.
Does a clean CarJam report mean a car is safe?
No. A clean report only reflects available records and can’t replace a mechanical or structural inspection.
Is CarJam free?
Some functions are free, while more detailed reports and specialist checks require payment.
