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Warrant of fitness

Getting a WoF near you

What the inspector looks at, and what to do with a fail sheet.

A WoF (warrant of fitness) is the regular safety inspection a car on New Zealand roads needs, done by a vehicle inspector at a garage or a testing station. Lots of local garages do them, so there's usually one close to home or work. If the WoF is due, or the car came back with a fail sheet, tell us the car and where it's parked.

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Lots of local garages do them, so there's usually one close to home or work. If the WoF is due, or the car came back with a fail sheet, tell us the car and where it's parked.

What does a WoF inspection look at?

  • Tyre condition, and brake condition.
  • Rust and damage in the structure of the car.
  • Lights, the windscreen and other glass, and the wipers and washers.
  • Doors, seat belts, and airbags if the car has them.
  • The speedometer, the steering and the suspension.
  • The exhaust and the fuel system.

Who can do a WoF?

Plenty of local garages are authorised to inspect cars and issue a WoF, and bigger towns usually have independent testing stations too. The inspection itself is done by a vehicle inspector, who needs a WoF inspector's training certificate and works for an inspecting organisation that has to tell NZTA whenever an inspector joins or leaves.

Not every garage does WoFs, so ask the mechanic when they ring. Mechanic Sorted doesn't inspect cars or issue a WoF.

How often does a car need one?

It depends on how old the car is and when it was first registered. The sticker on the driver's side edge of the windscreen shows when the next inspection is due, and NZTA's website has the intervals that apply to your car.

The car failed. Now what?

The inspector hands you a sheet showing what failed. Keep it, because it tells a mechanic exactly what the job is before they've seen the car.

Some fails are small, like a blown bulb or a split wiper blade. Rust in the structure, worn suspension parts or a brake fault are bigger jobs, and it's worth getting the quote in writing before you agree to the work. Ask the inspector how the recheck works where you went.

WoF by town

WoF in AucklandGetting a WoF in Auckland near where the car lives, and what to do with a fail sheet.WoF in ChristchurchA Christchurch WoF near the car, and what frost and grit do to it before the inspection.WoF in HamiltonA Hamilton WoF: station or garage, lights for foggy mornings, and what to do after a fail.WoF in TaurangaA Tauranga or Papamoa WoF, and what coastal air and long summers do to a car first.WoF in WhangareiA WoF in Whangarei or Kamo, and what Northland's warm, wet weather does to a car first.WoF in DunedinA WoF in Dunedin or Mosgiel, and what steep streets and frosty winters do to a car.WoF in WellingtonA Wellington WoF near the car, and what wind, hills and sea air do before the inspection.WoF in NelsonA Nelson or Richmond WoF, and what all that sun and sea air does to a car first.WoF in QueenstownA Queenstown or Frankton WoF, and what snow, cold and alpine roads do to a car first.WoF in Palmerston NorthA WoF in Palmerston North, and what long highway runs and a windy plain do to a car.WoF in InvercargillA WoF in Invercargill or Gore, and what Southland's cold, wind and rain do to a car.WoF in HastingsA WoF in Hastings or Havelock North, and what hot summers and frosty winters do to a car.WoF in RollestonA Rolleston WoF at either end of the commute, and the wind-blown grit to deal with first.WoF in RotoruaA Rotorua or Tokoroa WoF, the frost and sulphur quirks, and what to do with a fail sheet.WoF in RangioraA Rangiora warrant of fitness, local or near work, and the frosty-morning jobs to do first.WoF in TaupoA Taupo WoF, and what icy mornings and long highway runs ask of the tyres and brakes.WoF in New PlymouthA Taranaki WoF in New Plymouth, Stratford or Hāwera, and what the sun and the mountain rain do first.WoF in GisborneA Gisborne WoF before the long highway drives, and what sea air and inland rain do to a car.WoF in NapierA Napier or Taradale WoF, and what Hawke's Bay sun and sea air do to a car first.WoF in BlenheimA Blenheim or Picton WoF, indicators for a town of roundabouts, and the warrant before the ferry.WoF in PukekoheA Pukekohe WoF close to home, and what rain, mud and a car left at the station do to it.WoF in Lower HuttA Lower Hutt WoF without crossing to Wellington, and what rain and hill roads do to the car.Warrant of fitness in Upper HuttAn Upper Hutt WoF, and what heavy frosts and the Remutaka Hill Road ask of the car.Warrant of fitness on the Kapiti CoastA Kapiti Coast WoF close to home, and what salt air and the new motorways ask of the car.Warrant of fitness in West AucklandA West Auckland WoF near home, and what the ranges, the beaches and motorway queues do to a car.WoF in TimaruA Timaru WoF, and what the hill streets and the highway inland ask of the brakes and tyres.WoF in Thames, Waihi and WhitiangaA WoF in Thames, Waihi or Whitianga, and what Coromandel rain and roads do to a car first.WoF in Kerikeri and KaitaiaA WoF in Kerikeri or Kaitaia, and what Far North rain, orchard tracks and long highway runs do first.WoF in OamaruAn Oamaru WoF, and what the hills, a dry climate and long highway runs ask of the car.WoF on the North ShoreA North Shore WoF without crossing the bridge, and what queues, beach air and winter rain do to a car.WoF in AshburtonAn Ashburton WoF on your side of the river, and what frost, heat and farm work do to the car.WoF in Te AwamutuA Te Awamutu WoF close to home, and what the highway and dark country roads ask of the car.

Questions people ask

Is a WoF the same as a pre-purchase inspection?

No. A WoF covers safety items like tyres, brakes, lights and rust. It isn't a check of the engine or the gearbox, so ask for a pre-purchase inspection before you buy a used car.

Can one garage do the WoF and the repairs?

Often, yes. Many garages that inspect cars also repair them. Ask when the mechanic rings, and say in the note if the car has already failed.

Helpful next

WoF in AucklandGetting a WoF in Auckland near where the car lives, and what to do with a fail sheet.Mechanics in ChristchurchFinding a Christchurch mechanic for a service, a WoF, a battery or a call-out.How Mechanic Sorted worksThe four answers the card asks for, who sees them, and what happens on the call.

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Where this information comes from

Rules do change. If one matters for your car, check it on NZTA's site or with Consumer Protection. How we write and check these pages.