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 - (577.8 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.

To find out if a vehicle has been recorded as written off phone 13 10 84 or go to a Service SA centre.

You will need to supply the registration number and vehicle identification number to enable a check to be done.

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.

Complete the notification of a written-off vehicle - (402.1 KB PDF) form and return it to a Service SA centre or, if you are authorised as an agent to issue written off vehicle notices, phone Service SA on 13 10 84.

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

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

Need help?

Contact Service SA