Vehicle inspector applications (WoF and CoF)
Pathways to become a vehicle inspector
There are 3 main ways you can become a vehicle inspector:
- You have a qualification we accept by itself.
- You have a qualification we accept alongside experience as an automotive technician.
- You have experience as an automotive technician.
The number of years of experience you need as an automotive technician depend on what you’re applying for.
Full information about the qualifications we accept or the experience you need can be found later on this page.
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.
Note: If you haven’t completed training at the time you send us your application, you must complete it before your test. We’ll contact you to arrange a date and time for your test, so you can make sure you’ve completed your training by then. - Get your criminal record check from the Ministry of Justice (if needed).
- 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 us.
- Pass a practical test conducted by us.
- If your application is successful, we’ll appoint you as a vehicle inspector.
Submitting your application
If you completed the online application we'll be in contact once we have evaluated your application – there's nothing else you need to do.
If you're completing the PDF application 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
NZ Transport Agency
Private Bag 11777
Palmerston North 4442
Prerequisites to apply
Driver licence prerequisites
You must have a current and correct class of driver licence to drive the vehicles you want to inspect.
You must drive to the conditions imposed on your licence.
If you have a learner or restricted motorcycle licence you can only inspect motorcycles that are LAMS approved.
LAMS approved and prohibited motorcycles
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.
Overseas licences
If you apply with an overseas licence you must also send us:
- a clear colour copy of your overseas licence (all sides/pages)
- your international driving permit (if you have one).
Be aware that if you’re driving in New Zealand with an overseas licence, once you’ve been in New Zealand for more than 12 months (for classes 2-6), you can’t drive on your overseas licence anymore. For class 1 (car) licences, until 31 October 2026, once you’ve been in New Zealand for more than 18 months, you can’t drive on your overseas licence anymore. You must get a New Zealand licence.
You might need to pass a theory and/or practical test to get a New Zealand licence.
If you need to pass a theory and practical test, you’ll get a New Zealand driver licence with a supervisor condition. This means you must have a supervisor with you at all times while driving, even when inspecting vehicles (until you pass your practical test).
More information is available on the NZTA website:
Application prerequisites
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:
Training should cover:
If you haven’t completed training at the time you send us your application, you must complete it before your test. We’ll contact you to arrange a date a time for your test, so you can make sure you’ve completed your training by then. You must complete training within a reasonable timeframe. If you don’t, we may return your application to you as incomplete. |
| Access to a CoF-appointed inspecting organisation (IO) required for CoF applicants |
You’ll need access to a CoF-appointed IO to become a CoF inspector. If you’re applying for appointment as a CoF IO 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 IO 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:
You must send us evidence of training within 2 calendar months from the date we assess your application. If you don’t, we may return your application to you as incomplete. |
Qualifications or experience required
Alternative fuel
WoF
You can apply for appointment to inspect one or more of the following categories of vehicles:
- light motor vehicles (general vehicles (class LE, MA, MB, MC, MD1, NA), includes light tractors, light forklifts and light unclassified vehicles)
- light trailers (class TA, TB)
- motorcycles (class LC, LD, LE)
- heavy vehicles exempt from CoF (includes tractors, forklifts, unclassified vehicles)
- tractors only
- forklifts only
- agricultural machines.
You need to send us evidence of your qualifications or experience for each category you apply for.
