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Hi there. My name is Elvin and i have purchased a Volvo v50 2009 station wagon from a dealer and I am unsure why i was given a 6 months WOF instead of 12 months. According to my mechanic the tyres are not safe and shouldn't have had the WOF issued in the first place. The problem is now that the dealer has completed the transaction, they believe due to the car been appraised by AA and has a WOF issued by their mechanic the car is safe to drive. I have contacted AA to get a second opinion and have sent photos the tyres which of all 4 are cracked but haven't had a reply. Is there a solution to this as the dealers are happy with their decision but due to my wife being due for our first baby this month and the safety of the car is very concerning. Hope AA can help me.

The yearly W.O.F was only for vehicles first registered 2000 or later, as I understand.
The legal requirement for tyres is a tread depth no less than 1.5mm over 3/4 of the circumference of the tyre. A match head is often used to gauge the tread depth.

Hi Elvin,
By law a vehicle sold by a dealer must have a wof no less than 28 days old and vehicles newer than year 2000 have a 12 month wof. So at 2009, your vehicle should have longer than 6 months on it.
An appraisal is a dealer-only inspection and (like a wof) is a snapshot of the vehicle condition on the day. Any notes made on the Appraisal may or may not be addressed by the dealer. If those tyres were legal on the day of inspection, then it must pass a wof. But a dealer must ensure the vehicle is in such a condition that would make it suitable under the CGA (consumer guarantees act) to be durable, fit for purpose ect. https://www.consumerprotection.govt.nz/consumer-law-and-your-rights/consumer-guarantees-act/consumer-guarantees-for-products/
The mechanic would need to prove that the tyres would fail a wof on the day it was inspected in order to dispute the wof, but if they fall apart a short time after buying the vehicle, then it is an issue to go straight back to the dealer on. Cracking tyres alone may not necessarily constitute a wof fail, but if classed as 'significant perishing', it can be failed.

Thanks for your reply. The WOF is 12 months but the tyres according to my mechanic will not last 12 months. The dealers are staying by their decision using AA and their mechanic as their insurance. Is there any one i can send photos to get a second opinion?

The wof inspectors can't pre-empt and must pass on the day of inspection.
If the tyres won't last the length of the wof (12 months) then all they can do is advise that new tyres will be required before next wof.
Photos won't help sorry, you might need to take written evidence (from a tyre professional that states the tyres are currently unfit for the road) to the dealer and claim that the vehicle is not durable or fit for purpose.