Warrant of Fitness - The Definitive New Zealand Guide

Our guide explains everything you need to know about organising a WOF, pre-checks you can do beforehand and common issues that can be sorted out to give you vehicle the best chance of a pass

Updated 7 August 2021
​Generally, the biggest surprise with getting a WOF isn’t the upfront fee (a WOF is generally cheap; $50 to $75 is standard). Instead, it’s the WOF ‘fails’ that can end up costing a lot of money. In this guide, we cover:

Our Pick for an Independent WOF Assessment

  • While thousands of NZTA-approved garages and service centres offer a WOF, we believe Vehicle Testing New Zealand (VTNZ) is a truly independent operation.
  • The one-off fee is $67, and if your vehicle fails, you can take it to any garage of your choice (VTNZ doesn't offer repairs). 
  • We have no business relationship with VTNZ and publish our view as a journalistic opinion.

WOFs – 4 must-know and tips to pass first-time

A WOF, known as a warrant of fitness, is a safety certification required by law for cars, motorbikes or any other vehicle used on New Zealand roads. The must-know rules and tips below will help give your car the best chance of passing its next WOF, save money and avoid costly repair traps.

WOF’s are every vehicle’s owner responsibility

Your WOF details are on the Ministry of Transport’s database (as well as the sticker on your car), but renewing is your responsibility. The government won’t chase you to book a WOF, but you’ll breach the law if it’s out of date. The fine is $200, and the only exception is if you're driving it a WOF test.

Know how frequently to book a WOF

Recent law changes make it easier and cheaper to organise your WOF. If your vehicle was first registered anywhere in the world on or after 1 January 2000, it will need annual WoF inspection for its lifetime.

​If you’ve bought a new vehicle, after its initial inspection, another WoF inspection won't be required until the 3rd anniversary of their first registration. This means if you register your car on 15 January 2021, you won’t need to organise a warrant until 14 January 2024.
​
How long a WOF is valid for depends on the vehicle’s date of first registration in New Zealand or overseas. The table below explains everything you need to know:
When was the vehicle first registered anywhere in the world
How long the WoF is issued for
​New vehicle that’s never been registered
​WoF is issued for three years
Less than two years ago
WoF is issued to the vehicles third ‘birthday’ (third anniversary of when it was first registered)
More than two years ago, but less than three years ago
WoF is issued for 12 months
​On or after 1 January 2000​
​WoF is issued for 12 months
Before 1 January 2000
​WoF is issued for 6 months
Source: NZTA

Always book a WOF in advance in case your vehicle fails and needs repairs

​If your vehicle failed its WoF inspection, the receipt gives you 28 days to have the vehicle fixed and brought back for re-inspection without any additional payment. However, during the 28 days, you are only allowed to drive the vehicle to get it repaired and re-inspected. The 28 days does not act as an extension.

Are you planning a road trip before Christmas?
Get your WOF organised in advance if it falls due in December. Every year, thousands of New Zealanders overwhelm WOF testing agents by expecting a WOF around mid-December. Arranging a WOF earlier is a popular option. Best of all, a WOF can be post-dated for up to 14 days. This means if your WOF is due to expire on 14 December, you can have an inspection on 30 November and, if it passes, your WOF will be post-dated to 14 December, so you don’t lose any validity.

​Do a DIY WOF to detect common fails

Per 2019 government statistics, in 2019 a total of 1,886,104 vehicles failed a WOF on the first attempt. This means that 40% of vehicles are not at the desired level of roadworthiness.

A recent NZTA 2017 study suggested that the most common issue found in failed vehicles was failing steering and suspension components (468,724 faults), tyres (442,832), brakes (316,331) and wipers (262,375).

Some simple pre-WOF fixes can lower the risk of a failure, although some fails can only be fixed by professional mechanics. Pre-empting the issues and fixing them beforehand saves you money, time and frustration. 

Know this: Around 1 in 6 vehicles fail their WOF because of a dead light bulb. To avoid this issue, turn on the lights and indicators and walk around your vehicle, front and back.

