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Repairable written-off vehicles

An economic repairable write-off means the repairs necessary were not considered to be economically viable for the insurer to repair the vehicle.

You can re-register a repairable write-off if it was ACT registered at the time the vehicle was written off and it passes the required inspections.

You cannot register a vehicle in the ACT which is listed as written off in another state or territory until the vehicle has been inspected and cleared by that jurisdiction

'Statutory write-off' vehicles cannot be re-registered anywhere in Australia.

Read about written off vehicles.

Repairs

If you want to repair a written-off vehicle so you can register it in the ACT:

  • you must follow the manufacturer's repair methods to ensure structural integrity and that the repairs conform with recognised industry standards, and
  • an appropriately licenced motor vehicle repairer must certify the repairs.

View the licenced motor vehicle repairer register.

Vehicles must continue to comply with the applicable Australian Design Rules (ADRs) at their time of manufacture.

The Australian Government administers the ADRs. View the Australian Design Rules.

Repairers

Anyone can repair an economic repairable written-off vehicle.

Repairers must:

  • be aware of the types of materials used in the vehicle’s construction
  • ensure any repair processes is performed as specified by the vehicle manufacturer
  • be aware of the effects that the repair could have on the safety of the vehicle and its compliance with ADRs
  • the finished repair meets manufacturers specifications and industry standards
  • meet the requirements of the Road Transport (Vehicle Registration) Regulation 2000.

Non-licenced repairers:

If you are not a licenced repairer, you still need to follow manufacturer's guidelines and recognised industry standards.

You should consult with a licenced repairer before starting repairs. Only a licenced repairer can certify the repairs during inspection.

The licenced repairer may ask you to:

  • allow them to do a series of inspections at key points during the repair process
  • keep a photographic records repair diary that describes the repair process
  • take photographs of the damaged areas before, during and after the repairs
  • keep copies of the pages of relevant standards referred to during the repairs
  • perform prescribed requirements that are not listed here.

Licensed repairers:

If you are a licensed repairer, you can certify your own repairs during inspections.

You must hold a motor vehicle repairer licence in a class relevant to the repairs you are undertaking.

Read about vehicle repairer licences.

To certify any repairs performed on Supplementary Restraint Systems (SRS) you must be approved by the vehicle manufacturer or Access Canberra.

Using parts from a written-off vehicle

You can use some non-structural body parts from a written-off vehicle to repair another repairable written-off vehicle.

The damage to the salvage vehicle will determine whether you can reuse specific parts for the repairs.

Engines:

You can use a viable engine from a written-off vehicle for repairs, regardless of why it was written-off.

Note: if an engine used is of a higher capacity or different specification to the original, the vehicle may require engineering certification.

Parts from water-damaged vehicles:

If the vehicle of origin was written off due to saltwater damage, you can reuse the:

  • mudguards
  • bonnet
  • suspension
  • interior/trims.

If the vehicle of origin was written off due to freshwater damage, you can reuse the:

  • mudguards
  • bonnet
  • suspension
  • interior/trims
  • doors
  • chassis.

Parts from fire-damaged vehicles:

You can use parts from vehicles written off due to fire damage provided the parts themselves were not damaged by the fire.

Care must be taken when deciding if heat exposed parts can be reused, as the damage may not be limited only to the visibly exposed areas.

These parts may be reusable:

  • mudguards
  • bonnet
  • doors
  • skirt rail sections
  • front sections (including front pillars, sill and floor sections)
  • rear sections (including rear pillars, sill and floor sections)
  • roof cut sections (including centre pillar)
  • engine cross member
  • steering column
  • suspension
  • interior/trims
  • seat frames/metal components.

The repair certifier or Access Canberra may reject the parts if they are not deemed suitable. You may need to provide photographic evidence to prove the parts are viable.

Parts from collision-related write-offs:

You can use parts from vehicles written off in a collision provided the parts themselves were not damaged.

