Written Off Vehicles FAQs

A written-off vehicle is a vehicle that has been assessed as a total loss to the point where repairing it may not be economical or appropriate.

There are two types of written-off vehicles:

• Statutory write-off: The vehicle cannot be re-registered and can only be used for parts or scrap.
• Repairable write-off: The vehicle may be repaired and returned to registration if it meets all clearance requirements.

The following businesses can assess a vehicle as a total loss and report it as a written-off vehicle:

• Insurance companies
• Loss assessors
• Motor vehicle dealers
• Auto dismantlers and wreckers
• Auction houses

Who reports a written-off vehicle?

If one of the above businesses determines that a vehicle is a total loss, they must notify the Registrar within seven days of making the assessment.

If the vehicle or its parts are sold before that time, notification must occur before the sale

What happens if a written-off vehicle is not reported?

Failing to notify the Registrar may result in penalties and fines under Tasmanian legislation.

Statutory write-off

The vehicle's registration is cancelled and the vehicle cannot be re-registered.

Repairable write-off

The vehicle's registration is suspended.

The vehicle cannot be re-registered until the written-off vehicle record has been cleared

A WOVR label is a label issued by the Registrar and attached to a written-off vehicle.

The label identifies the vehicle as being recorded on the Written-Off Vehicles Register and forms part of the clearance process for repairable write-offs.

You may be asked to:

• Provide evidence about the vehicle and its repairs.
• Present the vehicle for inspection.
• Pay the applicable inspection fee.

If the authorised officer is satisfied that the vehicle meets requirements, they may clear the write-off record and issue a clearance certificate.

A repairable write-off label can only be cleared by:

• A Transport Inspector (authorised officer), or
• A person authorised by the Registrar.

If your vehicle has been recorded as a repairable write-off, contact the Transport Safety Investigation Unit before arranging an inspection. They can explain the evidence and documentation you will need to support your application for clearance.

Yes, under the Vehicle and Traffic (Review of Decisions) Regulations 2021, If you disagree with a decision to refuse clearance, the decision to clear or not clear a WOV label is taken to be a decision of the Registrar and can be reviewed internally.

If a WOV label has been mistakenly affixed to a vehicle, only an authorised officer or a person approved by the Registrar may remove the label.

If the registrar has been notified, by the methods mentioned above, that a vehicle has been assessed as a total loss and the written-off vehicle label is later removed, the person removing the label must notify the Registrar of the removal as soon as practicable.

The Registrar is responsible for:

• Recording written-off vehicles.
• Updating vehicle records when a vehicle is cleared.

Maintaining the accuracy of the Written-Off Vehicles Register.

If the vehicle was recorded as a repairable write-off in another state or territory, you must contact the registration authority in the jurisdiction that recorded the write-off.

Tasmania cannot amend or remove records created by another jurisdiction.

For information regarding a written-off vehicle recorded in Tasmania, contact:

Transport Safety Investigation Unit
Building Tasmania
GPO Box 1002
Hobart TAS 7001

Phone: 03 67771936
Email: transport.safety@building.tas.gov.au

Please note: The Transport Safety Investigation Unit can provide information about Tasmania's written-off vehicle requirements and processes.

If a vehicle has been recorded as a repairable write-off in another state or territory, enquiries regarding amendment or clearance of that written-off record should be directed to the registration authority in the jurisdiction that recorded the vehicle as a write-off.