WOF Changes 2026: When Is My Next WOF Due?
Most cars between 4 and 14 years old are moving from a WOF every year to a WOF every two years. Here’s what changes for your car.
How often will my car need a WOF?
Tap your car to see what changes.
Was: second WOF at 3 years.
Was: every year. Your car moves in the first stage of the change.
Was: every year. Your car moves a year later, so it still needs a WOF every year until then.
Nothing changes for your car.
Was: every 6 months.
Not sure which group your car is in? Call us on 07 855 2037 with your rego and we’ll check for you.
When is my next WOF due?
Your current WOF is valid until the expiry date on the label on your windscreen, so keep booking your WOF by that date as usual. NZTA hasn’t yet published the fine detail of how the new periods are applied at the next inspection. When you bring your car in, we’ll check which rule applies to it and tell you when your following WOF will be due, and we’ll update this page as NZTA publishes more.
What else is changing on 1 November?
Driver-assist warning lights: the WOF will also check that no warning lights are showing for Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) or Lane Keep Assist, on cars that have them.
Bigger fines: the fine for driving with a WOF that expired more than two months ago goes up from $200 to $350, and the fine for unsafe wheels and tyres goes up from $150 to $350.
Keeping your car safe between WOFs
Two years is a long time between checks. Tyres, brakes, wipers and lights can wear out well before your next WOF is due. Our Safety & Fluid Check covers them in the year between WOFs, for $89.
WOF prices
$89 for cars and other light vehicles, $69 for trailers and caravans. We don’t do motorcycle WOFs.
Questions about the new WOF rules
Does my car still need a WOF every year?
If it’s between 14 and 26 years old, yes. If it’s between 4 and 14 years old, it moves to every two years: from 1 November 2026 if it was first registered on or after 1 November 2019, or from 1 November 2027 if it was first registered between 1 November 2013 and 31 October 2019.
Does the change affect the WOF I have now?
Your current WOF stays valid until the expiry date on its label. NZTA is still to publish the detail of how the new periods start, so we’ll tell you when your next one is due when you come in.
My car is over 26 years old. What changes?
From 1 November 2026, light vehicles first registered before 1 January 2000 need a WOF once a year instead of every six months.
Is a WOF the same as a service?
No. A WOF is a safety inspection against a set standard. A service looks after the engine and other parts so the car keeps running well. Most cars need both, and we can do them together in one visit.
Source: NZTA, Changes to light vehicle inspections from 1 November 2026. Last checked against NZTA guidance: 8 October 2026.