How the Written-off Vehicle Scheme works

Scheme overview

The Written-off Vehicle (WOV) Scheme is part of a national approach to reduce vehicle theft, use of stolen parts in repairs and registration of unsafe WOVs.

The process of writing-off vehicles

In Queensland, whenever a notifiable vehicle is damaged to the extent it becomes a total economic loss, it becomes a written-off vehicle (WOV). Vehicles can be written-off by structural damage, cosmetic damage, or both.

The person who assesses whether a vehicle is a total economic loss is known as the vehicle's notifier. They are required to assess the vehicle's damage and report specific information (known as notifiable information) to the Department of Transport and Main Roads. In some cases, vehicle owners and operators are also required to report notifiable information to us.

WOV statuses are permanent and apply even if the vehicle is moved outside Queensland. Vehicles can be written-off multiple times and all WOV statuses are recorded on the Personal Properties Securities Register (PPSR).

Notifiable information

Notifiable information contains facts about a WOV and how it became written-off. This includes:

• the vehicle identifier number (VIN) or chassis number
• the engine number, if available
• when the vehicle was written-off
• when it was assessed as a total economic loss
• whether the vehicle is a repairable WOV or a statutory WOV
• the type, location and severity of the damage
• details about the notifier.

Differences between repairable and statutory written-off vehicles

After a notifier has determined that a notifiable vehicle is a total economic loss, they are required to assess the vehicle as either a statutory WOV or a repairable WOV. This assessment is made using standardised damage criteria for light vehicles and motorbikes, caravans, camper trailers and heavy trailers.

Statutory WOVs cannot be re-registered in Australia. Some of their parts cannot be used for repairing or rebuilding another vehicle. Restricted parts include:

• any component that records the VIN or chassis number
• the chassis (for body-on-frame vehicles)
• airbags which have been:
  • damaged or deployed
  • come from a water-damaged, smoke-damaged, or fire-damaged vehicle, or
  • recalled.

Other parts from statutory WOVs can be used for repairing other vehicles if they are functional.

Repairable WOVs can be re-registered after they have passed a Safety certificate inspection (known as a roadworthy) and a Written-off Vehicle Inspection (WOVI), which checks for stolen parts.

Notifiable vehicles

Notifiable vehicles are vehicles which must be written-off if classified as a total economic loss. These are vehicles which are:

• registered in Queensland or are unregistered and located in Queensland
• 16 years or younger when they become a total loss, and
• a light vehicle, motorcycle, caravan, camper trailer, or a heavy trailer.

Other vehicle types cannot be written-off in Queensland. These include:

• heavy vehicles (above 4.5t GVM)
• vehicles that are older than 16 years when they were damaged
• light trailers (under 4.5t GVM) which are not caravans or camper trailers
• vehicles registered in another state or territory.

However, these vehicles can be written-off and they remain WOVs permanently, even if they are not notifiable vehicles in Queensland. This can occur, for instance, if the vehicle is written-off interstate or was written-off before it turned 16 years of age. Read more about interstate WOV statuses.

Insurers sometimes assess a vehicle as a total economic loss and refer to it as a 'written-off vehicle', but the vehicle is not recorded as a WOV in Queensland if it is not a notifiable vehicle. This means that:

• No business or individual is required to notify us about the 'write-off'
• The vehicle's registration isn't affected
• The vehicle doesn't need a WOVI, and
• The WOV event isn't recorded in the PPSR.

What is a total economic loss?

A vehicle is a total economic loss if its pre-damage market value is lower than the cost of repairs plus the salvage value for the vehicle wreck. A vehicle can become a total economic loss by the following events:

• a collision
• fire
• water immersion
• a weather event
• stripping or dismantling
• corrosion

The role of vehicle notifiers

Vehicle notifiers are persons who have assessed a notifiable vehicle as a total economic loss on behalf of:

• an insurer or loss adjuster
• a self-insurer
• a dealer or auctioneer, or
• an auto parts dismantler.

For example, a notifier can be a representative of an insurance company, a third-party vehicle assessor or loss adjuster, a smash repair employee, an employee of a self-insured company or someone else.

Notifiers are required to report notifiable information to us whenever they assess a notifiable vehicle as a total economic loss.

Responsibilities of vehicle owners and operators for reporting written-off vehicles

Owners and operators of notifiable vehicles are also obliged to notify us if their vehicle is a total economic loss, if no-one else has already done so. This can occur if the vehicle is unregistered or uninsured at the time of the write-off event, or if it's written-off by a notifier but they don't provide us with any notifiable information.

To assess the vehicle, you must use specific criteria for light vehicles and for motorbikes, caravans, camper trailers and heavy trailers, and complete a written-off vehicle notification form (F4069). The form can be sent to us by email to viunit@tmr.qld.gov.au, or by post to:

Vehicle Identification Unit
GPO Box 5232
BRISBANE QLD 4001

Amending or removing written-off vehicle status

Once a vehicle is classified as a WOV, its status doesn't change, even if the vehicle is repaired or sold. Only the original vehicle notifier can amend a vehicle's WOV status, and they can only do so in very limited circumstances.

The original notifier can ask us to amend a WOV status if the vehicle has not been repaired and they still possess the vehicle. This is often the case when insurers uncover incorrectly assessed damage on the WOV notification form after they 've conducted the original inspection. A correction request can only be lodged by the original notifier and must include supporting evidence.

The original notifier can also ask us to correct the record if they discover a clerical or technical error in a vehicle's WOV status. This is often the case when the notifier makes a mistake when recording the vehicle's VIN, or accidentally records damage on the incorrect side of the vehicle. Clerical and technical errors can be corrected after the vehicle has been repaired and after the vehicle has left the notifier's possession.

Written-off vehicle statuses across Australian states and territories

All Australian states and territories have a shared list of WOVs and WOVI results. This list is known as the 'written-off vehicle register' (WOVR) and can be accessed through the PPSR.

However, some jurisdictions have different requirements before WOVs can be re-registered. If you are planning to register a WOV in another state or territory, you should contact the relevant road transport authority to check whether additional documentation or inspections are required.

Some states and territories also allow heavy vehicles and light trailers to be written-off. Before these vehicles can be registered in Queensland, they must pass a WOVI and be re-registered in the jurisdiction where they were written-off.

Listed below are links for further information about WOV schemes in other jurisdictions:

• New South Wales
• Victoria
• South Australia
• Tasmania
• Western Australia
• Australian Capital Territory
• Northern Territory