The Motor Trade Association cautions that proposed Warrant of Fitness reforms may drive up repair expenses and compromise vehicle safety.
The government is evaluating changes to the vehicle Warrant of Fitness (WoF) system, including less frequent inspections for certain light vehicles and an initial WoF valid for four years.
The consultation on the plan closes this Wednesday.
Light vehicles include cars, motorcycles, vans, people movers, trailers, taxis, and rideshare services such as Uber.
The proposed changes would extend the first warrant for new cars from three to four years and replace annual warrants for vehicles aged four to 10 years with biennial inspections.
Proposed changes would leave warrant requirements unchanged for 10- to 25-year-old cars (remaining annual), while easing them for 25- to 40-year-old vehicles from every six months to annually.
James McDowall, MTA head of advocacy, warned that extended intervals between checks could lead to unsafe vehicles on roads and steeper repair costs.
He acknowledged the political appeal of a $70 saving for some motorists but cautioned that longer intervals between warrants could drive up repair costs.
McDowall noted a high warrant failure rate—over 40% excluding brand new vehicles—and up to 31% for cars aged four to 10 years.
“The reality is it might save one warrant, but problems just compound over time.”
“If tyres are not being looked at – not only are these major safety concerns – but those tyres will get worse, then you’ll have implications on your brakes, and if they’re not addressed in the 12-month window, if they’re left to get worse, then suddenly you’re looking at brake pads, rotors and potential suspension problems.”
“It might save you $70 for one check, but the repairs can be much worse,” McDowall said.
The MTA has urged the government to keep the initial WoF interval at three years, calling it “already late for detecting tyre and brake wear” since new vehicles can rapidly accumulate high mileage. It recommends limiting the proposed two-yearly checks to vehicles aged three to seven years.
The MTA also advocated targeting higher-risk vehicles to enable more thorough inspections.