Vehicle inspector applications (WoF and CoF)
Vehicle inspector applications (WoF and CoF)
Overview of the application process
- Complete training with an in-house or external provider so you’re prepared to pass a theory and practical test.
- Send us a complete application form with relevant supporting documents.
- We’ll assess your application and let you know if you meet requirements to sit a theory test.
Note: If you’re applying for CoF B you’ll also need to send us evidence that you’ve completed roller brake machine (RBM) training before sitting the theory test. - Pass a theory test conducted by Waka Kotahi.
- Pass a practical test conducted by Waka Kotahi.
- If your application is successful, we’ll appoint you as a vehicle inspector.
Submitting your application
Make sure you've completed all sections of the form, and supplied all the supporting documents we request. If your application is incomplete, we'll send it back to you.
Email it to vehicleinspections@nzta.govt.nz or post it to:
Provider Licensing
Waka Kotahi
Private Bag 11777
Palmerston North 4442
Prerequisites to apply
You must have a current and correct class of driver licence to drive the class of vehicles being inspected.
Note: Where a class 5 vehicle does not have to be driven by the vehicle inspector who is conducting the inspection, the minimum class of licence to be held is a class 4 licence.
Type of application | Details |
---|---|
WoF | There are no prerequisites to apply for appointment as a WoF inspector. |
CoF A | You must hold a current appointment as a WoF vehicle inspector to apply for CoF A. This includes holding the appropriate inspection group. For example, to inspect CoF A motorcycles, you must hold an appointment as a WoF motorcycle inspector. |
CoF B goods service vehicles (GSV) Heavy vehicles except passenger service vehicles (PSVs) (class NB, NC, TC, TD) | There are no prerequisites to apply for CoF B GSV. |
CoF B (PSV) Heavy PSVs (class MD3, MD4, ME) | To apply for CoF B PSV you must have:
|
Training required
Training | Details |
---|---|
In-house or external training to prepare for a theory and practical test | You must pass a theory and practical test to be appointed as a VI. Training should cover:
|
Access to a CoF-appointed Inspecting Organisation required for CoF applicants | You’ll need access to a CoF-appointed inspecting organisation to become a CoF inspector. This is because part of the certificate involves being mentored, supervised, and assessed on the job by completing practical activities. If you’re applying for appointment as a CoF inspecting organisation and vehicle inspector at the same time, you’ll be able to complete the above practical activities at the site you’re applying for (as long as your inspecting organisation application is also successful). |
Roller brake machine training required for CoF B | If you’re applying to become a CoF B vehicle inspector you must:
|
Qualifications or experience required
Qualification | Details |
---|---|
WoF - light motor vehicles, light trailers, or motorcycles | You must:
We can also consider equivalent qualifications and overseas qualifications (more details below). |
WoF – agricultural machines, tractors, forklifts, heavy vehicles exempt from CoF | You must:
We can also consider equivalent qualifications and overseas qualifications (more details below). |
CoF A | Because you have to hold an appointment as a WoF inspector to apply for CoF A, you don’t have to send us evidence of your qualifications or experience again. |
CoF B – qualifications accepted and experience required | You can apply for appointment as a CoF B inspector if you have 3 years relevant work experience and one of the following qualifications, as an automotive technician related to heavy vehicles:
We can also consider equivalent qualifications and overseas qualifications (more details below). |
No qualifications – work experience only | You can apply for appointment as a CoF inspector if you have worked full-time carrying out repairs and maintenance to all safety aspects of light motor vehicles (for CoF A) or heavy motor vehicles (for CoF B) for at least five years cumulatively. You’ll need to supply evidence of relevant work experience with your application, in the form of a reference and/or personal statement (see next section of this page). |
Overseas qualifications and equivalent qualifications | If your qualification has been assessed by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA), send us evidence of this assessment with your application. If your qualification hasn’t been assessed by NZQA, include a cover letter telling us how long it took to be awarded the qualification, and the skills you gained. |
References, personal statements, evidence of relevant work experience
All CoF B applications must include references or a personal statement, and evidence of relevant work experience.
Other applications may require these documents as well. Refer to the table below for more information on what to include.
