Car care,
in plain words
Short, useful answers to the questions we hear at the counter in Albany. Written by the Midas Albany team.
WOF
Failed your WOF? What happens next, and your rights
If your car fails its WOF, here's what happens: you can have the repairs done by any mechanic you choose, and you have 28 days to take it back to the same inspecting organisation for a free recheck. After 28 days, it's a full new inspection, and a full fee.
WOF
New WOF rules from 1 November 2026: how often does my car need a WOF now?
Under the new WOF rules from 1 November 2026, if your car was registered on or after 1 November 2019 and is between 4 and 14 years old, it now needs a WOF every two years instead of every year. Older cars, and cars registered before November 2019, still need one every year for now, and the oldest cars have actually gone from six-monthly to yearly.
Brakes
Why are my brakes squealing?
Most of the time a brake squeal means your brake pads are getting thin. Many pads have a small metal tab built in that touches the disc when the pad is nearly worn, and the squeal is it doing its job: telling you to book in before the noise turns into a grind.
WOF
What does a WOF check in New Zealand?
A warrant of fitness (WOF) checks that your car meets the basic safety standards on the day it's inspected: tyres, brakes, steering and suspension, lights, glass, seatbelts and airbags, structure and rust, and a handful of other items. It isn't a service, so it doesn't look at how healthy the engine is or how long the gearbox has left.
Warning lights
Can I drive with the engine light on?
If the engine light is on and steady, and the car feels normal, you can usually drive it gently for now, but book it in soon. If the light is flashing, or the car is running rough, losing power or overheating, ease off, pull over when it's safe and get it checked straight away.
Tyres
How much tread do my tyres need to pass a WOF?
How much tread do you need to pass a WOF in New Zealand? At least 1.5 mm of tread depth in the main grooves, all the way round the tyre. That's the legal minimum set by NZTA, and it applies to every tyre on the car, not just the one you looked at.
WOF and servicing
What's the difference between a WOF and a service?
A WOF checks that your car meets the legal safety standard on the day it's inspected. A service is maintenance: fresh oil and filters, fluids topped up, and a look at the parts that wear, so the car keeps running well between WOFs.
Brakes
Why does my car shake when I brake?
If your car is shaking when braking, the shudder or vibration usually comes from the brake discs (also called rotors) wearing unevenly, so the pads grip a surface that isn't flat. You feel it as a pulse through the brake pedal, a shake in the steering wheel, or both.
Warning lights
What do the dashboard warning lights mean?
Most dashboard warning lights follow a simple colour code: red means stop and check now, amber (orange or yellow) means book in soon, and green or blue just tells you a system is on. Symbols vary between makes, so your owner's manual has the final word, but the common ones below cover most cars we see in Albany.
Batteries
What are the signs of a dying car battery?
The most common sign of a dying car battery is a slow start: the engine turns over more lazily than usual, especially on a cold morning. Dim headlights, a clicking noise when you turn the key, and warning lights flickering on the dashboard are the other usual clues.
Servicing
How often should I service my car?
Service your car as often as your owner's manual says: it gives a distance and a time, such as every so many kilometres or every 12 months, and whichever comes first is the one that counts. If you don't have the manual, a common rule of thumb is about once a year or every 10,000 to 15,000 km, whichever comes first.
Road trips
What should I check on my car before a summer road trip?
Before a road trip, check your car's tyres, fluids, lights and wipers, and make sure your WOF and rego won't run out while you're away. It takes about ten minutes in the driveway, and it's a lot more pleasant than an afternoon on the shoulder of State Highway 1 with the whole family and a chilly bin.
Brakes
Why are my brakes grinding?
A grinding noise when you brake usually means the brake pads have worn down to the metal backing, and that metal is now rubbing on the disc. Treat it as urgent: book in straight away, and if it's a harsh metal-on-metal grind every time you brake, stop driving and call us.
Servicing
How often should I change my car's oil?
Change your oil as often as your owner's manual says. It gives an interval by distance and by time, and whichever comes first is the one that counts. That's usually at every regular service, so if your car is serviced on schedule, the oil is too.
Warning lights
What does a car diagnostic check?
A car diagnostic starts by plugging a scan tool into your car's computer to read the fault codes it has saved, then goes on to test the parts those codes point to, so we find the actual cause rather than a guess. The code tells us where to look. The testing tells us what's wrong.
Tyres
Why does my car pull to one side?
The most common reason a car pulls to one side is a tyre that's low on air, so check your tyre pressures first. If the pressures are right, the usual causes are the wheel alignment, a brake that's sticking, or worn steering or suspension parts.
WOF
Failed your WOF at VTNZ Rosedale? What to do next, just across the road
If your car has just failed its WOF at VTNZ Rosedale, keep the fail sheet, get the listed items fixed by any mechanic you choose, and take it back for the free recheck within 28 days. Midas Albany is just opposite, at 3C Saturn Place, so the repairs can be done across the road.
Servicing
Had your WOF at VTNZ Rosedale? Why it's not a service, and getting one done next door
A WOF checks that your car meets the safety standard on the day it's inspected. It doesn't change the oil, replace a filter or top up anything, so a fresh WOF sticker doesn't mean the car has been serviced.
Engine
When should I change my cambelt?
Change your cambelt when your car maker says to: there's a set distance and a set age, and whichever comes first is the one that counts. The interval varies a lot from car to car, so the honest answer is in your owner's manual or service book, or we can look it up for your car.