Public consultation will open next week on the Government’s proposal to reduce compliance requirements for owners of vintage cars, vintage motorcycles, and privately owned motorhomes

Transport Minister Chris Bishop said the Government is looking to reduce unnecessarily onerous compliance rules on such vehicles.

In total there are around 4.4 million light vehicles in New Zealand, with around 128,000 of them being vintage, and about 39,000 private motorhomes, he said.

“At present the owners of these vehicles must spend time and money on Warrant of Fitness or Certificate of Fitness 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.”

The public consultation, being run by NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, proposes to: reduce WOF check frequency for vehicles aged 40 years-plus from every six months to every year; and reduce COF check frequency for privately owned heavy motorhome vehicles from every six months to every year.

Bishop said evidence shows that initial pass rates for vintage vehicles are higher compared to all vehicles aged under 40 years old.

“In fact, light vehicle WOF pass rates [of initial inspection only] 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 Minister said 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 on the proposed changes will begin on February 24. Visit nzta.govt.nz to share your feedback. The last day for feedback is April 4.