A government proposal to reduce the frequency of Certificate of Fitness (CoF) checks for private heavy motorhomes has drawn a mixed response from industry stakeholders.
Under the proposal, privately owned motorhomes would move from six-monthly to annual CoF inspections—a change the New Zealand Motor Caravan Association (NZMCA) says is long overdue.
NZMCA spokesperson Brent Gillies says the organisation has been lobbying for years on behalf of its members to extend the CoF period for private vehicles.
“These vehicles are not daily drivers and the six-month check is a financial burden, but the 12-month check is more reasonable,” Gillies says.
However, the Motor Trade Association (MTA) and Vehicle Testing New Zealand (VTNZ) have pushed back, warning the proposed changes could compromise road safety.
In a joint submission, the two organisations suggest a split approach: annual inspections for newer motorhomes, but retaining six-monthly checks for those more than 20 years old.
“Motorhomes are sizeable vehicles that make up a significant portion of the country’s fleet, around 39,000 vehicles,” MTA chief executive Lee Marshall says. “The consequences of an accident involving a motorhome can be catastrophic.”
VTNZ chief executive Greg O’Connor points to inspection data as cause for concern.
“Over the last three years, the failure rate for motorhomes is around 28%. And for motorhomes more than 20 years old, that increases to 48%. That does not suggest a safe overall fleet,” O’Connor says.
The most common reasons for failure include underbody and exterior deterioration—often caused by rust—and unsafe brakes. According to VTNZ, such issues can develop whether the vehicle is in regular use or parked for extended periods.
“It’s clear from inspection data that the deterioration in the integrity of the vehicle as it ages poses a threat to safety that can only be managed by maintaining the status quo,” O’Connor says.
Marshall echoes the concern: “MTA members we consulted told us they frequently see vehicles needing rust repair every six months. It’s clear that the ‘one size fits all’ approach proposed is not suitable for older vehicles.”
Smacks of self-interest
NZMCA volunteer Peter Thompson who advises the membership on land transport issues and works closely with the NTZA says the position taken by the two inspectorates: “smacks of self-interest and loss of revenue.”
“VTNZ is charging upwards of $250.00, more in some areas, per inspection, especially older vehicles where a further premium is charged on vehicles over 20 years old,” Thompson says.
“Secondly they have been very selective in quoting data regarding inspection failures when the real safety issues, DSI’s (Deaths & Serious Injuries) are so negligible (amounting to 0.01% of the total) for all heavy motorhomes, that making an exception of older motorhomes is simply unreasonable.
“Nothing is mentioned of the low annual mileages of these vehicles or the fact that the majority is completed during the summer months with many travelling virtually no distance between the current six monthly inspections over those winter months,” he says.
Thompson says motorhomes are expensive compared to private cars and he believes the majority of owners take great care of their vehicles in order to ensure reliability when travelling and to protect their investment.
The government has yet to confirm a timeline for the proposed changes, with consultation ongoing.
