The Written-off Vehicles Register (WOVR) is a national initiative designed to deter vehicle theft and to ensure written-off vehicles are repaired to an appropriate standard before re-registration.
In Victoria, light vehicles (including motorcycles) up to fifteen (15) years of age that are assessed as repairable or statutory write off are required to be recorded on the Written-off Vehicles Register.
In Victoria, the WOVR was introduced on 1 May 2002.
A vehicle is classed as written-off when it has been damaged to an extent where the insurer considers it uneconomical to repair (but is repairable), or the damage is such that it is not safe to repair for registration and road use.
Written-off vehicles are classified and recorded in the Written-off Vehicles Register under the following types:
- Statutory write-off, or
- Repairable write-off
A registration authority can also amend the WOVR to note that a vehicle has passed a written-off vehicle inspection. These vehicles are referred to as inspected write-offs.
A vehicle that is recorded as a statutory write-off after 1 May 2002 cannot be re-registered and the vehicle identification number (VIN) cannot be re-used in any State or Territory.
A vehicle will be recorded as a statutory write-off if it is a total loss and so severely damaged that it should not be repaired. Only certain parts from a vehicle recorded as a statutory write-off may be used to repair other vehicles.
A statutory write-off is a vehicle that is assessed as a total loss and is:
- A motor vehicle (other than a motor bike) that has been immersed in saltwater for any period above the doorsill level, or immersed in freshwater up to the dashboard or steering wheel or more than 48 hours.
- A motor bike that has been fully immersed in saltwater for any period, or fully immersed in freshwater for more than 48 hours.
- A motor vehicle or trailer that is burnt to such an extent that it is fit only for wrecking or scrap.
- A motor vehicle or trailer that is stripped of all, or a combination of most, interior and exterior body parts, panels and components (for example, engine, wheels, bonnet, guards, doors, boot lid).
- A motor vehicle (other than a motor bike) that is damaged according to at least three of the following impact damage indicators: - damage to an area of the roof equal to or exceeding 300 x 300mm
- damage to an area of the cabin floor pan equal to or exceeding 300 x 300mm
- damage to an area of the firewall equal to or exceeding 300 x 300mm
- damage to the suspension
- cracked or broken major mechanical components such as the engine block
- transmission casings.
- A motor bike that has impact damage (excluding scratching) to the suspension and at least two areas of structural frame damage.
A vehicle will be recorded as a repairable write-off if it has been damaged to the extent that its salvage value plus the cost of repairing the vehicle for use on the road is more than its market value (i.e. total loss).
When entered on the WOVR as a repairable write-off, the registration of the vehicle will be cancelled. If you are the registered operator of the vehicle at the time the vehicle is entered on the WOVR, you will be sent a letter outlining the requirements to maintain the vehicle’s registration.
A vehicle that is recorded as a repairable write-off can be re-registered after it is repaired in accordance with the manufacturer’s standards, its identity has been verified, and it has passed a Vehicle Identity Validation (VIV) inspection.
The classification of a vehicle recorded as a repairable write-off and has undergone a Vehicle Identity Validation inspection may be changed to reflect that the vehicle has been inspected and cleared for registration.
Each jurisdiction manages its own inspection scheme and differences may exist. VicRoads reserves the right to require specific interstate vehicles classified as inspected write-offs to undergo a VIV inspection prior to registration in Victoria.
Select any of the links below to continue to learn more about preparing a written-off vehicle for registration and road use: