NO. Every car on the road in New Zealand needs to have a current warrant of fitness (the WOF) and a current certificate of registration (Rego). This article will take you through the question Can you register a car without a warrant.
The Rego means your vehicle is legal to be on the road. The WOF means that, at date of issue, the vehicle has satisfied a list of over 60 factors which make it safe to be on the road. You can’t renew your Rego without having a current WOF.
Both WOF and Rego have a date of issue which can easily pass the notice of the car owner, who could face a $200 fine for failing to display a current Rego or WOF. Much of the enforcement of these is in the hands of local authority parking wardens.
Vehicle licensing (rego)
Most vehicles need to have a vehicle licence before you can use them on public roads. You pay a fee for the licence and you get a vehicle licence label to display on the vehicle.
Your vehicle licence is often referred to as your rego, but it’s not the same thing as registration.
See our information on vehicle registration
The registered person and their responsibilities
The registered person is the person recorded on the Motor Vehicle Register as the person responsible for the vehicle.
This isn’t the same as legal ownership (and the Motor Vehicle Register doesn’t record legal ownership).
This page focuses only on your responsibilities for licensing your vehicle.
Find out more about the registered person’s responsibilities
Vehicle licences expire
Vehicle licences expire, so as the registered person, you need to make sure you renew yours regularly.
You can check the expiry date on your current licence label at any time.
Check your licence, exemption and inspection expiry dates online
Continuous vehicle licensing
Most vehicles must be licensed continuously. That means there can’t be any days when your vehicle isn’t licensed, unless you officially take it off the road.
Motor vehicles that are not required to be licensed continuously include light trailers (up to 3500kg), tractors, forklifts, etc.
New Zealand Legislation – Motor vehicles exempt from continuous licensing requirement
This ends the article of Can you register a car without a warrant.