More car services to go online.

Software firm OnTap Information is ready to expand its internet-based vehicle checking services to include online change of ownership and registration services.

The aim is to give caryards, auction companies, and other retail outlets the ability to change registry details for the cars they sell, as well as offer it as a general service to the public.

These services are now put directly into the LTSA database at the Post Office and at Vehicle Testing New Zealand sites.

OnTap Information chief executive Pat Costigan said OnTap was web-enabling the service so it could be used by anyone. But he said the general public would not be allowed to use it directly.

Costigan said the service would be particularly useful in rural areas where the nearest post office was further away than the local caryard.

Costigan said OnTap was the only party authorised to act as a special agent to web enable motor registry transactions such as licensing and change of ownership.

"What the Government wanted was for us to deal with everyone. Rather than the Government dealing with all these other parties individually."

OnTap's main web-based service is a patented Vehicle Inspection Report, available to the public at www.vir.co.nz and being readied as a cellphone service as well.

The VIR, which has been available to the public since March last year, brings together motor registry, police, securities databases and further analysis to provide a comprehensive check on car status such as vehicle ownership, money owed, and odometer.

Another service helps finance companies migrate data from the Motor Vehicle Securities Register to the new Private Property Securities Register, cross-checking against other databases for accuracy as it goes.

Costigan said OnTap's services were a great example of e-government but he had had little acknowledgment from the State Services' e-government group.

"The Government is our friend. If it wasn't for them we wouldn't be here but I must say they certainly haven't made it easy for us."

Costigan said the Government was bogged down in political correctness with regards to privacy and this would stall e-government applications.