Understanding Warrant of Fitness Requirements

The Warrant of Fitness (WoF) inspection is a routine check of the vehicle to prove its road worthiness. Several aspects of the vehicle are checked and these are mentioned in the Vehicle Inspection Requirements Manual (VIRM). These requirements have to be met by the vehicle in order to be legally driven on the roads in New Zealand. Some of the most important aspects of the WOF inspection include:

• The tread depth and the overall tyre condition
• Health of the brakes
• Head and tail lights functionality
• Operation of the wipers
• Engine requirements
• Age of the vehicle
• Overhaul the body of the car (rust is not allowed in certain areas)
• Windscreen safety (no glazing)
• Operation of seat belts and doors
• Airbags being operable
• Speedometer readings
• Steering and safety belts
• Suspension
• Exhaust
• Pollution checks
• The fuel system should not have any leaks
• Servicing requirements
• Child safety

In case a vehicle has been modified recently, you will need to get a Warrant of Fitness again. Driving without a WoF can lead to serious fines and punishment by the road traffic authorities.

A vehicle may be pulled over randomly to check the WoF certificate, so make sure the sticker is in place. Also, you need to ensure that the date of the certificate is recent and current. Some of the requirements for WoF may change during the year and you will need to upgrade the certificate in such a case. If you want to get a Warrant of Fitness, first get the WoF checks done by the authorised team at A Grade Automotive.