VTNZ has postponed 26,000 WOFs and 13,000 driving tests

Thursday, 2 September 2021

VTNZ can do WoF’s for essential workers’ vehicles in alert level 4, and in level 3 it can do WoF’s with appropriate social distancing for members of the wider public.

The country's largest vehicle testing business VTNZ says it has had to postpone 26,000 warrant of fitness tests since lockdown began.

It has also had to push out 13,000 driving tests.

The business, which does around 16 per cent of all warrant of fitness tests, said it expected a surge in demand as the country moved down through the alert levels.

Greg O’Connor, VTNZ’s country manager, said: “The backlog created by the lockdown will take some time to work through and people should try for an inspection as early as possible and keep an eye on their car’s safety.”

**READ MORE:

* WoFs, regos and Level 4: 2021 Edition

* Three Timaru District bridges need replacing as flood costs rise

* Traffic building on motorways as Anzac weekend exodus begins

“This will create a surge and impact wait times for these services,” O’Connor said.

“There are likely to be delays, so think ahead if you can,” he said.

“We have 50 branches that will be operating outside the Auckland region at Level 3. Drop-in WoF and other vehicle inspection services will be conducted, but will be slightly slower with health and safety procedures,” he said.

Unfortunately, driver licence testing will only resume at alert level 2.

“We’re rescheduling tests that can’t be conducted due to alert levels,” O’Connor said.

Waka Kotahi, the New Zealand Transport Agency, has advised motorists who cannot obtain a WoF during alert level 4 that if they must use their vehicle for an essential trip, such as groceries or medical supplies, and their WoF has expired, police discretion may be applied in not issuing them with a ticket.

The agency said WoFs that could not be renewed under a level 4 lockdown can be renewed at alert level 3.

“Most inspections sites in regions under alert level 3 are now open, and we’re encouraging people not to delay booking in their inspections,” said Nicole Botherway, Waka Kotahi senior manager for safer vehicles.

“Visit the website of your local inspection site or contact them to see if they are open and to book an appointment to ensure your vehicle meets required safety standards, and you are driving legally,” she said.

“As all vehicles are also legally required to display a current vehicle licence (rego), Waka Kotahi will allow online vehicle re-licensing without a current WoF or certificate of fitness (CoF) for the time being.

“We would not normally allow this as all vehicles must have a current vehicle inspection to receive a rego, but it is something we can do to assist Kiwis while access to inspection sites to obtain a WoF or CoF is restricted to essential workers or is not possible at alert level 4, and may be limited at level 3,” Botherway said.

“This temporary solution worked well last year when lockdown made it impossible for motorists to re-licence their vehicles online because they didn’t have current WoF or CoF, and we are happy to repeat it.”

Insurers are being flexible with their policyholders.

The country’s largest insurer IAG, which owns the State, AMI and NZI brands, has told its policyholders their will still have insurance cover, if their vehicle’s WoF expires during lockdown.

During the 2020 lockdown, the Insurance Council said insurance companies would still cover policyholders for a crash if their WoF expired during the lockdown, as long as their vehicle didn’t have an existing safety issue.

Car insurance policies all contained a duty on policyholders to keep their cars in roadworthy condition.

AA, which also runs vehicle testing stations, posted this message on its website: “We will be open under Alert Level 3 restrictions for all sites south of Auckland from Wednesday September 1, 2021. Auckland and Northland remain closed for general business.”