Supporting document | Details |
---|---|
Reference or personal statement | You must include:
See below for further information about relevant work experience. |
Relevant work experience | We’re looking for evidence that you’ve carried our repairs and maintenance to all safety aspects of heavy motor vehicles. This includes repairs and maintenance to a vehicle’s:
Please make sure you cover all of the above in your references or personal statement. |
If you’ve been self-employed | If you’ve been self-employed, you’ll need to provide documentation confirming this. For example:
|
Assessing your application
What we assess | Details |
---|---|
Fit and proper person check | We’ll complete a fit and proper person check for you with your application. This may include:
|
Qualifications, experience, and training | We’ll assess the qualifications, experience, and references you send us with your application. |
Performance history | If you hold or have previously held a vehicle inspector or inspecting organisation appointment, we may assess your performance history. This may include:
|
Theory test | You must pass a theory test conducted by Waka Kotahi. The theory test is an open book exam on VIRM requirements. You’ll have 40 minutes to complete the test:
One of our Certification Officers will complete this assessment at your site or at one of your local Waka Kotahi offices, if this is an option. We’ll contact you to arrange this. |
Practical test | Once you’ve passed the theory test you’ll also need to pass a practical test conducted by Waka Kotahi. The practical test involves demonstrating your inspection process on a suitable vehicle. You’ll need to arrange your own vehicle for this test as one will not be provided for you. We’ll discuss what type of vehicle you need before we visit you at your site. |
If your application isn't successful
We’ll propose to decline your application
If your application doesn’t meet our requirements, we’ll send you a notice proposing to decline your application. In that notice, we’ll let you know our concerns and what we’ve considered when assessing your application.
This step isn’t a final decision to decline your application. You’ll have the opportunity to make submissions (give more information) to us, which we’ll consider before we make a final decision.
We may still decline your application
If you don’t make any submissions to us, or the submissions you do make still don’t meet our requirements, we may send you a final decision declining your application.
If that happens, you have the right to appeal our decision to a district court under section 106 of the Land Transport Act 1998. Section 111 of the act and part 20, subpart 2 of the District Court Rules 2014 explain how to appeal.
If you're appointed as a vehicle inspector
Requirement | Details |
---|---|
Maintaining your appointment | Appointment as a vehicle inspector is for a 3-year term. To maintain your appointment you must complete a minimum of 25 inspections per year, including at least one inspection in each category you hold. Inspection categories are:
|
Use the Vehicle inspector (VI) code of conduct | All vehicle inspectors must sign and abide to the NZ Transport Agency vehicle inspector code of conduct, which provides the minimum ethical and behavioural standards that are expected of all VIs.
You don’t need to send us a signed code of conduct with your application. |
Performance monitoring and review | We’ll review you and your IO regularly. Reviews may be announced (we’ll tell you we’re coming) or unannounced (we’ll just show up). The performance monitoring and review process:
|
Manage any conflict of interest and financial interest | You can’t inspect a vehicle you have a financial interest in the operation of. For example, if you (or one of your family members) own:
There is one exception: you can inspect a vehicle the inspecting organisation has a financial interest in the operation of if the inspecting organisation primarily uses the vehicle to deliver inspection and certification services. Other conflicts of interest You should avoid situations that lead to potential, perceived, or actual conflicts of interest. Common other conflicts of interest include inspecting:
However, we recognise there may be times where you can’t avoid these situations, which is why your inspecting organisation must have a plan in place to identify and manage conflicts of interest. All conflicts of interest must be recorded in an inspecting organisation’s quality management system. |
Compliance with legislation, policies, and procedures | You must carry out inspection and certification activities in accordance with:
The relevant Vehicle inspection requirements manual: In-service certification (VIRM). |
Contact us if you have any questions | If you have any questions about applying to become a CoF inspector, email info@nzta.govt.nz. |
Notification of vehicle inspector transfer form (PDF) Version: June 2023 |
Use this form to advise Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency that an inspecting organisation will be employing a new vehicle inspector, or that a vehicle inspector will be leaving the employment of the inspecting organisation. Waka Kotahi requires as much notice as possible to action any vehicle inspector transfer requests. Please ensure all requests are submitted at least 3 days before the date of transfer. |
VI1B Vehicle inspector application: Warrant of fitness - light motor vehicles Version: October 2023 |
Use this form when applying to become a Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency vehicle inspector for the issuing of warrants of fitness (WoF). |
VI1R Vehicle inspector resit application (warrant of fitness - light motor vehicles (PDF) Version: October 2023 |
Use this form to apply to resit an assessment to become a Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency vehicle inspector for the issuing of warrants of fitness (WoF). |
Version: October 2023 |
Use this form when applying to become a Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency vehicle inspector for the issuing of warrants of fitness (WoF). |
VI3 Application to add inspection groups Version: October 2023 |
Use this form when applying to add motorcycles, light trailers or light motor vehicles to your current warrant of fitness (WoF) vehicle inspector’s (VI) authorisation. |
VI4 Application to become an alternative fuels vehicle inspector |
This form is used when applying to become a Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency vehicle inspector of vehicles using alternative fuels. |
VI5B CoF Vehicle inspector application (PDF) Version: October 2023 |
Use this form when applying to become a Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency vehicle inspector for the issuing of certificates of fitness (CoF). |