On Sunday 9 February 2025, the new Minister of Transport, Hon. Chris Bishop, announced that the government is proposing to consult on changes to Transport Rules to allow vintage and classic light vehicles (over 40 years old) to have annual Warrants of Fitness, thereby reducing compliance costs and inconvenience for owners.
A similar change is proposed for privately owned heavy Motorhomes subject to Certificates of Fitness.
President of the Federation of Motoring Clubs, Garry Jackson was with Minister Bishop at Trentham for the announcement today and was really pleased with this outcome.
— Start of Press Release by the Minister of Transport —
The Government is looking to reduce unnecessarily onerous compliance requirements for owners of vintage cars, vintage motorcycles and privately owned motorhomes, Transport Minister Chris Bishop says.
“Everyone loves seeing a lovingly maintained vintage car out on the road for a Sunday drive, and cruising around our beautiful country in a motorhome is a quintessential Kiwi dream,” Mr Bishop says.
“There are around 128,000 vintage vehicles in New Zealand, and about 39,000 private motorhomes. At present the owners of these vehicles must spend time and money on Warrant of Fitness (WOF) or Certificate of Fitness (COF) inspections every six months.
“That’s despite motorhomes and vintage light vehicles travelling much less per year compared to most modern cars, and evidence showing that faults in these vehicles are half as likely to have contributed to serious crashes involving these vehicles. That’s true even when factoring in the smaller numbers of motorhomes and vintage vehicles on our roads.
“Evidence also shows that initial pass rates for vintage vehicles are higher compared to all vehicles under 40 years old.
“In fact, light vehicle WOF pass rates actually improve as vehicles age from 40 years old showing that, with proper care, some things really do get better with age.”
“That’s why we’re consulting on easing the overly onerous compliance requirements on these types of vehicles, so that owners of vintage cars and private motorhomes can spend less time waiting in line at the VTNZ, and more time tinkering happily in the garage or cruising the open road.”
The consultation is being run by NZTA, and proposes to:
• Reduce WOF check frequency for vehicles over 40 years old from every 6 months to every year, and
• Reduce COF check frequency for privately owned heavy motorhome vehicles from every 6 months to every year.
“Extending the time between WOF and COF inspections is a sensible approach to ensuring vehicles are safe while not going overboard on compliance.”
Public consultation via NZTA website on the proposed changes begins on 24 February 2025 and ends 4 April 2025.
— End of Press Release by the Minister of Transport —
Watch the announcement on TVNZ 1News at Six.
The Federation of Motoring Clubs Inc. will soon provide more detail on the announcement and how you can contribute to the consultation process.
Please distribute to your club members and friends, and on social media.
