Written off vehicles

A vehicle is considered a repairable write-off if:

• it is written off,  but is not to be a statutory write-off
• the cost of the repairs will exceed the insured value of the vehicle
• it is declared a write-off by an insurer or owner following accidental damage.

A vehicle is considered a statutory write-off if it is one of the following:

• Category 1 vehicle that meets the assessment criteria as a statutory write-off specified in the category 1 vehicle technical guide (2.4 MB PDF)
• Category 2 vehicle to which the Australian Design Rules apply — other than a motorbike, caravan, or trailer — that meets the assessment criteria as a statutory write-off specified in the category 2 vehicle technical guide (6.8 MB PDF)
• A motorbike or caravan that has been either:
  • burnt to such an extent that it is fit only for wrecking or scrap
  • stripped of all or most of:
    • interior and exterior body parts
    • panels and components eg the engine and gearbox (if applicable),
    • wheels
    • guards or body
    • chassis components or assemblies.
• A motorbike that:
  • has been fully immersed in salt water for any period, or
  • has been fully immersed in fresh water for more than 48 hours, or
  • has impact damage — excluding scratching — to the suspension, and
  • has structural frame damage to at least areas.

Electric vehicles

Category 1 electric or hybrid vehicles will be deemed statutory write-offs if there is impact damage to the battery pack or power electronics.

When presenting a repaired or rebuilt written off vehicle for inspection, you must supply:

• proof of identity of the person presenting the vehicle for inspection to the authorised officer
• proof of previous registration in Australia if available
• unless delivered by tow truck the vehicle must have some form of current registration, such as:
  • 'unregistered vehicle permit'
  • 'trade plate' where the plate owner has a financial interest in the vehicle
• inspection payment receipt
• the repaired written off vehicle
• required Repair Diary fact sheet MR1547 - (536.8 KB PDF).

Additional requirements may include having an MR1419 Supplementary Restraint System Report (138.1 KB PDF) completed by an accredited agent.

Any vehicle recorded as an economic/repairable write-off must pass an inspection to confirm the identity of the vehicle and a separate road safety inspection, prior to being re-registered.

• The purpose of the first (identity) inspection is to confirm the particulars of the vehicle (VIN/Chassis Number, Compliance plate and engine number) and determine whether it may be stolen, re-birthed or repaired, using parts from a stolen vehicle.
• The purpose of the road safety inspection is to determine if the vehicle meets standards for registration in South Australia and the quality of the repairs meets statutory requirements. The road safety inspection cannot be booked until the vehicle has passed the identity inspection.

Inspection fees apply for both inspections. The cost will depend on the type of the vehicle.

Phone 13 10 84 to make a vehicle inspection booking (payments can be made by MasterCard or Visa) or contact Service SA for further information.

If you live within a 100 kilometre radius of the Adelaide GPO, the identity inspection must be at:

Vehicle Identity Assessment Station
7 Naweena Road
Regency Park SA 5010

If you live within a 100 kilometre radius of the Adelaide GPO, the road safety inspection must be at:

Regency Park Vehicle Inspection Station
13 Kateena Street
Regency Park SA 5010

or

Lonsdale Inspection Station (Wednesdays only)
Unit 2, 7 Ellemsea Circuit
Lonsdale SA 5160

For rural inspections, the bookings officer will advise available dates and times for your location.

• Complete an online car search through the Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR). A minimal fee applies.
• Do an online registration check. This check provides a general overview and does not include specific information.
• Phone Service SA on 13 10 84. You'll need to provide the registration number and vehicle identification number of the vehicle, cycle or trailer.

Penalties apply for not notifying of a written off vehicle in the following circumstances:

Private owners - before selling or otherwise disposing of, or dismantling, a registered or unregistered vehicle.

Insurers - within seven days of writing off a registered or unregistered notifiable vehicle.

Dismantlers, wreckers and repairers - within seven days of acquiring a registered or unregistered notifiable vehicle that has been written off - this includes vehicles or parts of a vehicle bearing a vehicle identification plate or vehicle identification number.

Auctioneers and motor vehicle dealers - within seven days of acquiring, but before auctioning or disposing of, a registered or unregistered written off notifiable vehicle.

Written off vehicle notices

Written off vehicle notices must be attached to a notifiable vehicle as soon as possible and before the vehicle is sold or otherwise disposed of.

If it's intended to cancel the registration of a notifiable vehicle, a notification must also be completed and accompany the application for registration cancellation.

Importing a notifiable written off vehicle into South Australia

You must notify within seven days of bringing the vehicle into South Australia:

• a written off vehicle
• a part of a vehicle bearing a vehicle identification plate or vehicle identification number.

Notification is not required in South Australia if the current status has been recorded on an interstate written off vehicle register.

A notifiable vehicle is a written off vehicle that is:

• a category 2 vehicle that is less than 15 years of age from its date of manufacture with a GVM not greater than 4.5 tonnes to which Australian Design Rules apply
• a motorbike (less than 15 years of age)
• a caravan (less than 15 years of age)
• a prime mover with a GVM greater than 4.5 tonnes
• a rigid truck with a GVM greater than 3.5 tonnes
• a bus with a GVM greater than 3.5 tonnes built or fitted to carry more than 9 adults
• a trailer with a GVM greater than 4.5 tonnes
• a vehicle wrecked or wholly or partly disassembled or a part of a vehicle bearing a vehicle identification plate or vehicle identification number
• an interstate written off vehicle not recorded on a written off vehicle register administered by an interstate vehicle registration authority.

Cosmetic hail damage

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

Vehicles with cosmetic hail damage

Assessors will be able to determine whether a motor vehicle has ‘cosmetic hail damage’ (which means there is no structural damage to the vehicle or any interior water damage because of hail damage). Although these vehicles will be notifiable, they will not require a written off vehicle label to be affixed and may be driven on roads.

If hail damage results in structural damage

Refer to the Damage Assessment Criteria for the Classification of Light Vehicle Statutory Write-offs guide (6.8 MB PDF) for the relevant definitions and assessment criteria for structural damage.

What you'll need to supply

Regardless of whether you're a private owner, an insurer or a business associated with the motor trade, you must supply the:

• vehicle identification number (VIN)
• registration number of the vehicle if available
• engine number, vehicle make and body type of the vehicle
• date the decision was made to write the vehicle off
• whether the vehicle is a statutory or repairable write-off
• name and address of the person notifying the written off vehicle
• location and severity of damage caused to the vehicle.

How to notify Service SA

Private owners

If you're a private owner of the vehicle you must complete the notification of a written-off vehicle - (402.1 KB PDF) form and return it to a Service SA centre.

Authorised agents - for example, an Insurer

You can notify Service SA online if:

• you are an authorised agent
• the vehicle is registered in South Australia and has a vehicle identification number (VIN)
• your organisation has given authorisation for you to notify Service SA online (this only applies if you work on behalf of an organisation).

How your organisation can authorise you to notify Service SA online

How to notify Service SA of a written off vehicle online

Phone

If you can't notify online, or the vehicle is not registered in South Australia or does not have a VIN, phone Service SA instead on 13 10 84.

Need help?

Contact Service SA