These parts may be reusable:

  • mudguards
  • bonnet
  • doors
  • skirt rail sections
  • front sections (including front pillars, sill and floor sections)
  • rear sections (including rear pillars, sill and floor sections)
  • roof cut sections (including centre pillar)
  • engine cross member
  • steering column
  • suspension
  • interior/trims
  • seat frames/metal components
  • wiring looms.

The repair certifier or Access Canberra may reject the parts if they are not deemed suitable. You may need to provide photographic evidence to prove the parts are viable.

Parts which you cannot use:

Regardless of how the vehicle of origin was written off, you cannot reuse these parts for repairing a repairable write off:

  • any SRS component from a donor vehicle which has had an SRS component deploy.
  • any component which is damaged and will likely render any of the vehicles OEM safety systems to not function as the manufacturer intended.

Note: Any SRS components which are used during repair must be checked for suitability, some manufacturers state that particular components MUST be replaced when airbag/s have been deployed.

Sectionalised repairs

A sectionalised repair replaces a section of the vehicle body with a new or salvaged section.

All repairs must follow the manufacturer stated repair procedure, ensuring structural integrity, safety guidelines and recognised industry standards are maintained.

The section used for repair must be:

  • a new section supplied as a service assembly by the vehicle manufacturer, or
  • a suitable assembly removed from a new body shell supplied by a vehicle manufacturer, or
  • a suitable undamaged section salvaged from a vehicle of the same make, model and variant, and
  • of a similar age or newer, and
  • in a sound and generally undamaged condition with no previous major repairs which could affect the strength of the basic structure.

Monocoque vehicles:

A monocoque bodyshell is a vehicle with a chassis integrated with the bodyshell.

You cannot repair or rebody a monocoque bodyshell with a new bodyshell.

You can replace sections provided the original factory joins, welds and bonding methods are replicated in the repair.

Inspections

To re-register an economic repairable write-off vehicle, it must pass a roadworthy inspection and complex vehicle identity inspection.

Depending on the vehicles age, type and use, other inspection requirements may apply.

Further information roadworthy inspections

Further information vehicle identity inspections

What you will need to provide:

As well as identification documents for yourself and your vehicle, you will need to prove the repairs have been performed safely by a person approved to carry out those repairs.

You will need:

  • an Australian Business Number (ABN) and a copy of the current business certificate relevant to the class of repairs carried out by the repairer.
  • a receipt of sale/proof of acquisition. This must include the name and address of the purchaser, date of purchase, purchase price, the vehicle identification number (VIN), make, model, month and year of manufacture
  • where applicable, a structural repair report (VD & SRR) and/or supplementary restraint system (SRS) report from an approved provider

Note: The repairer who is signing off the repair work, a vehicle damage and structural repair report or SRS report must be registered with fair trading and be authorised to undertake repair work for insurance companies.

  • official photographs of the damaged vehicle supplied by the auction house or insurance company and a photographic work diary of the repair process
  • original receipts including tax invoices for parts and any outsourced labour.

Original receipts for the repair of the vehicle:

These receipts must include:

  • the name and address of the licensed insurance company approved repairer or business that repaired / inspected the damaged vehicle to ensure all repairs have been performed correctly
  • the current business certificate of the licensed repairer
  • the ABN of the business which repaired the damaged vehicle
  • the date that the repairs were performed
  • the name and address of the owner of the damaged vehicle
  • identification of the vehicle being repaired
  • details of all repairs and replacement parts used in the repair of the damaged vehicle
  • a list of the parts supplied by the repairer and the parts supplied by customer.
  • you will also need to provide the original receipts for all major components replaced during the repair.

. The receipts need to include:

  • the name and address of the person or business that sold the parts
  • the ABN of the business that sold the parts
  • the date the parts were purchased
  • the purchase price including a tax receipt
  • the description of components including vehicle type such as Ford, Holden, Toyota and left, right, front, rear, inner or outer etc
  • an itemised list of the second-hand parts supplied and the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) of the salvage vehicle which the parts were sourced from
  • the name and address of purchaser.

