Considering changes to light vehicle inspections

We’re consulting on making changes to light vehicle inspections - warrants of fitness (WoFs) and certificates of fitness (CoF A).  

Light vehicles include cars, motorcycles, vans, people-movers, trailers, taxis and rideshares.  

Why they’re important

New Zealand checks vehicles more often than most countries, but this frequency doesn’t always lead to better safety outcomes. Proposed changes are:  

• Inspection frequency: vehicles less likely to be involved in crashes where mechanical faults are a contributing factor would need fewer inspections overall.
  • New vehicles: First WoF issued for 4 years.
  • Vehicles 4-10 years old: WoF required every 2 years. 
  • Vehicles over 10 years old: WoF required every year. 
  • Light rental vehicles under 5 years old: CoF A required every year. 
• Inspection scope: WoF and CoF A inspections would require checks of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) features. Inspectors would check fault lights for important ADAS safety features like Automatic Emergency Braking and Lane Keep Assist are not showing .  
• Enforcement and public awareness:  the possibility of higher fines or demerit points for not having a valid WoF/CoF A and other offences - like having bald or damaged tyres. Public education would help people understand how to maintain their vehicles between inspections. 

The changes proposed aim to reduce unnecessary costs for low-risk vehicles while maintaining safety standards for higher-risk vehicles. 

This consultation is one of 3 consultations now open for feedback. Information on the other 2 consultations -  considering new safety features for vehicles imported into New Zealand and simplifying heavy vehicle permitting – can be found in our consultation hub:

• Considering new safety features for vehicles imported into New Zealand
• Simplifying heavy vehicle permitting

Discussion document

Before making your submission, carefully consider the information provided in the discussion document and the effects any of the possible mandates could have on you or your organisation.

• Summary document [PDF, 154 KB]
• Discussion document [PDF, 897 KB]

Have your say

Share your feedback by 17 December 2025 using the online feedback form:

Online feedback form(external link)

We will consider and analyse all feedback received and use it to provide advice to the Associate Minister of Transport, who will decide whether to make changes to light vehicle inspections.

Note, there is no draft amendment Rule accompanying this consultation. Making these features compulsory would require changes to the Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Standards Compliance 2002.

If a decision to change this Rule is made, the Associate Minister of Transport is likely to use the Order in Council process, which would see Rule changes made by Order in Council, and signed by the Governor-General.

The Executive Council Role in the regulations process(external link)

If you have a question about this consultation, send it to:

rules@nzta.govt.nz

This work is part of the Government’s Land Transport Rules Reform Programme:

Land Transport Rules Reform Programme (external link)

Your response and privacy

The information you send us on this in a written submission will be used by NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) to help inform our consultation for considering changes to light vehicle inspections. NZTA may publish in part or in full the information you submit, for example in a consultation report, but we will not include any information that could be used to identify an individual person. If you have indicated you are an authorised representative of an organisation, we may publish your organisation’s name. Clearly indicate if your comments contain commercially sensitive information or, if for some other reason, they should not be disclosed.

If you would like to request official information from us, don’t include that in your submission. Instead, direct it to the project team so we can respond to it in a timely manner.

You can find more about how we hold and protect your information, and our obligations under the Official Information Act on our website

Consultation - Privacy and Official Information requests

Note on use of AI in analysing feedback

To help us analyse the feedback we receive through this consultation, we may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools. These tools can assist us in identifying common themes and summarising responses more efficiently. Any use of AI will follow our privacy and data protection standards, and your feedback will always be reviewed by our team to ensure fair and accurate reporting.