Every written-off vehicle that is eligible for re-registration needs a Certificate of Compliance from a NSW Fair Trading Licensed Repairer before it can be re-registered. Vehicles that were written-off on or after 31 January 2011 also need an Authorisation to Repair from Roads and Maritime Services.
Certifying repairs
To certify repairs on a written-off vehicle, you must:
- Be licensed by NSW Fair Trading for the class of repairs being certified.
- Where occupant protection systems or vehicle control systems have been repaired, arrange certification from the manufacturers authorised repairers.
- Where structural damage has occurred, arrange a report on the structural integrity of the repaired vehicle.
- Use Roads and Maritime Services 'Certificate of Compliance' form.
- Attach copies of the relevant pages of standards to which the vehicle was repaired to the Certificate of Compliance form.
- Keep records to support the certification decision for at least seven years (7), including:
- Identification details of the vehicle (see Vehicle Identification below)
- Reference number of Roads and Maritime Services Authorisation to Repair (if applicable)
- Repair inspection dates
- The repairs that were inspected
- Photographs of repairs (if the repairs were not done by the licensed repairer)
- How the repairs were conducted
- Certification records of air bags and vehicle control systems, including who did the repairs and who inspected them
- Reports of structural integrity
- Copies of the relevant pages of standards to which the vehicle was repaired
- Provide copies of records relating to vehicle repairs to the registered operator or vehicle owner, or authorised officers if directed.
To certify repairs to electronic control systems (such as airbags or Anti-lock Braking Systems), a person must be approved by the vehicle manufacturer or Roads and Maritime Services.
Vehicle identification
To properly identify the vehicle the following must be included on the form certifying the repairs.
- Type of vehicle (eg: car, caravan, motorbike or trailer)
- Registration number
- Vehicle identifier (VIN)
- Make and model
- Shape
- Colour
- Variant
- Build date or compliance date
- Engine capacity
- Number of cylinders
- Motive power
- Tare weight
Certificate of Compliance
The Certificate of Compliance is an Roads and Maritime Services form. It contains a declaration that the repairs were done according to manufacturers repair guidelines (or to recognised industry standards if there are no manufacturer's guidelines).
Certificates can be obtained from the Roads and Maritime Services website.
Additional information
The Road Transport (Vehicle Registration) Act 1997
and Road Transport (Vehicle Registration) Regulation 2007
specify duties for licensed repairers who issue Certificates of Compliance for repaired written-off vehicles.
For more information see Repair and certification procedures.
Manufacturers repair guidelines and recognised industry standards are available from vehicle manufacturers or from other specialised repair industry service providers.
If you are a licensed repairer, it is acceptable for you to certify your own repairs on a written-off vehicle (after an Authorisation to Repair has been given by Roads and Maritime Services). However, you must still meet the requirements for certification listed above.