The government has announced changes to light vehicle inspections, including a reduction in test frequency for a range of light vehicles according to their age, bringing our test frequency more into line with other jurisdictions.
The changes mean that most light vehicles under 14 years old will move to two-yearly WoF inspections (up from annually), while new vehicles will go four years before their second WoF. Older cars and motorcycles manufactured before 2000, but under 40 years of age, will move from 6-monthly to annual inspections. Light rental vehicles will move from 6-monthly to annual CoF A’s. The changes will come into effect from November 2026.
Announcing the changes, Minister of Transport Chris Bishop said “compared to other countries, New Zealand has very frequent inspections for light vehicles. Modern light vehicles are significantly safer and more reliable, but our rules haven’t kept pace, imposing unnecessary costs on motorists.”
The government estimates the changes will deliver between $2.6 billion and $4.1 billion in net benefits over 30 years through reduced inspection fees, less time spent on compliance, and fewer unnecessary repairs. Add to that the time savings from obtaining fewer WoFs.
NZTA analysis shows that over a million vehicles will benefit from the shift to biennial inspections, while 374,000 older vehicles will move from 6-monthly to annual inspections.
As part of the changes, the WoF and CoF A inspection will also be extended to test if warning or malfunction indicators are showing for Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) and Lane Keep Assist systems (where fitted). At the same time, penalties for operating a vehicle with a WoF which has expired by more than two months will increase from $200 to $350, while the infringement fee for non‑compliant wheels and tyres will increase from $150 to $350.
The changes mean that no light vehicle will now be subject to a six-monthly inspection, after vintage and veteran vehicles (aged over 40 years), moved to annual inspections last year, ending a regime that has existed for nearly 100 years. NZ first introduced annual WoFs in 2014, which applied only to light vehicles manufactured from 2000-on.
NZ was the only country to inspect light vehicles so frequently. In Europe, light vehicles are typically tested every 2 years (annually in the UK), and most states in Australia don’t even have a periodic inspection.
“Other countries including Ireland, Germany, Japan, and Australia inspect every one to two years or at ownership change and achieve comparable or better safety outcomes,” Bishop added.
