Whether it’s after a flood or a serious car accident, finding out your car has been written off and declared a total loss can come as a shock – especially if you’re unsure what exactly that means for you, your car insurance or the car’s future.
Approximately 850,000 vehicles are written off – or reach the end of their usable lives – each year in Australia.1 If your car is written off, it can either mean it’s so badly damaged that it’s being sent straight to the scrap heap or it’s a repairable write off – theoretically, able to return to the road after some mechanical surgery.2
In this article, we’ll detail the different types of ‘write off’, what comes next if that’s your current predicament, and what to consider before buying a formerly written-off vehicle that’s been repaired and returned to the road.
How write offs work in Australia
By definition, if your car is deemed a ‘write off’ – or ‘total loss’ – after it’s sustained damage, it means your insurer has decided the car is either unsafe to repair or will cost more to repair than it’s worth.2
“‘Written off’ essentially means that your insurer has assessed that after an incident – be it a crash, flood, hail, theft, fire – the cost to repair your car, plus the salvage price of whatever’s left of it, exceeds the car’s market or insured value,” explains Stephen Ottley, motoring journalist and CarsGuide Senior Contributor.
There are two types of written-off vehicles – those that can’t be fixed – also referred to as a ‘statutory write off’ – and those that can be fixed – a ‘repairable write off’.2
What is the difference between ‘repairable’ and ‘statutory’ write offs?
Not all ‘write off’ determinations are equal, says Ottley.
“Repairable write off basically means what it says on the box – that the car can, in theory, be repaired,” he explains.
“For example, say your car’s got hail damage. The car could be perfectly fine underneath, mechanically, and the interior might be as good as new. But weighing the value of the car, it might not make financial sense to replace [expensive] exterior panels...Your insurer might call this a repairable write-off.”
“Someone may choose to repair it and once these repairs have taken place, if they were to a high standard, you might not be able to tell that the car was ever damaged, and it drives just as well as it did before.”
“Statutory written-off vehicles mean the damage is [too severely damaged], it can’t be fixed, such as the damage from a high-speed collision or vehicle fire,” says Ottley. “Statutory write offs can never be registered again anywhere in Australia.”
Who decides if your car is a repairable write-off and how?
Usually your insurer will task an expert assessor with inspecting your vehicle, explains Ottley. “As part of the assessment process, there will be a very close inspection of the car to effectively decide whether it’s economical to repair or it’s too far gone – that is, too damaged,” he says.
A loss adjustor, dealer, auctioneer, auto parts dismantler or individual who owns the vehicle may also sometimes decide if a vehicle is a statutory or repairable write-off.3
“At Youi, once we’ve assessed the damage, we look at a range of factors to work out the market value of your car to decide whether or not it will be deemed a total loss,” says Marni Jackson, Youi’s Head of Product – Vehicle and Lifestyle.
“Our qualified assessors use industry pricing guides; taking into account the make, model, age and condition of the insured vehicle, as well as its mileage,” she adds.
Do you get to keep your car if it’s a total loss?
It depends, says Ottley. “This is called salvage rights – check with your insurer,” he notes.
At Youi, the vehicle you are claiming for becomes Youi’s legal property when your claim is settled for the full insured value.
However, the Financial Rights Legal Centre adds that while the insurer legally gets to keep your car, it may be possible to negotiate with them to buy it back; but this should be done as early as possible in the claims process.2
Is your registration and premium refunded if your car is a total loss?
That depends on your insurer and where you live. Some states may allow you to get a refund of unused Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance and unused registration.2 However, insurers typically will deduct the rest of the year’s premium from your payout, along with your excess, in line with your Product Disclosure Statement (PDS).2
Can you re-register a repairable write off?
If your vehicle is a repairable write off, you may be able to re-register it in your home state or territory, provided it’s repaired to a satisfactory standard and passes various inspections and certifications, says Ottley.
“It can be a full-on process to get a previously written-off vehicle back on the road, depending on where you live, and once it’s been written off, people can look up its status before buying. Even if it’s fixed to better-than-brand-new, your car will be worth less if you want to sell it,” cautions Ottley.
Here we break down exactly what you need in each state and territory in Australia – but consider this a starting point for your own detailed research, closely checking the rules and requirements for where you live.
