We offer professional Warrant of Fitness (WoF).
A Warrant of Fitness (WOF) is a regular check to ensure your car is safe to drive on the road. It’s compulsory for light vehicles (cars, station wagons, vans, 4WDs, SUVs, light trucks) and trailers.
Price: $45 (+gst)
We recommend you add a reminder to your calendar or diary now for when your WoF is about to expire. Even better, book it in with us now. We will remind you nearer the time. Why risk a fine?
What a warrant of fitness (WOF) inspection covers
The WoF inspection is a general safety check. The aspects checked are set out in our Vehicle inspection requirements manual (VIRM) and include:
- tyre condition (including tread depth)
- brake operation
- structural condition (rust is not allowed in certain areas)
- lights
- glazing (is your windscreen safe?)
- windscreen washers and wipers
- doors (do they open and close safely?)
- safety belts (must not be damaged or overly faded; buckles must work properly)
- airbags (if fitted)
- speedometer (must be working)
- steering and suspension (must be safe and secure)
- exhaust (there must be no leaks and the exhaust must not be smoky or louder than the original exhaust system)
- fuel system (there must be no leaks).
How often you get a WoF is changing for some vehicles in 2014. Vehicle technology has dramatically improved since six-monthly inspections were introduced in the 1930s, and analysis of crash data shows that vehicle defects now play a very small role in road crashes.
Summary of changes to WoF
From 1 January 2014 vehicles first registered anywhere in the world on or after 1 January 2004 (i.e. up to nine years old) will move to annual WoF inspections for the lifetime of the vehicle.
From 1 July 2014, vehicles first registered anywhere in the world on or after 1 January 2000 will move to annual WoFs for the lifetime of the vehicle. For new vehicles, after an initial inspection, another WoF inspection won’t be required until the 3rd anniversary of their first registration.
The changes are based on a vehicle’s date of first registration in New Zealand or overseas, and are described in more detail in the table below.
| Date WoF is issued | Vehicle’s date of first registration anywhere | WoF expiry |
| 1 January – 30 June 2014 | On or after 1 January 2004 | 12-month WoF |
| Before 1 January 2004 | 6-month WoF | |
| From 1 July 2014 | Any WoF issued within 2 years from date of first registration anywhere | WoF expires on 3rd anniversary of date of first registration anywhere |
| On or after 1 January 2000 (other than a vehicle above) |
12-month WoF | |
| Before 1 January 2000 | 6-month WoF |
Older vehicles to retain six-monthly inspections
Research shows that over 12 years old, the percentage of vehicles involved in crashes with warrant of fitness defects, while still very low, starts to increase. The data also shows that the increase for older vehicles is falling over time as vehicle quality improves.
Even so, the package of changes takes a cautious approach and leaves vehicles older than 12 years (registered anywhere in the world before 1 January 2000) on six monthly inspections. This allows the fleet to gradually move to annual inspections as pre-2000 vehicles leave New Zealand’s fleet. The 1 January 2000 date is a fixed date.