A warrant of fitness (WOF) is a regular safety check. It makes sure your vehicle meets the safety standards for New Zealand roads. Most WOF failures are small things you can spot at home in ten minutes. This checklist covers them, so you can fix them before your WOF inspection instead of coming back for a recheck.
What a WOF inspection checks
The WOF inspection is a general safety check, not a full service. According to NZTA, the inspector checks:
- tyre condition, including tread depth
- brake operation
- structural condition (rust isn't allowed in certain areas)
- lights and indicators
- glazing (windscreen and windows)
- windscreen washers and wipers
- doors
- seatbelts
- airbags, if fitted
- speedometer
- steering and suspension
- exhaust system
- fuel system (no leaks)
From 1 November 2026, WOF inspections also include certain advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) features, like automatic emergency braking and lane keep assist, where your car has them.
Your 10-minute WOF checklist: tips to pass
Use this WOF checklist a week or two before your warrant of fitness inspection. Walk around your car with this list. Ask a friend to stand outside while you test the lights.
1. Check your tyre tread and condition
Tyres are one of the most common reasons a vehicle fails a WOF. The legal minimum tread depth for cars in New Zealand is 1.5mm across the main tread. Most tyres have tread wear indicators, small raised bars in the grooves. If the tread is level with them, it's time to replace the tyre. Also look for cuts, bulges and cords showing on the sidewall, and check your tyre pressure.
2. Test every light
Turn on your headlights (low and high beam), park lights, indicators, hazard lights and brake lights. Don't forget the number plate light and the reversing lights. A blown bulb is a quick fix, and it's one of the easiest ways to avoid a WOF failure.
3. Wipers and washers
Run your wipers. They should clear the windscreen without smearing or juddering. Top up the washer fluid and make sure both jets spray onto the glass.
4. Windscreen
Chips and cracks in the driver's side of the windscreen can fail a WOF, depending on their size and where they are. If a chip is in your line of sight, get it looked at early. A small repair now usually costs less than a new windscreen later.
5. Seatbelts
Pull every seatbelt out fully. Look for fraying or cuts, and check that each one clicks in, holds and retracts properly. Check the back seats too.
6. Warning lights on the dash
When you start the car, the dash lights should come on and then go off. A warning light that stays on, like the airbag, ABS or brake light, needs checking before your WOF. With the new ADAS checks, warning lights for driver assistance systems matter too.
7. Brakes
Listen for squealing or grinding when you brake, and notice if the car pulls to one side. Check your brake fluid level, and make sure the handbrake holds the car on a slope. The inspector checks brake operation, and only checks brake pads if they're visibly below safe limits, so a service is the best way to keep an eye on pad wear.
8. Horn, doors and mirrors
Give the horn a quick press. Check every door opens and closes from inside and outside, and that your mirrors aren't cracked.
9. Exhaust and leaks
Listen for a loud or rattling exhaust, and look under the car for drips. Fuel leaks are a fail.
10. Rust
Have a quick look along the sills, around the wheel arches and under the doors. Rust in structural areas can fail a WOF and is worth getting checked early.
WOF FAQs
How long does a WOF inspection take?
A standard WOF inspection takes about 30 minutes to an hour. At our workshop, allow about an hour. It can take longer depending on the car and its condition.
Is a WOF the same as a car service?
No. A WOF is a safety check against the safety standards at the time of inspection. It doesn't check your engine oil, clutch, gearbox or fluid levels. A regular service looks after those, so book both.
What's the difference between a WOF and a COF?
A WOF (warrant of fitness) is for private light vehicles. A certificate of fitness (COF) is for heavier and commercial vehicles, and for some passenger service vehicles.
What should I bring to a WOF?
Just the car. Make sure the inspector can reach the driver's seat, the boot and all seatbelts, so clear out anything that's in the way.
What happens if your car fails its WOF?
If your vehicle fails, the inspector will tell you what needs fixing. You can't drive the car on the road unless you're taking it somewhere to get it repaired or to get a new WOF, and only if it's safe to do so. Workshops usually give you a set time (often 28 days) to bring it back for a recheck. Ask about recheck terms when you book.
How often do you need a WOF?
The WOF frequency changed on 1 November 2026. Most cars aged 4 to 14 years and first registered on or after 1 November 2019 now need a WOF every two years. Cars over 14 years old need one every year, and new cars get four years before their next inspection. Your current WOF label still applies until its expiry date. Read our guide on how early you can get a WOF for more.
Book your WOF in East Tamaki
At Zed Gear Motors, our certified technicians have 6+ years of experience and have serviced 1,000+ vehicles, domestic and imported. Booking is free with no deposit, and the WOF itself is priced separately. A WOF takes about an hour. If anything fails, we'll explain it and call you before doing any repair work.
Book your WOF online or call us on 021 180 4740. You'll find us at 10/29 Neilpark Drive, East Tamaki.
Sources: NZTA Warrant of Fitness guidance, MTA "Warrant of Fitness" (October 2026), and the 1 November 2026 WOF changes reported by 1News and the AA.