Vehicle owner information

Written-off vehicle laws aim to improve vehicle safety and consumer protection as well as reduce the risk of vehicle theft, car re-birthing and related crime.

What are the laws?

All NSW light written-off after 31 January 2011, are classified as statutory write-offs on the Written-off Vehicle Register (WOVR).

This means that these vehicles:

  • Cannot be registered in NSW (except under special circumstances)
  • Can only be used for parts or scrap metal

Once a vehicle has been notified to the WOVR as a statutory write-off, the vehicles registration will be cancelled after fourteen (14) days.

The laws apply to ALL NSW light vehicles including cars, trailers, caravans and motorbikes up to 15 years old. A light vehicle is a registrable vehicle 4.5 tonnes Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) or less.

Which written-off vehicles may be eligible for re-registration?

Roads and Maritime Services may consider applications to repair and re-register vehicles written-off after 31 January 2011 under special circumstances.

A registered vehicle operator can apply to Roads and Maritime Services for an Authorisation to Repair. An Authorisation to Repair may be granted if the person applying is an eligible person, the vehicle is an eligible vehicle and the vehicle has not suffered any non-repairable damage. See Authorisation to Repair for more information.

Vehicles written-off on or before 31 January 2011 in the category of ‘repairable’ can apply for re-registration if they meet Roads and Maritime Services requirements.

Repair and registration process for NSW vehicles written-off after 31 January 2011.

If a vehicle was notified to the WOVR on or after 31 January 2011 and the registered owner wishes to repair and retain their written off vehicle, an 'Authorisation to Repair a written-off vehicle' from Roads and Maritime Services (replacing Roads and Traffic Authority).

The following steps and flow chart, detail the new process vehicle owners must follow:

  1. Check with their insurer if the vehicle has non-repairable damage.
  2. Check if the vehicle is in an exempt category (see 'Exemptions').
  3. Get a Declaration of Vehicle damage from their insurer.
  4. Apply to Roads and Maritime Services (replacing Roads and Traffic Authority) for Authorisation to Repair using the Application to repair a written-off vehicle form.
  5. If Roads and Maritime Services (replacing Roads and Traffic Authority) issues an Authorisation to repair, consult with a NSW Fair Trading licensed repairer before starting repairs.
  6. The vehicle must be repaired according to manufacturer’s guidelines or recognised industry standards.
  7. Get a Certificate of Compliance from the licensed repairer, stating that the vehicle has been repaired to the above standards.
  8. The vehicle must pass inspection at an Authorised Unregistered Vehicle Inspection station.
  9. The vehicle must pass inspection at Roads and Maritime Services (replacing Roads and Traffic Authority) Vehicle Identification Inspection Unit. Visit an Roads and Maritime Services (replacing Roads and Traffic Authority) Motor Registry to book this inspection.
  10. Visit an Roads and Maritime Services (replacing Roads and Traffic Authority) Motor Registry to register the vehicle.

 

Checklist for statutory written-off vehicles  

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Repair and registration process for NSW vehicles written-off before 1 February 2011

The following steps and flow chart detail the process. Please note that inspection procedures vary depending on where the vehicle will be registered in NSW.

Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong

Includes Gosford, Raymond Terrace, Singleton, Katoomba, Mittagong and Nowra

  1. Consult with a licensed repairer who can issue a Certificate of Compliance.
  2. Have the vehicle repaired according to manufacturer’s guidelines or recognised industry standards.
  3. Get a Certificate of Compliance from the licensed repairer.
  4. The vehicle must pass inspection at an Authorised Unregistered Vehicle Inspection station.
  5. The vehicle must pass inspection at Roads and Maritime Services (replacing Roads and Traffic Authority) Vehicle Identification Inspection Unit. Visit an Roads and Maritime Services (replacing Roads and Traffic Authority) Motor Registry to book this inspection.
  6. Attend Roads and Maritime Services (replacing Roads and Traffic Authority) inspection with required documents*.
  7. Visit a motor registry to register the vehicle (see page 2 for registration requirements).

