Did you know...

If you are found to be using a trailer which does
not have a current warrant of fitness, you will be slapped immediately with a fine of $200 (more in some cases). That's a lot of money to pay, especially when the situation is easy to avoid.

So, what's a warrant of fitness?

Commonly known as a WoF, it is a regular check to ensure that your vehicle meets required safety standards as set out by the New Zealand Transport Agency.   

It’s your responsibility to keep your vehicle up to WoF conditionat all times. For example, while tyres on your vehicle may pass on the day of your warrant inspection, you’ll need to replace them as soon as the tread gets to the minimum depth. If you wait until the next inspection before replacing them, you increase your risk of having a crash or receiving a fine.

Failing a warrant of fitness means you cannot drive your trailer or vehicle on the road unless you’re taking it somewhere to get it repaired or get a new WoF – and it’s safe to do so.

So, what sort of things are involved in a WoF? Well, there's the obvious stuff like the vehicle or trailer brakes are working and the tyres aren't bald.

However, there's a few other aspects you may not have considered which must be up to spec in order for your trailer or vehicle to pass their warrant. These include:

• placement of lights (including marker lamps and number plate lights)
• level of wear on brake system components
• level of rust on any area of the vehicle or trailer

There's a lot of areas to keep up to spec, but doing so will not only save you the annoyance of a completely avoidable fine, but will also ensure your trailer or vehicle is safe, road-worthy and isn't putting you, your passengers and other road users at risk. To ensure that all areas of YOUR vehicle are covered when going for your WoF, simply download our free checklist below to ensure all areas of your trailer are up to spec before your next WoF check.