What actually happens during a WOF?

For many people, a Warrant of Fitness feels a bit like taking your car to the doctor. You hand over the keys, try not to think about it too much, and hope nobody finds anything embarrassing.

The reality is much less dramatic. During a WOF, we check the important safety items on your vehicle. Things like tyres, brakes, lights, seatbelts, steering and suspension all get a thorough going over. We're essentially making sure your vehicle is safe for you, your passengers and everyone else on the road.

Contrary to popular belief, we don't judge the number of coffee cups, dog hairs or mystery receipts living in your car. We've seen it all before.

Sometimes vehicles pass with flying colours. Sometimes they reveal a tyre that's smoother than a baby's bottom or a light bulb that quietly gave up the ghost months ago.

But every now and then, a WOF uncovers a few hidden cuts and bruises your vehicle wasn't telling you about. A small crack in a tyre, a worn suspension component or a brake issue that's developing behind the scenes. Like many health problems, these things often start small and painless. Left untreated, however, they can grow into something much bigger, messier and considerably more expensive.

Think of a WOF as your vehicle's annual check-up. Your car can't tell you when something's not quite right, so we do the detective work for it. We'd much rather find a minor scrape today than have you dealing with a major haemorrhage to your bank account a few months down the road.

At the end of the day, a WOF isn't about catching you out - it's about helping keep New Zealand's roads safe for everyone.