A Christchurch vintage car owner is hailing the extension of Warrants of Fitness as a sensible move.
The Ministry of Transport this week announced the Warrant of Fitness validity for vintage cars over the age of 40, and private motorhomes, will extend from six months to 12 months.
The aim was to decrease costs, after 13,000 individuals and organisations gave feedback on a nationwide consultation earlier this year.
Support was overwhelming according to the ministry, with 98% of participants supporting the change.
The New Zealand Transport agency added that the change reduces compliance costs and better reflects how vintage cars are being used.
Longtime vintage car owner Rob Batstone said the new system made sense for vehicles that were well looked after but only used occasionally.
“When you’ve got a car like that, you don’t really use it all the time. Most of us bring them out for shows or Sunday drives. The rest of the time they are stored and cared for."
As for safety concerns, Batstone said he wasn’t worried.
“Most of us check the cars over ourselves anyways. They’re hobby cars and we want them running right.”
Robert said it had been widely discussed online and vintage enthusiasts were largely in support.
Transport Minister Chris Bishop said evidence showed vintage vehicles and motorhomes were half as likely to have a contributing fault in a serious crash - even after adjusting for how many of them were on the road.
“Owners of these vehicles can now spend less time on bureaucracy and queueing for a vehicle inspection, and more time where they’d rather be - under the bonnet or out on the road."
Bishop said the Government would also be reviewing the rules for other light vehicles as part of the Land Transport Rules Reform Programme.
"We’ll have more to say on this soon.”
There were about 128,000 vintage vehicles and 39,000 private motorhomes registered in New Zealand.
