WOF reforms.

[oneofsix]

I know my car will pass its next warrent, but I can't say that for everyone else. The one after that could be a bit dicey if I don't get the rust on the crossmember dealt to at some stage soon.

So you don't need the WOF to tell you to deal with the crossmember. Is it only the threat of failing the WOF that will cause you to deal to it? I suspect not. But because we trust places like VTNZ to pick these things up we don't take care of the vehicle in the meantime and the WOF checks can only pick up what is a problem at the time of the WOF so there is the false sense of safety.

[Rosie]

Has anyone with a vehicle less than 5 years old failed a WOF?

Yes. The VTNZ guy shined my motorbike headlight at a roller door 1m away and said I had to adjust it because it 'kinda doesn't look right'. I checked it properly, took it back unadjusted, and he said it looked much better now I'd adjusted it.

I'm all for an objective test of whether vehicles meet clear (and reasonable) safety standards, but if your vehicle is older, or isn't a car, the current system is a real lottery.

[bogan]

So you don't need the WOF to tell you to deal with the crossmember. Is it only the threat of failing the WOF that will cause you to deal to it? I suspect not. But because we trust places like VTNZ to pick these things up we don't take care of the vehicle in the meantime and the WOF checks can only pick up what is a problem at the time of the WOF so there is the false sense of safety.

They looked into wofs in parts of europe for bikes last year iirc. One of the resaons against it, was the depersonalisation of safety responsibility. If another guy is getting all pedantic about how unsafe your bike is, why bother checking it yourself? Then because bikes now go 6 months without checks, instead of a pre-ride, or monthly check, they are less safe.

Not sure whether it would offset the safety gained by ensuring all bikes meet the standard at one time, but is an interesting argument. Though it is one that is more applicable to bikes, higher proportion of users already do safety checks on thier bikes than cars.

[oneofsix]

They looked into wofs in parts of europe for bikes last year iirc. One of the resaons against it, was the depersonalisation of safety responsibility. If another guy is getting all pedantic about how unsafe your bike is, why bother checking it yourself? Then because bikes now go 6 months without checks, instead of a pre-ride, or monthly check, they are less safe.

Not sure whether it would offset the safety gained by ensuring all bikes meet the standard at one time, but is an interesting argument. Though it is one that is more applicable to bikes, higher proportion of users already do safety checks on thier bikes than cars.

And being honest how many of the bikes over 5 year only get the yearly WOF and only then if the rider is registering it? Most bike WOFs take more to check than a car and so a safer from the parking warden.

[GingerMidget]

So you don't need the WOF to tell you to deal with the crossmember. Is it only the threat of failing the WOF that will cause you to deal to it? I suspect not. But because we trust places like VTNZ to pick these things up we don't take care of the vehicle in the meantime and the WOF checks can only pick up what is a problem at the time of the WOF so there is the false sense of safety.

I know my car well enough to know when something is wrong, and we (dad and I) picked up the CM rust a couple of weeks ago. Its not an issue yet, but I don't want it to become one. Its parked in the garage, and barely driven so it won't become an issue for some time.

It amazes me though, the number of people who can't check their own oil. I do that every two weeks. Its been fine the whole time, and is getting a change this weekend if we have time. people just don't care it seems

Its also six years for yearly warrents. Not 5 as the herald states

[avgas]

I used to think WOF's were important but now not so much. They have let too many obvious things through while penalizing people on stupid stuff that will never save their life.

[ducatilover]

Yes. The VTNZ guy shined my motorbike headlight at a roller door 1m away and said I had to adjust it because it 'kinda doesn't look right'. I checked it properly, took it back unadjusted, and he said it looked much better now I'd adjusted it.

I'm all for an objective test of whether vehicles meet clear (and reasonable) safety standards, but if your vehicle is older, or isn't a car, the current system is a real lottery.

My CB400 passed a wof with illegally thing discs on the front, because they don't have the specs, or a micrometer to measure them Only a slight safety issue...

The false sense of security thing is true. I only get a vehicle to pass a wof so it's legal, it doesn't mean a huge amount about safety. People should learn their vehicles better.

The fog light rule is stupid BTW.

[Usarka]

It amazes me though, the number of people who can't check their own oil.

Hmmmm... including VTNZ staff. Guy at the local VTNZ tried telling me that I needed a litre of oil for the car couple of weeks ago (evidently they now do a maintenance check that he thought I'd paid for but hadn't). I checked it cold the next morning and it was fine.

I'm not sure if he hasn't been trained how to check oil (wtf is he doing working on cars???!?!?!) or he was trying to rip me off.

[ducatilover]

Hmmmm... including VTNZ staff. Guy at the local VTNZ tried telling me that I needed a litre of oil for the car couple of weeks ago (evidently they now do a maintenance check that he thought I'd paid for but hadn't). I checked it cold the next morning and it was fine.

I'm not sure if he hasn't been trained how to check oil (wtf is he doing working on cars???!?!?!) or he was trying to rip me off.

Trying to sell you oil, I'd do that "you need half a litre mate, I'll sort that for ya"
They told a mate her car needed a trans flush, just after we did one on it has happened several times.

[GingerMidget]

Hmmmm... including VTNZ staff. Guy at the local VTNZ tried telling me that I needed a litre of oil for the car couple of weeks ago (evidently they now do a maintenance check that he thought I'd paid for but hadn't). I checked it cold the next morning and it was fine.

I'm not sure if he hasn't been trained how to check oil (wtf is he doing working on cars???!?!?!) or he was trying to rip me off.

Standard procedure to now check oil, and if its at min ask the customer if they would like it topped up. You'd be surprised how often it happens, and people with NO oil on the dipstick. Thats a scary one! We don't have that terribly often, but its enough to be concerning.

[Rosie]

My CB400 passed a wof with illegally thing discs on the front, because they don't have the specs, or a micrometer to measure them Only a slight safety issue...

As I said, it's a lottery. Sometimes you get passed for things you shouldn't, sometimes you get failed for a non-existent problem and can't get a straight explanation for what is wrong.

[jellywrestler]

every six months is a hangover from the seventies and earlier when your ball joints fell to bits regularly, now things should be more reliable.
should be a longer gap now even between the 12 months for vechiles under five years old then straight to six monthly, why not 9 months for 5-10 yr old ones?
what fucks me off is taking a trailer in and paying a fortune for when they have SFA to check too, especially when used a handful of times a year

[Scuba_Steve]

what fucks me off is taking a trailer in and paying a fortune for when they have SFA to check too, especially when used a handful of times a year

they need WOF's

[Swoop]

I for one, welcome this review of the WoF, rego and licencing systems.

The age restriction on vehicles being imported has been lowered, so we will be seeing less of the Tokyo cast-offs on our roads, ergo a younger fleet on our roads.

6-monthly taxations approaching $50- a time appear odd in an age of higher technology and reliability.

The difficult part remains the human who owns the vehicle.

[davereid]

The WOF bits the smokescreen. Thats only $45 million and the government dont pay it, you do.

This is really about the relicensing, and the ACC levy.

The ACC levy is now so high, that many minimise costs by putting vehicles on hold etc.

And the ADMIN cost of letting people put vehicles on hold is more than $45 million.

This is about ensuring you pay your ACC levy, all year on everything with no "on hold".