Disclosure
Plain answers about our relationship with lenders, how we are paid, and what we cannot promise.
We are a referral service
Second Chance Car Finance is not a lender, a broker or a car dealer. We pass your details to a broker partner, and the broker partner works with lenders. We do not give financial advice or recommend a particular loan.
How we are paid
You do not pay us anything. Lenders pay us, and only when a loan settles. If you do not take out a loan, we are not paid.
That payment never changes the interest rate or fees you are offered. We do not see or set your rate. It also means we have a reason to want you to find a loan that works, so we try to be careful not to oversell what is possible.
Nobody can promise approval
Lenders approve or decline loans, not us. A lender looks at your income, your expenses, your credit file and the car you want, and makes its own decision. Anyone who promises approval before they have looked at your situation should be treated with caution.
Soft checks and hard checks
The four questions on our site are not a credit check, and nothing is added to your credit file when you answer them.
A soft check is a look at your credit information that does not show up as an application. A hard check is recorded on your credit file as an enquiry, and other lenders can see it. A lender or broker will usually run a hard check only when you decide to apply, and they should tell you first. Too many applications in a short time can make a file look riskier, so it is worth checking where you stand before you apply.
The rules lenders follow
Car loans in New Zealand are covered by the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act (CCCFA). It requires lenders to make reasonable enquiries about your income and expenses, and to lend responsibly. Lenders do their own assessment under those rules. From 1 July 2026 the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) is the conduct regulator for lenders and brokers under the CCCFA.
Rates and calculators
Any rate, repayment or example we show is indicative only. It is not a quote or an offer of credit. The real rate and repayments come from the lender, in writing, before you sign.
Complaints
If you are unhappy with something we have done, email info@secondchancecarfinance.co.nz and tell us what happened. We will acknowledge your message within five working days.
If your complaint is about a broker or a lender, contact them first. They must belong to a financial dispute resolution scheme, and they can tell you which one if you are not satisfied with their response.