All driver's licences, Warrants of Fitness (WOFs) and Certificates of Fitness (COFs) that expire this year will be valid until October, thanks to the COVID-19 crisis.
Some vehicle certifications that expired on or after January 1 will also be valid for up to six months from April 10, the Transport Minister announced on Thursday.
Other changes include the extension of license endorsements that expired on or after March 1, and a suspension of the requirement to display a registration if it expired on or after January 1.
Before the announcement, only essential service workers' vehicles could access repairs and certification services. Other people are only able to get critical repairs done if they're accessing essential services.
Phil Twyford says the change comes to enable essential travel - not non-essential trips or Easter getaways, which are banned under the Government's current coronavirus lockdown rules.
"People shouldn't have to worry about getting fined for having an expired document if driving to use essential services or as an essential worker during the COVID-19 alert level 4 lockdown," Phil Twyford said.
"That's why we have provided an extension to give certainty to the public that they won't be issued infringement notices for using their vehicles appropriately.
"The extension will give people and businesses plenty of time after the lockdown to renew their documents without putting extra pressure on them when they are already likely to be stressed."
The NZTA says about 600,000 WOFs and COFs, 800,000 vehicle licences, 40,000 driver licences and 12,500 endorsements will have expired in the eight-week period between March 24 (the start of the lockdown) and May 17.
While the rules have been relaxed, Twyford urges Kiwis to keep their vehicles safe despite the lack of enforcement measures.
"We're asking drivers, before they set off, to give it a TWIRL - check your Tyres, Windscreen wipers, mirrors, and Indicators, look for Rust, and test your Lights," he said.
"We are allowing essential repairs, like sorting out punctured tyres or damaged windscreens. If anything looks out of order, please go get it fixed as soon as you can.
"Drivers will still need to be medically fit to drive, comply with relevant restrictions and conditions on their licence and obey all road rules. Any licence suspensions and disqualifications will also continue to apply."
The process around renewals once the restrictions are lifted will be communicated at a later date, the Transport Minister says.