The table below outlines the most common reasons for failing a WOF and ways to prepare in advance.
Reason for Failure
Checks to do before your WOF
Lights
Make sure all of your lights are working. Do a 360-degree walk-around of your car while every light is on, and check brakes, dip, hazard and indicators, as well as the number plate light. 

Solution: If a light is out, a new bulb costs a few dollars from stores such as Repco and Supercheap Auto.
Suspension
A comprehensive suspension check is impossible, but if you push down on each corner of your car and then release, the car should re-balance. If it doesn't, then shock absorber reconditioning may be required. Your WOF will reveal what's needed.
Brakes
If your brakes feel tense then it's likely you have an issue. You may also see a brake warning light which indicates your brake pads need replacing. If an issue comes up on your WOF, a mechanic is the best person to fix it.
Tyres
Tyre pressure
Check your car's tyre pressure and fill them up to their recommended level at a petrol station. You can find the desired PSI in your vehicle handbook, inside the fuel filler flap, or on the driver's door post.

Tyre tread 
The minimum legal tread depth is 1.5mm within all principal grooves that contain these moulded tread depth indicators. If it is below, you'll need to buy a new tyre for every one that fails the WOF.
Windscreen
Per the NZTA, damage (apart from scratching and surface pitting that does not affect the driver’s vision, such as small stone marks) will fail a WOF. If you have windscreen damage that affects your vision of the road, you'll need to get this repaired. Some insurers cover glass repair without excess, so see if this applies to you.

A windscreen with damage that prevents the wiper blades from working properly will also fail a WOF. 
​Exhaust
A leaking exhaust will fail a WOF. To test it, turn on your engine (in a well-ventilated location) to check for unusual noises or abnormal smoke. If you notice either or both, it indicates a leak which will fail a WOF.
Steering
There's no test you can do at home, but if you feel as if the steering could be more responsive or you see a warning light, a repair may be needed.
Fluids
Check the brake fluid, windscreen washer and oil reserves, as well as for leaks.
Everything else
Give your car a comprehensive once-over, making sure that your seatbelts are functioning, the horn works, the doors open and close from inside and outside, and make sure the wing-mirrors are clean and secure. Most importantly, check there are no warning lights on.
Source: AA, MSE (UK) and NZTA

Find the right WOF test centre for your vehicle

If your vehicle fails its WOF, the WOF fee usually insignificant compared to the repair cost. A WOF promotion for $30 or $40 sounds good, but be careful. You face the risk of being strong-armed into spending $1,000+ with the mechanics if a fault is found. 

Is your car in excellent condition?
  • If your car is less than five years old and/or is kept in top condition, choosing a WOF testing centre based on price is likely to be the best option. 

Is your car in moderate condition and likely to need only minor repairs?
  • If you believe that your car will probably pass, a WOF testing station that doesn’t offer repairs is likely to be the best choice. A popular example is VTNZ. As they don’t carry out repairs, there's no vested interest in anything failing.

Is your car likely to need major repairs?
  • If you’re confident your vehicle will need repairs to pass its WOF, then the best approach is to research for trusted local garages and get a quote.
Final Steps: Re-testing your vehicle after repairs
  • If your vehicle fails a WOF and you get the necessary repairs, it will need to be re-tested.
  • If you fix all the items that require attention within 28 days of the initial inspection, the WOF testing station will re-inspect the vehicle at no additional cost.
  • If you exceed the 28 days from the initial inspection, a new fee and inspection are required.

Our Pick for an Independent WOF Assessment

  • While thousands of NZTA-approved garages and service centres offer a WOF, we believe Vehicle Testing New Zealand (VTNZ) is a truly independent operation. 
  • The one-off fee is $67, and if your vehicle fails, you can take it to any garage of your choice (VTNZ doesn't offer repairs). 
  • We have no business relationship with VTNZ and publish our view as a journalistic opinion.
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