You can only use salvaged parts if the identity of the donor vehicle can be verified and the components are suitable for use.

You must have evidence to prove their legitimacy and suitability.

Note: If you are missing receipts, or an invoice for second-hand parts does not include the donor vehicles VIN, then the vehicle identity inspector will reject the repair until evidence is provided or you may need to re-repair the vehicle using parts and/or repair services that can be proven legitimate.

The requirement for all invoices to contain all mandatory information is to ensure that the parts and services used:

  • are suitable for the vehicle being repaired (make, model, variant and year of manufacture)
  • do not come from a vehicle which has been stolen,
  • do not come from a vehicle which was damaged by fire or water, or which would make the components not suitable to be used for repairing another vehicle.
  • Is suitable for 'Australian market' vehicles (new imported parts).

Reports and inspection conditions

You may need to provide additional reports.

Vehicles which sustained structural damage:

If the vehicle sustained structural damage, you will need to obtain a vehicle damage and structural repair report (VD & SRR).

The following report must be completed in full by an accredited insurance approved body repairer who is registered with fair trading, after they have undertaken a physical inspection of the vehicle  Vehicle Damage and Structural Repair Report [PDF 223KB].

Vehicles repaired with parts from a water-damaged vehicle:

If the repairs performed used parts or sections from a water-damaged vehicle, you will need to leave these parts exposed for inspection (trims, covers etc).

Note: If the repair will be covered by sound deadening material or under seal, please ensure adequate photographs are taken for the repair diary prior to covering.
Further advice can be sought from the ACT Vehicle Identity Unit (ACT VIU)

During the inspection the vehicle identity inspector may request an engineering report. The report needs to state the vehicle’s structural integrity and strength has not been compromised following the repairs performed.

Vehicles with new or replaced airbags and SRS components:

Note: Access Canberra strongly advises that any replacement SRS components be new and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts only.

Vehicles with supplementary restraint systems (SRS) which were deployed during the accident prior to being written off will need to provide an SRS report from one of the following:

  • the original equipment manufacturer (OEM), or
  • an authorised main dealer accredited by the OEM, or
  • an authorised repairer as accepted by Access Canberra.

The following report must be completed in full by the approved person who has performed the physical inspection of the system Supplementary restraint system report [PDF 179KB].

Vehicles which have suffered suspension damage:

If the vehicle has suffered any suspension damage and repairs have been performed, a wheel alignment report showing the actual vehicle specifications and measurements must be provided. The vehicle identification number (VIN) must be present on the report.

Photographs

You will need to acquire photographs of the vehicle in its written-off state and compile a photographic repair diary documenting the repair process.

Photographs of the written-off vehicle before it was purchased:

If you have purchased a written-off vehicle, the photographs that you provide must be of the vehicle in its damaged state prior to its purchase.

You can request these from the insurance company that assessed the vehicle or the auction house where the vehicle was purchased.

Access Canberra will not accept downloads from the internet or photographs which were taken after the vehicle was purchased.

Photographic work diary:

A photographic work diary documents the repairs performed; Key areas are:

  • reconstruction of structural members or body sectional repairs to manufacturer or industry standard specifications
  • repairs to chassis rails, cross members, suspension and steering mounting points
  • all substantial repairs to the vehicle which may be obscured by body work, bumpers and trims when assembled.

You need to provide a photographic work diary to show the repair process during all stages of repair.

These photographs must show the vehicle having a dimension check / chassis alignment (where applicable).

Documentary evidence must be provided which contains the vehicles VIN, the chassis aligner measurements and the manufacturer's specifications and tolerances for the vehicle being measured.

All equipment used for measurement and repairs must be recognised as suitable within the repair industry.

Further enquiries regarding written-off vehicles:

Contact the Vehicle Identity Unit (VIU) (02) 6207 7227 or email: actviu@act.gov.au.