NZTA are looking at changes to WOF - wanting our feedback

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › NZTA are looking at changes to WOF - wanting our feedback

1 | 2

Bung

6733 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2926

Subscriber

#3429101 30-Oct-2025 08:29

eracode:

New cars are not necessarily serviced annually - and even then the service doesn’t necessarily include an inspection that will detect defects. It’s more a simple replacement of consumables.

Say that to the car dealership and see them get all huffy about the service being more than an oil change.

tstone

405 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 94

#3429254 30-Oct-2025 11:46

Handle9:

Jase2985:

i think my issue is, many people rely on WOF's to tell them when to do basic maintenance like replace lamps, brake pads, tyres etc.

So many people seem to think a current or (failed but within the retest period) WOF is an excuse to drive around in a car that isn't legal to be on the road. It does my head in.

Don't forget that those defective vehicles wouldn't be insured even if it had a current WOF. Most policies say that the car must be in a 'warrantable state'.

Bung

6733 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2926

Subscriber

#3429262 30-Oct-2025 12:31

Having a current warrant in the windscreen is protection from the $150? failing to display ticket beloved by parking wardens.

johno1234

3352 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2843

#3429270 30-Oct-2025 13:32

tstone:

Don't forget that those defective vehicles wouldn't be insured even if it had a current WOF. Most policies say that the car must be in a 'warrantable state'.

This is correct.

The general standard is that lack of a WOF does not in itself void a claim. Being an unroadworthy vehicle with a defect that contributed to the accident would. So if you have an unwarranted defect-free vehicle and you crashed because you were distracted when a bee flew into your mouth you probably will be covered. But if you had a warranted vehicle that had bad tyres and you slid and crashed on a wet road then you are not covered.

MikeAqua

8024 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3817

#3450544 7-Jan-2026 12:11

richms:

The issue I have is that 4 years is far too long, it probably would be onto its second set of tyres by that point unless it was barely driven like my cars, and if noone is looking at them, could be bald as anything and everyone acts like its fine till its not.

Our two daily vehicles both got more than five years out of their first set of tyres. IIRC were talking ~55,000 kms on the hatch and ~75,000 kms on the SUV.

All the tyres I've bought in the last 10 years have tread wear bars. That makes it super simple to check your own tread depth. Cops could easily check them too, whenever they pull people over.

Mike

1 | 2