Changes to New Zealand’s Warrant of Fitness (WoF) system have come into effect, extending inspection intervals for many light vehicles while increasing penalties for certain safety and compliance offences.
From 1 November 2027, the two-year interval extends to eligible light vehicles aged 4 to 14 years first registered between 1 November 2013 and 31 October 2019.
New light vehicles are due for their second WoF four years after first registration, up from three.
New vehicles will now be required to undergo their second WoF inspection at four years, up from three. Light vehicles and motorcycles first registered before 1 January 2000 move from six-monthly to annual WoFs. Light rental vehicles move from six-monthly to annual Certificate of Fitness A inspections.
A further transition will take place from 1 November 2027, when all light vehicles under 14 years old that were first registered after 1 November 2013 will become eligible for two-yearly WoFs.
Changes to inspection intervals and penalties
Associate Transport Minister James Meager said the changes were being introduced in stages to allow more time for vehicles approaching the 14-year threshold to transition to the new requirements.
However, the reforms also increase penalties for some offences. The infringement fee for operating a vehicle without a current WoF for two months or more rose from NZ$200 to NZ$350. The fee for operating a vehicle with non-compliant wheels or tyres rose from NZ$150 to NZ$350.
The penalty for wheel or tyre safety failures will increase from $150 to $300.
Industry raises concerns over vehicle safety
The changes follow government consultation on proposals that initially limited two-yearly inspections to vehicles up to 10 years old. Vehicles aged between 11 and 14 would have continued to require annual inspections.
In a report from Stuff, Minister Meager said that the Government extended the eligibility threshold to 14 years after receiving advice from the Ministry of Transport.
“The Ministry did some analysis, and a lot of the data shows that the increased safety risk really doesn’t kick in until a car or a vehicle is about 15 years old,” he said.
“So we thought on balance, we could bring that time frame from 10 years out to 14 years, so that the annual requirements kick in from about 15 years old.”
The decision has drawn criticism from the Motor Trade Association (MTA), which questioned the lack of consultation around the extended age threshold.
MTA Head of Advocacy James McDowall said testing data showed around 30 per cent of vehicles aged four to 10 years failed their WoF inspections. For vehicles aged between 10 and 20 years, the failure rate increased to the 40 per cent range.
“With moving to every two years, the proof will be in the pudding. But these vehicles are already failing at fairly significant rates,” he said.
The MTA had also argued that less frequent inspections could lead to higher maintenance and repair costs, as annual checks provide vehicle owners with a regular opportunity to identify problems.
Government expects long-term economic benefits
The Government maintains that the changes will reduce costs for households while encouraging the uptake of newer, safer vehicles.
Mr Meager said the Government’s analysis estimated the reforms would deliver a net benefit of between $2 billion and $4 billion to New Zealand over 30 years.
He acknowledged concerns raised by the MTA but said the analysis had considered the potential costs associated with the changes.
The reforms are expected to affect vehicle owners, repair businesses and inspection providers as the new intervals are phased in over the next year.
Did you find this article interesting? Click the ‘heart’ button above to give it a like!
