How to keep track of WOF, rego and RUC dates
Every vehicle in New Zealand has up to three different things to keep current — its warrant of fitness, its registration (rego) and, for diesels and plug-ins, road user charges. They run on different schedules, and the WOF rules are changing. Here's what's due when, and how to stop dates slipping.
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Warrant of fitness (WOF)
WOF frequency depends on your vehicle's age — and it's changing from 1 November 2026.
What's changing from 1 November 2026
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi is reducing how often most light vehicles need a WOF:
- New vehicles: the second WOF is due at 4 years old (previously 3).
- Vehicles 4 to 14 years old: a WOF every 2 years instead of every year. This applies from 1 November 2026 for vehicles registered on or after 1 November 2019, and from 1 November 2027 for vehicles registered between 1 November 2013 and 31 October 2019.
- Vehicles 14 to 26 years old: no change — still a WOF every year.
- Vehicles registered before 1 January 2000: a WOF every year instead of every 6 months.
The fine for driving with a WOF more than two months out of date is also going up, from $200 to $350.
Check your own vehicle's date
Your WOF expiry date is on the label on the windscreen. Because the rules depend on the vehicle's age and registration date, cars in the same household may now be on different cycles — so note each one's date separately.
Registration (rego)
Rego has to be kept current separately from your WOF.
Choose a period that suits you
You can relicense your vehicle for different lengths of time. Shorter periods spread the cost; longer ones mean fewer renewals to remember. If you have several vehicles, you can use different periods to stop all the renewals landing at once.
Don't rely only on the reminder letter
NZ Transport Agency sends relicensing reminders, but they go to the address or email on the vehicle's record. If you've moved, changed email, or bought the car recently, check the details are up to date — and keep your own reminder as a backup.
Road user charges (RUC)
If you drive a diesel, an EV or a plug-in hybrid, you pay RUC instead of petrol tax.
Who pays RUC
Diesel vehicles pay RUC. Since 1 April 2024, light electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids do too (plug-in hybrids at a reduced rate, because they also pay tax on the petrol they use). Petrol cars currently pay fuel tax at the pump instead.
Track the odometer, not the calendar
A RUC licence covers you up to a set odometer reading, not a date. Note the reading your current licence runs out at, and check the odometer every few weeks so you can buy more before you reach it. Driving past it without a new licence can mean a fine.
Changes are coming
The government is working on moving petrol vehicles onto RUC as well, along with more flexible ways to pay. No date has been set for petrol vehicles yet.
A simple system that works
Three dates per vehicle, written down
- WOF expiry date
- Rego expiry date
- RUC licence end odometer reading (if applicable)
Set a reminder a few weeks before each date so there's time to book a WOF inspection or buy RUC without a last-minute rush.
Never miss a WOF or rego date again
Add each vehicle to HomeTrack and enter its WOF and rego months — HomeTrack offers to set reminders straight away, and your weekly email shows what's due across every car in the household.
Start your 30-day free trial → No credit card required · Made in New ZealandCommon questions
How often do I need a WOF in NZ?
From 1 November 2026, vehicles 4 to 14 years old move to a WOF every 2 years (phased in by registration date), vehicles 14 to 26 years old stay annual, and vehicles registered before 2000 move from six-monthly to annual. New vehicles have their second WOF at 4 years old.
Do electric cars pay road user charges in NZ?
Yes. Since 1 April 2024, light electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids pay road user charges, with plug-in hybrids at a reduced rate.
What's the fine for an expired WOF?
From 1 November 2026, the infringement fee for driving a vehicle with a WOF expired by more than two months increases from $200 to $350.