 

Outside Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong

Excludes Gosford, Raymond Terrace, Singleton, Katoomba, Mittagong and Nowra

  1. Consult with a licensed repairer who can issue a Certificate of Compliance.
  2. Have the vehicle repaired according to manufacturer’s guidelines or recognised industry standards.
  3. Get a Certificate of Compliance from the licensed repairer.
  4. Have the vehicle inspected at an Authorised Unregistered Vehicle Inspection station. The vehicle must pass inspection.

  5. Copy Roads and Maritime Services (replacing Roads and Traffic Authority) required documents* and send the originals using registered mail to:  

Roads and Maritime Services (replacing Roads and Traffic Authority)
Vehicle Identification Inspection Unit
 PO Box 646
 Botany NSW 1455

  1. Roads and Maritime Services (replacing Roads and Traffic Authority) will assess your application and advise you of the results.

  2. If requested, attend an Roads and Maritime Services (replacing Roads and Traffic Authority) inspection.

  3. Visit a motor registry to register the vehicle (see page 2 for registration requirements).


* Required documents are:

  • Certificate of Compliance
  • Third-party certifications (eg airbag repairs structural certification)
  • AUVIS inspection report
  • Roads and Maritime Services (replacing Roads and Traffic Authority) Application for Registration.
  • CTP insurance (third-party)


Checklist for repairable written-off vehicles

 

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What if I have an interstate repairable write-off in NSW?

If the repairable write-off was recorded on the interstate WOVR before 1 February 2011, the vehicle can be repaired and registered if it meets Roads and Maritime Services (replacing Roads and Traffic Authority) registration requirements as listed in the steps above.

 If the vehicle was recorded as repairable on the WOVR on or after 1 February 2011, the vehicle must be repaired, inspected and registered interstate before applying for registration in NSW.

Repairing a written-off vehicle

If you are planning to repair a written-off vehicle for the purposes of registration in NSW and you are NOT a licensed repairer, you must conduct the repairs according to the manufacturer's guidelines (or to recognised industry standards if there are no guidelines).

Roads and Maritime Services (replacing Roads and Traffic Authority) recommends that you consult with a certifier before starting repairs. The certifier may need you to do certain things during the repair process so they can make an informed decision regarding certification. They might ask you to:

  • Present the vehicle for a series of inspections at key points during the repair process
  • keep a repair diary that describes the repair process
  • take photographs of the damaged areas before and after repairs
  • keep copies of the pages of relevant standards used during the repairs

You will also need to keep invoices for any parts purchased during the repair process, to present to Roads and Maritime Services (replacing Roads and Traffic Authority) later when applying for registration.

Roads and Maritime Services (replacing Roads and Traffic Authority) recommends you keep all information to do with the repair process to support your application for registration.

What is a Certificate of Compliance?

A Certificate of Compliance is an Roads and Maritime Services (replacing Roads and Traffic Authority) form that identifies the vehicle and certifies that is has been properly repaired. The form contains a declaration that repairs have been conducted according to legislated standards using acceptable repair methods.

Only repairers licensed by NSW Fair Trading can issue a Certificate of Compliance. The class of license held by the repairer must be apprpriate to the type of repair being certified.

What if I want to do the repairs myself?

If you want to perform the repairs yourself and you are not a licensed repairer, you are strongly advised to consult with a licensed repairer before starting your repair work. You need to know what the licensed repairer's requirements will be, which could include inspections at various points during the repair process.

The vehicle must be repaired according to manufacturer's guidelines (or to recognised industry standards if there are no manufacturer's guidelines). If you repair the vehicle yourself, a NSW Fair Trading Licensed repairer must certify that the repairs have been carried out to these standards.

Where can I get a Certificate of Compliance?

There are separate certificates for motorbikes, trailers and light vehicles. Use these certificates only if your vehicle is a 'Repairable' written-off vehicle.

If your vehicle was listed as a 'Statutory' written-off vehicle on or after 1 February 2011, the above forms are not appropriate. To clarify if your vehicle is a repairable or statutory write-off, please call Roads and Maritime Services (replacing Roads and Traffic Authority) on 13 22 13.