Vehicles damaged by hail storms

This page contains information and frequently asked questions about hail-damaged vehicles that are recorded on the Victorian Written-Off Vehicles Register (WOVR).

If a vehicle’s damaged by hail and added to the Written-Off Vehicles Register (WOVR) as a repairable write-off,  you don’t need to repair the damage and you don’t need a VIV certificate (as long as the damage is only cosmetic). 

If a vehicle has hail damage and another type of damage (eg water or accident damage), you don’t need to repair the hail damage, but all the other normal requirements of a written-off vehicle apply. Refer to Registering a repairable write-off for details. 

Interstate write-offs 

If a vehicle’s recorded on an interstate WOVR as a repairable write-off, the normal requirements of a written-off vehicle apply. 

The hail damage needs to be repaired before you book a VIV inspection. 

You need a VIV certificate and a roadworthy before the vehicle can be registered in Victoria (even if it only has cosmetic hail damage). 

Frequently asked questions

As long as the damage doesn’t affect the vehicle’s safety or structural integrity, you don’t need to repair the hail damage. Your rego won’t be cancelled for this, and you don’t need a roadworthy or VIV certificate. 

Just keep in mind that the vehicle will be recorded on the WOVR as an inspected write-off. If you sell the vehicle, you legally need to tell the buyer about this. 
 

‘Cosmetic’ hail damage is minor dents to a vehicle that were caused by hailstones and don’t affect the integrity of the area, or any of the vehicle’s systems. 

If the hail damage is only cosmetic, there’s no safety risk to you or anyone else on the road, so there’s no need for a VIV inspection or certificate. Victorian legislation allows for this. 

Whenever a vehicle has hail damage and another type of damage (eg water or accident damage),  a VIV certificate’s required to make sure that the vehicle’s roadworthy and safe to be used on Victorian roads. 

If the hail damage is recorded as cosmetic, you won’t need to get a VIV certificate. You also won’t be required to repair the hail damage, as long as it doesn’t affect the vehicle’s safety or structural integrity. 

A roadworthy certificate will be required, as it is for every vehicle. 

If the WOVR says the vehicle was damaged by hail and also some other way (eg water or accident damage), the hail damage doesn’t need to be repaired, but all the other requirements of registering a written-off vehicle apply. 

You’ll need a roadworthy and a VIV certificate to register it. Refer to Registering a repairable write-off for more information. 

To register it in Victoria, make sure that any hail damage has been repaired. 

Then, you’ll need a roadworthy and VIV certificate before the vehicle can be registered in Victoria.

Yes – if a vehicle that’s registered in your name (or your spouse/domestic partner’s name) is assessed as written-off because of hail, and you disagree with that decision, you can ask VicRoads to review it. 

To do this, write a letter to the Director, Registration and Licensing Practice and Standards, 60 Denmark St Kew, VIC 3101 and explain why you don’t think the vehicle is written-off. 

If you bought a vehicle that was already entered on the WOVR, you can’t have its written-off status reviewed. 

The vehicle will be recorded on an interstate WOVR. Every state has slightly different requirements to register a written-off vehicle, so ask the interstate authority what you need to do.

A hailstorm is an event that’s natural, can’t be controlled, and is usually widespread. For these reasons, Victorian legislation allows for hail-damaged vehicles to be exempt from needing a VIV certificate.  

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