|
Inspection category |
Pathway |
Qualification or experience required |
|---|---|---|
|
Light motor vehicles Light trailers |
Qualification only |
If you have one of these qualifications, you don’t need to send us any other qualification or evidence of your experience:
We can also consider equivalent qualifications, overseas qualifications, and courses |
|
Qualification and experience |
If you have one of these qualifications, you must also send us evidence that you have at least 3 years of experience as an automotive technician:
We can also consider equivalent qualifications, overseas qualifications, and courses |
|
|
Experience only |
You must have worked in full-time employment carrying out repairs and maintenance to the safety aspects of light motor vehicles for at least 4 years. |
|
|
Motorcycles |
Qualification only |
If you have one of these qualifications, you don’t need to send us any other qualification or evidence of your experience as an automotive technician:
We can also consider equivalent qualifications, overseas qualifications, and courses |
|
Qualification and experience |
If you have any of the qualifications listed above for light motor vehicles or light trailers, you can also apply for motorcycles if you:
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|
Experience only |
If you have at least 4 years of experience as a mechanic, you can also apply for motorcycles if you:
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Heavy vehicles exempt from CoF Tractors Forklifts Agricultural machines Unclassified vehicles |
Qualification and experience |
If you have any of the qualifications listed above for light motor vehicles or light trailers, you can also apply for these inspection groups if you:
|
|
Experience only |
If you have at least 4 years of experience as a mechanic, you can also apply for these inspection groups if you:
|
CoF A
You can apply for appointment to inspect one or more of the following categories of vehicles:
- 10 - transport service licensed light vehicles, not trailers (includes taxis and taxi meter calibration) MA, MB, MC, MD1, MD2, NA
- 24 - other CoF vehicles (includes rental vans), class LC, LD, LE, MA, MB, MC, MD1, MD2, NA
- 25 - rental motorcycles, class LC, LD, LE
- 26 - rental cars, class MA, MB, MC, MD1, MD2.
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.
Prerequisites to apply for CoF A
CoF B
The CoF B VI appointment is made in two stages:
- First stage: goods service vehicles (GSVs):
- 21 - medium truck up to 12,000kg; medium trailer up to 10,000kg (truck + trailer), class NB, TC (includes supplementary group 27 private heavy motorhome GVM up to 12,000kg)
- 22 - truck greater than 12,000kg; trailer greater than 10,000kg (truck + trailer), class NC, TD (includes supplementary group 28 private heavy motorhome GVM greater than 12,000kg)
- 23 - large heavy combination truck GCM greater than 39,000kg (A-train and B-train), class NC, TD
- Second stage: heavy passenger service vehicles (PSVs):
- 11 - medium PSV GVM up to 12,000kg MD3 (up to 4500kg), MD4 (up to 5000kg), class ME
- 12 - large PSV GVM greater than 12,000kg, class ME.
You must apply for CoF B GSV first and send us evidence of your qualifications or experience with that application.
Once you meet prerequisites to apply for CoF B PSV, you don’t need to send us evidence of your qualifications or experience again.
Prerequisites to apply for CoF B
|
Inspection category |
Pathway |
Qualification or experience required |
|---|---|---|
|
CoF B GSV |
Qualification only |
If you have one of these qualifications, you don’t need to send us any other qualification or evidence of your experience:
We can also consider equivalent qualifications, overseas qualifications, and courses |
|
Qualification and experience |
If you have one of these qualifications, you must also send us evidence that you have at least 3 years of experience as an automotive technician related to heavy vehicles:
We can also consider equivalent qualifications, overseas qualifications, and courses |
|
|
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 heavy motor vehicles for at least 4 years. |
Overseas qualifications, equivalent qualifications, and courses
If your qualification or course has been assessed by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA), send us evidence of this assessment with your application.
If it hasn’t been assessed by NZQA, include a cover letter telling us in detail:
- what the qualification covered
- how long it took to complete
- the skills you gained
- any practical experience obtained through the qualification or course.
Evidence of experience: references, a personal statement or your CV
- Supporting documents
- How to demonstrate your knowledge of vehicles and their components
- What to do if you’ve been self-employed
Supporting documents
The following table sets out the supporting documents you can send us and what you need to include in them.
| Supporting document | Details |
|---|---|
| References from your employers |
A detailed reference from your employer can demonstrate your years of experience and relevant skills. Each reference should include:
If the reference isn’t detailed enough to cover all of the above, please also send us your CV and/or a personal statement. |
| Your CV |
Depending on how detailed your CV is, it might be acceptable by itself or you may need to send us other supporting documents like a personal statement or references from your employer. To be accepted by itself your CV must cover:
How to demonstrate your knowledge of vehicles and their components |
| A personal statement |
A personal statement can be a great way for you to give us full information about your experience. If you send us a personal statement it must:
How to demonstrate your knowledge of vehicles and their components |
How to demonstrate your knowledge of vehicles and their components
We’re looking for evidence that you’ve carried out repairs and maintenance to all safety aspects of motor vehicles.
