On 1 November 2026 New Zealand's rules for how often a light vehicle needs a Warrant of Fitness change. Three things happen: six-monthly WOFs end, a new vehicle's second WOF moves from three years to four, and vehicles between four and fourteen years old start moving to a WOF every two years, in two stages a year apart.
What follows is the rule for your vehicle, by the date it was first registered in New Zealand. That date is on your rego papers and comes back from a plate lookup; it is not the model year, though for a car bought new here they usually agree.
Until 31 October 2026
From 1 November 2026
The age is counted at the time of the inspection, so a vehicle moves between rows as it gets older. One registered in November 2015 is on a two-yearly WOF from November 2027 and back on a yearly one when it turns fourteen, in November 2029. One registered in November 2013 turns fourteen on the day the second stage starts and stays yearly throughout.
Do six-monthly WOFs end in November 2026?
Yes. From 1 November 2026 every light vehicle that needed a WOF every six months, which is those first registered before 2000, moves to a yearly WOF.
When does a new car need its second WOF from November 2026?
At four years old, then yearly. Until 31 October 2026 a new vehicle's first WOF after the one it was registered with falls at three years.
Which cars go to a two-yearly WOF?
Vehicles between 4 and 14 years old. Those first registered in New Zealand from 1 November 2019 go two-yearly from 1 November 2026. Those first registered between 1 November 2013 and 31 October 2019 stay yearly for a further year and go two-yearly from 1 November 2027. A vehicle 14 years old or more stays yearly.
Does the change move my current WOF expiry date?
No. The date on your windscreen label stands. The new interval applies from your next inspection on or after 1 November 2026, and the inspector issues the label for the new period.
Where this comes from
NZTA, Changes to light vehicle inspections from 1 November 2026, at vehicleinspection.nzta.govt.nz. That page is the authority and this one is a summary of it. If they ever disagree, NZTA is right and we have not caught up yet; tell us on the contact page.
This is about light vehicles. Heavy vehicles have a Certificate of Fitness and are not covered by these changes or by this page.
Or stop keeping track of it
Plotstead has these rules built in. Put a vehicle in on a New Zealand property, type the plate, and the lookup fills in the make, model and first-registration date and sets a WOF reminder for the right interval, including the move from yearly to two-yearly when it happens for your car. The rego goes on beside it. It takes about ten minutes, and one vehicle on the free plan costs nothing.
