{"id":33351,"date":"2024-02-14T09:00:07","date_gmt":"2024-02-13T20:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/?p=33351"},"modified":"2025-01-07T13:50:02","modified_gmt":"2025-01-07T00:50:02","slug":"what-is-a-certificate-of-fitness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/what-is-a-certificate-of-fitness\/","title":{"rendered":"What is a certificate of fitness?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Heavy vehicles (trucks, heavy trailers and motorhomes over 3500kg), passenger service vehicles (taxis, shuttles and buses), and rental vehicles must have a certificate of fitness check (CoF) every six months. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It&#8217;s like a warrant of fitness (WoF) for a commercial vehicle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Just like with a WoF, the CoF is a check that the vehicle is roadworthy. However, just because the vehicle is roadworthy on the day of the inspection doesn&#8217;t mean it will be roadworthy a week later. It&#8217;s the driver&#8217;s responsibility to keep the vehicle roadworthy because they can be fined by police if it&#8217;s not. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Examples of things that can happen that mean a vehicle is no longer roadworthy are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Headlight bulb blows<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tyres are worn down below the minimum tread<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Engine begins to blow smoke for more than 10 seconds<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is illegal to drive a vehicle that does not meet CoF requirements, or doesn&#8217;t display a current CoF label. You can only drive a vehicle in this situation if you are taking it directly to a workshop to get it repaired or get a new CoF, and only if doing so doesn&#8217;t endanger other road users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A CoF can be obtained at many different companies from diesel mechanics to testing stations. Check online for one close to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What happens in a CoF inspection?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When you arrive for the inspection, testing station inspectors use a VIRM (vehicle inspection requirements manual) to test different parts of your vehicle, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>TSL (transport service licence number) &#8211; if required<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Certificate of loading is displayed and valid<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>All lights work<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>All tyres (condition and tread depth)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>All brakes (condition of rotors, effectiveness)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Structural condition (any rust present must not be structural)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Load restraints are in good condition and certified (where applicable) &#8211; this include tie-down points and load anchorages, rope rails, log bolsters, curtain buckles, headboard, etc<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>All glazing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Windscreen washers and wipers function<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Doors open and close safely<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Airbags do not show a warning<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Seatbelts are in good condition and buckles close and open properly<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Steering and suspension work properly<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Speedometer works<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>No leaks in the fuel system<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Exhaust must not be smokey or louder than the factory-fitted exhaust system<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, the CoF does not check the condition of the engine, clutch, gearbox and differential, therefore cannot be used as, for example, a pre-purchase inspection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The levels and condition of fluids such as brake fluid are not checked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Brake pad thickness and paintwork condition are not checked (only structural rust is observed).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If your vehicle passes the inspection, you get a new CoF label which is applied on the front windscreen, driver&#8217;s side. This shows the expiry date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"497\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/certificate-of-fitness-back-497x600.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-33426\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/certificate-of-fitness-back-497x600.jpg 497w, https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/certificate-of-fitness-back-248x300.jpg 248w, https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/certificate-of-fitness-back-768x928.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/certificate-of-fitness-back.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 497px) 100vw, 497px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The rear face of the CoF which faces the driver<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"573\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/certificate-of-fitness-front-573x600.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-33427\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/certificate-of-fitness-front-573x600.jpg 573w, https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/certificate-of-fitness-front-287x300.jpg 287w, https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/certificate-of-fitness-front-768x804.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/certificate-of-fitness-front.jpg 1044w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 573px) 100vw, 573px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Front face of the CoF which is visible through the windscreen<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Requirements for a CoF<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You may need a TSL if you are operating a transport service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You must display a certificate of loading that states the weight limitations for your axles and tyres, and the maximum number of passengers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The vehicle must have sufficient road user charges if it is over 3500kg or runs on diesel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Vehicles over 3500kg must have an approved <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/whats-a-hubodometer-or-hubo\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"29699\">hubodometer<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Heavy vehicles (trucks, heavy trailers and motorhomes over 3500kg), passenger service vehicles (taxis, shuttles and buses), and rental vehicles must have a certificate of fitness check (CoF) every six months. It&#8217;s like a warrant of fitness (WoF) for a commercial<span class=\"ellipsis\">&hellip;<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"read-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/what-is-a-certificate-of-fitness\/\">Read more &#8250;<\/a><\/div>\n<p><!-- end of .read-more --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":33427,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-33351","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-heavy-vehicle"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33351","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33351"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33351\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33428,"href":"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33351\/revisions\/33428"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/33427"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33351"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33351"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33351"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}