Alright, let’s have a yarn about what’s going on with Warrants of Fitness (WOFs) and car insurance during these COVID-19 Level 3 and 4 lockdowns. Mate, we get asked about this every day here at Grimmer Motors in Hamilton—especially from folks zipping up and down Te Rapa Road or parking up outside Centre Place. It’s all a bit of a shambles, but here’s what you need to know.
What if my WOF ran out during Level 3 or 4?
If your WOF expired during the lockdown (I’m talking after March 25th, 2020), you’ve got a bit of breathing room. You’re not going to get pinged straight away as long as your car is actually safe to drive. But—and it’s a big but—you’ve got to make sure your vehicle would still pass a WOF check. If you’re running a 2015 Nissan X-Trail or a Fiat Punto and you noticed the brakes or tyres are getting sketchy, you need to sort it out. It’s your responsibility to keep things up to scratch until you can get that proper inspection done.
Can I get a WOF during lockdown?
Level 4? Pretty much only essential workers and vehicles can get a WOF. So if you were delivering to Morrinsville in your old Toyota Hiace or working as a nurse in Cambridge with your Peugeot 308, you could still get sorted (safely and contactlessly, of course). Level 3 opened things up a bit. Most WOF shops—like AA or VINZ—are able to help everyone again, as long as it’s done with all the right distancing and sanitiser. But don’t rock up for a casual chat, it’s not like the old days!
What if my car’s not safe, even with a WOF extension?
Doesn’t matter if you’ve got an extension—if there’s a safety issue, you should get it fixed straight away. We see it a lot, especially with cars pounding around Rototuna or getting battered by winter potholes on Peachgrove Road. If your hybrid Honda Insight starts losing brake pressure or that Suzuki Grand Vitara’s tyres are bald after too many speed bumps on Boundary Road, book in with a shop. Even in lockdown, repairs are still allowed for safety reasons. Police can pull you off the road if something obvious is wrong—think dodgy tread, smoky engines, busted lights, or weird noises from your suspension after a summer’s worth of gravel roads out toward Raglan.
What about insurance—am I still covered if my WOF expires?
This is a big one. If your WOF expired after March 25th, most insurance companies are still covering you for that grace period. Just don’t push your luck. If you prang your Mitsubishi Outlander and the cause is something that would fail your WOF—say, no tread left after those stop-start Glenview morning commutes—you could be in for a world of hurt with your insurance. Keep it safe, and don’t take risks.
Can I get fined for driving with an expired WOF?
Technically, yeah. The cops have “discretion” (so depends a bit on who you bump into at the lights on Anglesea Street). If your WOF expired before the lockdown, you’re a lot more likely to cop a ticket. If it lapsed during the lockdown, they might let you off, but don’t count on it. Any obvious safety fault? That’s a pink or green sticker, and you’re off the road till it’s sorted.
What about renewing rego?
Easy! You can’t pop into the post office under Level 4, but the NZTA Online Portal is still ticking along just fine. Keeps things simple, whether you’re in Hamilton East, Ngaruawahia, or just down the road in Matangi.
Need a hand in Hamilton?
At Grimmer Motors, we’re here for those essential repairs—whether you’re a shift worker heading down Queenwood or just need your hybrid sorted for a grocery run. Level 4, we’re on call for essential jobs. Level 3, we’re open to everyone, all contactless. If you’re not sure, just give us a bell—we’ll keep you rolling and legal.