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.
If you've just had your WOF at VTNZ Rosedale and the car is due a service, Midas Albany is just across the road at 3C Saturn Place.
What a WOF does, and what it doesn't
A WOF checks safety items like tyres, brakes, lights and seatbelts, but nobody changes the oil or a filter, so an engine can pass on oil that's well overdue (the full comparison is in WOF vs service: what's the difference?).
Why this matters more now
Under the new rules from 1 November 2026, many cars registered on or after 1 November 2019 and aged 4 to 14 now need a WOF every two years instead of every year. Details, and how to check your own date, are in the new WOF rules for 2026.
Less queueing for WOFs is nice. The catch is that for a lot of people, the yearly WOF was the one time a year someone looked under the car. With two years between checks, a worn tyre or a slow oil leak has twice as long to go unnoticed.
That's what a regular service is for. It keeps an eye on the car between WOFs, and it keeps the engine on clean oil. For how often yours needs one, see how often should I service my car?
Signs the car is due a service
You don't need a reminder sticker to tell. Book a service if:
- the service light or spanner symbol is on the dash
- the last service sticker (often on the windscreen or in the door frame) shows a date or kilometres you've passed
- it's been more than a year since anyone changed the oil
- the logbook hasn't been stamped for a while
- the car feels a bit tired: rougher idle, more noise, or a new smell
If you can't remember the last service, that's usually the answer.
The Platinum service, just across the road
Our Platinum service is a full service. It includes:
- Oil and filter changed.
- An engine diagnostic scan, to pick up any stored fault codes.
- Fluids checked and topped up.
- Wheels off, so we can see the brakes properly.
- A road test at the end.
Everything it covers is on our full service checklist. If we find something that needs fixing, we tell you what it is and give you the price first. Nothing extra is done without your OK in writing, and a text is fine.
Doing it on the same trip
If you're at VTNZ Rosedale for a WOF and the car is also due a service, it's a short drive across to 3C Saturn Place. A few ways to make it easy:
- Ring ahead on 09 415 6595. Tell us you'll be coming from your WOF, and we'll tell you when we can fit the car in. We have two bays, so a call first saves waiting.
- Drop it off early. We open at 7:30am on weekdays.
- Saturday mornings work too. We're open Saturday 8am to 12pm.
- Bring your logbook if you have one.
Need a WOF as well as a service? We're an NZTA-authorised WOF site, and a WOF at Midas Albany is $79.99, so both can be done in one visit here too.
Quick questions
Does a WOF include an oil change?
No. A WOF is a safety inspection. Oil, filters and fluids are part of a service.
Can I get repairs done at the same time?
Yes. We do brakes, diagnostics and repairs. Not sure what a noise or light is? Our $89 diagnostic finds it, and it's credited against the repair if we do it.
Car servicing in Albany and the North Shore
Midas Albany is at 3C Saturn Place, Albany, just opposite VTNZ Rosedale. Family owned since 2004, MTA Assured, and we look after cars from Albany, Rosedale and across the North Shore.
Call Robin on 09 415 6595, book online, or request a callback. Monday to Friday 7:30am to 4:30pm, Saturday 8am to 12pm.
Written by the Midas Albany team.