Changes to WOF system

The NZTA is making changes to the way it oversees warrants of fitness (WOFs).

Its new vehicle inspection and certification (VIC) system is replacing WOF Online this year with a stage rollout.

The agency is informing businesses when it’s their turn to change over. WOF Online will be switched off when everyone is on VIC.

It says the new system is modern, easy to use, and can view additional vehicle details and previous WOF inspection information. 

In addition, vehicle warnings are displayed upfront and comments for failures can be included.

Unauthorised seatbelt work

The agency is aware unauthorised businesses have been re-webbing seatbelts with after-market retractors. They have also been changing webs and hardware. 

Seatbelts that are re-webbed without an NZTA exemption will not be accepted for a WOF or COF. 

Most non-compliant re-webbing is done in a way to hide what has been done. Such seatbelts usually have incorrectly fitted hardware, such as buckles on webbing that looks new. In addition, they have:

• New webbing or webbing that looks newer than other seatbelts in the vehicle, with the same compliance tags as the originals. 

• The same identification tags as the original belts, but with a different stitch pattern. 

• A compliance label different to the other seatbelts and not from a typical manufacturer. 

• No compliance labels fitted on new webbing or seatbelts.