Government looking to reform land transport rules

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)