Tractors
1 Introduction
Inspection and certification of tractors and self-propelled machines used in agricultural, land management and roading operations: Warrant of fitness requirements
This section specifies the requirements that are applicable to the inspection and certification of the following tractors and machines for the purpose of issuing a warrant of fitness (WoF).
1. Agricultural tractors:
- An agricultural tractor is defined as a vehicle that is designed and constructed principally for the purposes of towing an agricultural trailer or towing or powering an agricultural implement.
- An agricultural tractor may be capable of any speed, and includes a JCB Fastrac.
2. Tractors (other than agricultural tractors):
- A tractor is defined as a motor vehicle (other than a traction engine) that is designed exclusively for traction at speeds not exceeding 50km/h.
- A vehicle capable of traction at speeds exceeding 50km/h is not defined as a tractor. Such a vehicle requires a certificate of fitness (CoF) and is therefore not covered in this section.
3. Self-propelled agricultural machines (eg a combine or grape harvester):
- These vehicles are defined as being designed, constructed or adapted for agricultural purposes.
- Agricultural purposes only includes land cultivation, growing and harvesting crops, rearing livestock, operation or management of a farm, and any land management operations undertaken in connection with these, but does not include any purposes related to forestry.
4. Self-propelled machines used in non-agricultural land management or roading operations.
General requirements
1. This section applies to both light and heavy tractors and machines. Heavy tractors and machines are those that have a gross vehicle mass (GVM) exceeding 3500kg.
2. The table below specifies:
- What tractors and machines may be inspected for WoF, and
- What WoF expiry dates apply (refer to Introduction section 3.8.1 for full details), and
- What inspecting organisation and vehicle inspector authorisations are required.
Tractor or machine that may be inspected for WoF1 | WoF expiry | IO/VI authorisation required (inspection group) |
|---|---|---|
| 12 months2 | Agricultural motor vehicle (6)3, 4 |
| 12 months – vehicle is less than 6 years old from date of first registration 6 months – vehicle is 6 or more years old from date of first registration | Heavy vehicle exempt from CoF (5) |
| 12 months2 | Agricultural motor vehicle (6)3, 4 |
| 12 months – vehicle is less than 6 years old from date of first registration 6 months – vehicle is 6 or more years old from date of first registration | Heavy vehicle exempt from CoF (5) |
1 A tractor or machine requires a WoF only if it is operated above the 30km/h or 40km/h as specified in the table. 2 IMPORTANT: An agricultural tractor or machine only qualifies for a 12-month WoF if it is on inspection group 6 (agricultural motor vehicle). The vehicle inspector may need to tick the appropriate inspection group when prompted on the inspection screen. The prompt will only appear if the vehicle is correctly licensed as an agricultural motor vehicle. If a vehicle is not correctly licensed as an agricultural motor vehicle, it does not qualify for inspection group 6 and 12-month WoF, and the WoF expiry will default to 12 or 6 month WoFs applicable to non-agricultural tractors and machines. The owner should contact the NZTA on 0800 108 809 to get the vehicle correctly licensed as an agricultural motor vehicle. 3 Vehicle inspectors that have inspection group 5 authorisation will automatically qualify for inspection group 6 authorisation. 4 Most light agricultural tractors or machines cannot exceed 40km/h so cannot be inspected for WoF. If you are presented with a light agricultural tractor or machine that can exceed 40km/h, and you don’t have inspection group 5 or 6 authorisation, please contact the NZTA on 0800 587 287 to get the correct authorisation. | ||
3. Only a tractor or machine that has a registration plate attached to it may be inspected for a WoF.
4. Modifications that affect a safety requirement do not require low volume vehicle (LVV) or heavy vehicle specialist (HVS) certification unless otherwise specified. However, if the vehicle inspector has concerns about the modification, he must obtain additional information from a relevant person before passing the vehicle for WoF.
5. A tractor or machine is not required to have a vehicle identifier. If the tractor or machine has a vehicle identifier, such as the manufacturer’s serial number, it must be recorded on the checksheet and on the NZ Transport Agency computer system.
Page amended 11 November 2013 (see amendment details)
Page updated 18 October 2018 (see details)