New South Wales
To re-register a repairable write off in NSW, you first need an Authorisation to Repair from Transport for NSW. Once the authorised repairs are complete, you’ll need:4
- Completed Application for Registration
- Authorisation to Repair
- Certificate of Compliance from a licensed repairer
- A ‘blue slip’ inspection report
- Transport for NSW Vehicle Identity & Inspections Unit (VIIU) report
- Proof of your registration entitlement
- Copy of your Compulsory Third Party insurance
- Payment for any registration fees.4
Victoria
To get your repairable write off in Victoria re-registered, you’ll need to make a registration appointment at a VicRoads Customer Service Centre. It’s important you take the originals of your new certificate of roadworthiness and a Victorian vehicle identity validation certificate.5
Queensland
A repairable write off in QLD needs to pass both a safety certificate inspection and a written-off vehicle inspection – which verifies the vehicle’s identity. A hail-damaged vehicle may be exempt from a written-off vehicle inspection if it meets certain criteria.6
Western Australia
WA requires you to obtain all receipts from repairs and to take photos during the repair process. Before you apply the final trim, paint and finishes to the vehicle, it will need to pass a written-off inspection by an authorised provider. After an identity check and Roadworthy Inspection, you should be clear to apply for a new repairable written off licence for your vehicle.7
South Australia
If you’re wanting to return a repairable write off to the road in SA, it will need to pass a roadworthy inspection and have its identity verified. The SA Government asks you to keep a repair diary and present it as part of the inspection.8
Tasmania
In Tassie, re-registration for a repairable write off requires a structural inspection by an approved motor body repairer, followed by a roadworthiness check and then a vehicle identity check.9
Australian Capital Territory
In the ACT, your vehicle must be certified – when it’s fixed as a repairable write off – by an appropriately licensed motor vehicle repairer, then pass a Roadworthy Inspection and Vehicle Identity Inspection to be eligible for re-registration. More specifically, you’ll need to:10
- Provide detailed documentation about the repairer and the repairs themselves, including a photographic repair diary and receipts
- Obtain a vehicle damage and structural repair report – if the vehicle sustained structural damage.10
If deemed a ‘repairable write off’ in another state or territory, you’ll need to pass the required inspections and requirements there first before being eligible for re-registration in the ACT.10
Written-off car? What it means for your existing insurance
At Youi, if your car is damaged by an insured event, the first step will be assessing the extent of damage and whether it’s economical or safe to fix the car – or whether it’s a total loss.11
“If your car is deemed a total loss, we’ll pay you the market value or agreed value of the car, depending on the cover shown on your policy schedule,” says Jackson.
“Always check the PDS for details, but if you qualify for New Car Replacement, we’ll settle your claim under this benefit. And once we pay a claim for a total loss of the car, your policy comes to an end and all cover stops. This is because we’ll have fulfilled our contract to you by making this payment.”
If your car is not a total loss, Jackson says Youi will choose a suitable repairer from our national repair network and arrange for them to repair or replace the damaged parts of your car. “We guarantee the quality of all repairs we authorise, for as long as you own the car,” she says.
Can you insure a repaired write off?
“In some cases, you may be able to insure a repairable write off after it’s been fully repaired, passed rigorous safety inspections and been re-registered,” says Jackson.
What to consider before buying a repaired write-off
If you’re in the market for a second hand car, the first thing you should do is educate yourself on how to identify a repaired write off, says Ottley.
If the car has been repaired properly, it might not be possible to tell visually unless you have a trained eye. Helpfully, all states and territories can access the Written-Off Vehicles Register (WOVR); and legally, an insurer, self-insurer, car recycler or wrecker, or licensed car trader needs to report any written-off vehicle to the WOVR.12
“That’s where a car history check comes in, and this is an essential step before you buy any second hand car in Australia,” says Ottley.
“You’ll need the car’s VIN number – which will be on the rego papers – and you’ll want to search online for a Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) check. This lets you look up the car on various registries, such as the WOVR, to make sure it isn’t stolen or written off or doesn’t have money owing on it.
“This is a must-do before buying any second hand car. Some repairable write offs, for example hail-damaged vehicles, if fixed to a very high standard, are absolutely worth considering if you stand to save a bit of money.”
Want to discuss your car insurance options or check you have the right level of cover for your needs? Give us a call on 13 9684 or consider starting a quote today.
1 Source: Motor Trades Association of Australia – The outlook for end-of-life vehicles in Australia, August 2024
2 Source: Financial Rights Legal Centre – Written-off Vehicles, August 2025
3 Source: Qld Government – About written-off vehicles
4 Source: NSW Government – Apply to re-register a written-off light vehicle, October 2024
5 Source: Transport Vic – Registering a repairable written-off vehicle
6 Source: Qld Government – Inspections for written-off vehicles, June 2024
7 Source: Department of Transport WA – License a repairable written-off vehicle, October 2025
8 Source: Department of Infrastructure and Transport SA – Written-Off Vehicles: Repair Diary
9 Source: Tas Government – What are the additional inspection requirements for Written-Off Vehicles?, April 2025
10 Source: ACT Government – Repairable written-off vehicles
11 See the PDS for full details.
12 Source: Transport Vic – About written-off vehicles
