listed on the official website. Stolen vehicle check Run by the police, this service allows the public to check whether a vehicle has been reported stolen. Basic vehicle information Multiple vehicle report providers allow to check basic vehicle information free of charge by entering the registration plate number. Owner confirmation Although the personal information of vehicle owners is not available to the public, the ownership can generally be confirmed by entering the name or driver's license number of the owner. Some of the vehicle report providers (including CarJam, Autocheck, Checka, That Car) allow to confirm the owner free of charge. Securities check Before purchasing a vehicle, buyers can conduct a search of the Personal Property Securities Register to ensure there is no money owed on it. Automotive parts ordering Most vehicle manufactures attach a VIN to their vehicles for identification purposes. This can be used to identify a vehicle's particular characteristics for parts ordering and fluid type during maintenance. A License Plate Lookup returns the vehicle's VIN and other data, removing the need for a tradesman to physically locate and record this 17-digit code. With the influx of Japanese import vehicles, VINs were being attached at the NZ border and not by the manufacturer. As a result, much of the information contained in the VIN for parts-purchasing purposes is absent and many vehicles still require a tradesperson to physically identify a particular chassis and engine type. VINs attached at the NZ border start with the characters 7A. Goodyear incorporated a licence plate lookup system into its New Zealand website to suggest the correct tyre for a vehicle, although inspection, specialised equipment and a tradesman will always be required when changing tyres. Programming interface As well as purchasing this information from the NZTA through its official supplier Motochek, several companies offer automated access to their vehicle record cache on a cost per vehicle basis. This has reduced the purchase cost of the information and allows businesses to develop their own license plate lookup systems. The companies that currently offer interfaces include MotorWeb, CarJam and Checka. Land Transport Act versus Official Information Act While the information on the Motor Vehicle Register is official information, the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) does not affect operation of the LTA. Section 52(3)(b)(ii) the OIA provides that nothing in the OIA derogates from: "Any provision which is contained in any other Act of Parliament... and which