19 June 2025
The Government is progressing work to reform New Zealand's land transport rules.
The Land Transport Rules Reform Programme includes seven streams of work:
- reducing the frequency of vintage vehicle and motorhome Warrant of Fitness (WOF) and Certificate of Fitness (COF) inspections
- Considering additional safety requirements for vehicle imports
- reviewing WOF/COF frequency and inspection requirements for light vehicles
- simplifying heavy vehicle driver licensing, weight thresholds, and freight permitting to improve efficiency and productivity for the freight sector
- Enabling digital driver licences and digital alternatives to WOF/COF/registration stickers
- Improving lane use and use of traffic control devices
- overhauling the vehicle regulatory system
Public consultation will begin in October 2025 on:
- additional safety requirements for imports
- changes to WOF and COF inspection requirements and frequency for light vehicles, and
- changes to freight permitting requirements
This is expected to be followed by consultation in early 2026 on:
- possible changes to licence weight thresholds
- enabling a digital driver licence, digital documents, and e-servicing
- improving lane use and use of traffic control devices
Initial consultation on overhauling the vehicle regulatory system is planned for mid-2026.
Read the Transport Minister's media statement here.(external link)