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.
One is a test. The other is looking after the car. A pass on one doesn't cover the other.
What does a WOF check?
A warrant of fitness is a safety inspection to a national standard set by NZTA. The inspector checks things like:
- tyres (condition and tread depth)
- brakes
- lights and indicators
- seatbelts
- windscreen and wipers
- steering and suspension
- rust in key structural areas
- doors, the exhaust, and fuel leaks
- and, from 1 November 2026, warning lights for driver-assist systems on cars that have them
The full list: What does a WOF check in New Zealand?
What a WOF doesn't do is look after the engine. It doesn't change your oil, check when your cambelt is due, or tell you how healthy the gearbox is. A car can pass its WOF with oil that's well overdue for a change.
The WOF also got less frequent for many cars on 1 November 2026: cars registered on or after 1 November 2019, aged 4 to 14, now need one every two years. The details are in New WOF rules from 1 November 2026.
What does a service include?
A service is about keeping the car reliable and catching wear early. Our Platinum service, for example, covers:
- engine oil and oil filter changed
- brake fluid, coolant, power steering fluid and washer fluid checked
- air filter checked
- brakes checked with the wheels off
- tyres, suspension, CV boots and wheel bearings checked
- battery test and charging system check
- engine management scan
- drive belts and the cambelt due date checked
- a road test at the end
That's a summary. See the full list of what our service checks.
Do I need both?
Yes, if you want the car to be legal and to keep going. The WOF is the law. The service is what stops small things becoming big ones, and it often finds what would have failed the WOF before you get there.
A good rhythm for most people:
- Service the car as often as your owner's manual says (usually a distance or a time, whichever comes first). More on that in How often should I service my car?
- Get the WOF when it's due.
- If the dates line up, do them together. One drop-off, one trip.
Can I get a WOF and a service on the same day?
Usually, yes. We're an NZTA-authorised WOF site as well as a service workshop, so ask for both when you book and we'll tell you if they fit in one visit. If the WOF finds something, you get the reason and the price before we fix anything.
Quick questions
My car passed its WOF. Does that mean it doesn't need a service?
No. A WOF pass means it met the safety standard on the day. It says nothing about the oil, filters or cambelt.
Does a service include a WOF?
No, they're separate. You can book both at the same time.
How much is a WOF at Midas Albany?
$79.99. For a service, call us with your car's make and model and we'll give you the price before you book. Any extra work is priced first and only done with your written OK.
WOF and servicing in Albany
Midas Albany, 3C Saturn Place, Albany. Family owned since 2004, MTA Assured, NZTA-authorised WOF site. See our WOF and servicing.
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.