This includes repairs and maintenance to a vehicle’s:
- structure, including glazing and external projections
- suspension, steering and braking systems
- safety equipment, including seatbelts and airbags
- lighting system.
Tell us about the work you’ve done on each of the above components or systems in your references, CV, or personal statement.
Please be as detailed as possible.
What to do if you’ve been self-employed
If you’ve been self-employed, you’ll need to provide documentation confirming this.
For example:
- a detailed personal statement
- evidence of accounting records
- a company register extract (if you operated as a company)
- other relevant business records.
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 and experience | We’ll assess the qualifications and experience you send us with your application. |
| Training |
Applying for CoF B You must send us evidence that you’ve completed roller brake machine training before we can progress your application to the testing stage of the process. You must send us evidence of training within 2 calendar months from the date we assess your application. If you don’t, we may return your application to you as incomplete. All other application types You should complete training before you apply. However, we understand that you might want to make sure you meet our other application requirements (like fit and proper or qualification and experience checks) before you invest in training. If you haven’t completed training at the time you send us your application, you must complete it before your test. We’ll contact you to arrange a date and time for your test, so you can make sure you’ve completed your training by then. You must complete training within a reasonable timeframe. If you don’t, we may return your application to you as incomplete. |
| 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 us. The theory test is an open book exam on VIRM requirements.
One of our Certification Officers will complete this assessment at your site or at one of our local offices, if this is an option. We’ll contact you to arrange this. You must sit your test within 3 months from the date we contact you to arrange the test. If you don’t, we’ll return your application as incomplete. |
| Practical test |
Once you’ve passed the theory test you’ll also need to pass a practical test conducted by us. 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. You must sit your test within 3 months from the date we contact you to arrange the test. If you don’t, we’ll return your application as incomplete. |
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 12-month period, including at least one inspection in each category you hold. Inspection categories are:
Your appointment or an inspection category may be revoked or it may expire if it’s not used within a 12-month period. |
| Use the NZ Transport Agency 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 |
To help you understand your obligations around conflict of interest, we’ve put together some guiding principles and some examples of situations you may find yourself in, together with some high-level guidance about what you need to do to in these situations. |
| Compliance with legislation, policies, and procedures |
You must carry out inspection and certification activities in accordance with:
|
| Contact us if you have any questions | Email info@nzta.govt.nz if you have any questions about applying to become a VI. |
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Notification of vehicle inspector transfer form (PDF) Version: June 2023 |
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Use this form to advise NZTA 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. NZTA 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. |
| Apply to be a certificate of fitness vehicle inspector (VICOF) |
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Use this form to apply to become a vehicle inspector (VI) issuing certificates of fitness (CoF). You can also use it when applying to add new inspection groups to your existing appointment. Version: August 2025 |
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Apply to be a warrant of fitness vehicle inspector, to add inspection groups or to re-sit the vehicle inspector test (online application) Apply to be a warrant of fitness vehicle inspector (VIWOF) (PDF application) |
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Use this form to apply to become a vehicle inspector (VI) issuing warrants of fitness (WoFs). You can also use this form to apply to add inspection groups to your existing WoF appointment, or to re-sit a test. Please note: You must have all required documentation ready before beginning the online application, as it must be completed at one time (drafts can’t be saved). Applicants will have approximately 2 hours to complete the online application before it times out (it takes about 10 minutes to complete). All requirements are listed on the first screen of the application. |