The average age of a car on our roads is around 15 years, while an average scrap car is 20 years old. In fact, New Zealand has one of the oldest light vehicle fleets in the developed world. It’s this reason, the recent announcement about lowering the frequency of car inspections is causing a mixed reaction…

When the government announced the lowering in frequency of Warrant of Fitness (WoF) and Certificate of Fitness (CoF) inspections from November 2026, to “save consumers time and money” it felt like a positive piece of news. With time for this information to be considered, many people are questioning the safety of this policy change.

Over 40% of vehicles fail their WoF on the first inspection. With many of these fails being down to simple safety issues such as worn tyres, unresponsive brakes and faulty lights, it seems a dangerous move to reduce the number of official checks these aging vehicles have to pass.

The Minister for Transport, Chris Bishop has made the argument that:
“Compared to other countries, New Zealand has very frequent inspections for light vehicles… Ireland, Germany, Japan and Australia, inspect every one to two years or at ownership change and achieve comparable or better safety outcomes.”
“Modern light vehicles are significantly safer and more reliable, but our rules haven’t kept pace, imposing unnecessary costs on motorists.”

Here is a brief summary of the main changes being introduced on 1 November 2026 – announced by NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi

The government is clear that inspection changes deliver on the commitments made in the Land Transport Rules Reform programme, which focused on modernising rules, reducing red tape and supporting a safer, more productive transport system. The cost-benefit analysis has estimated that the changes should deliver between $2.6 and $4.1billion in net benefits over 30 years through reduced inspection fees, fewer unnecessary repairs and less time spent on compliance.

Ministers have also justified the changes through the results of their consultation on the topic – with 74% of respondents in support of reducing inspections for lower-risk vehicles.

The Associate Minister of Transport, James Meager says:
“We’re confident that the changes will not come at the expense of road safety. Inspections are being expanded to include modern safety systems, and the Government will also strengthen penalties for non-compliance and increase public education.”
“…New Zealand crash data shows defects identified during inspections contribute to a small proportion of death and serious injury crashes – 3.5%, far less than other factors like speed, alcohol and drugs – 23% and 34% respectively.”

However, by decreasing the frequency of inspections for all vehicles – including those over the average age of the fleet up to a typical scrap age – is undoubtedly including higher-risk vehicles.

While the overall aim seems admirable, it is a worry that problems left unidentified may cause more issues and costs for car owners in the long-run. It is also possible that more owners of older cars may be left with bills to make their vehicles fit for certification costing far more than their car’s actual value.

Whatever the frequency of the WoF, if your old car has driven its last mile, or it’s failed its inspection with a huge estimate for the work needed, we can offer an easy solution with free collection and the best local price available…