Driving change for vintage vehicles
The government has unveiled plans to reduce the frequency of warrant of fitness (WOF) and certificate of fitness (COF) inspections for vintage light vehicles and private heavy motorhomes.
At present these vehicles must be inspected every six months but the proposal revealed by Chris Bishop, Minister of Transport, is looking to extend this to once a year.
Members of the automotive industry and the public can have their say on the plans when a six-week consultation period begins later this month.
Bishop says the government wants to reduce unnecessarily onerous compliance requirements for owners of cars and motorcycles more than 40 years old and privately owned motorhomes.
“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,” he adds.
“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 WOF or 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.”
Bishop says there is also evidence that initial pass rates for vintage vehicles are higher than those for all vehicles under 40 years old.
“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.”
He continues that extending the time between WOF and COF inspections for vehicles over 40 years old and privately owned heavy motorhomes is a “sensible approach to ensuring vehicles are safe while not going overboard on compliance”.
Public consultation will begin on February 24 and the last day for feedback is April 4. For more details and to share feedback, visit nzta.govt.nz.
