Re-registering a written-off light vehicle

You can only get approval to repair and re-register a written-off light vehicle in very limited circumstances. Find out if you're eligible and what to do.

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Eligible customers and vehicles

Transport for NSW will only consider an application to repair and re-register a written-off light vehicle in the following limited circumstances:

  • the vehicle has not suffered damage specified in the statutory write-off assessment criteria, and
  • the applicant is the same registered operator and the vehicle only has hail damage (where Hail-damaged written-off light vehicles does not apply), or
  • the applicant was the registered operator for more than 28 days before the vehicle was damaged, or
  • the applicant inherited the vehicle from the registered operator.

Do not begin any repairs without authorisation from Transport for NSW.

Statutory write-off assessment criteria

For light passenger and commercial vehicles other than motorcycles or light trailers, the statutory write-off assessment criteria are the Damage Assessment Criteria for the Classification of Light Vehicle Statutory Write-Offs published by Austroads.

For light trucks, the statutory write-off assessment criteria are the Damage Assessment Criteria for the Classification of Heavy Vehicle Statutory Write-Offs published by Austroads

For motor bikes, light trailers and light caravans, the statutory write-off assessment criteria are:

  • burnt to such an extent that it is fit only for wrecking or scrap
  • stripped of all, or a combination of most, interior and exterior body parts, panels, and components (examples of which for motor bikes are the engine, wheels, and guards)
  • impact damage (excluding scratching) to the suspension and one or more areas of structural frame damage
  • fully immersed in salt water for any period (other than skeleton-type trailer or box trailer)
  • fully immersed in fresh water for more than 48 hours (other than skeleton-type trailer or box trailer).

Applying for authorisation to repair

You need to provide:

You can email or mail your application to Transport for NSW. Contact details are in the form.

If authorisation to repair is granted

If your application is approved:

  1. Transport for NSW will send you an ‘Authorisation to Repair’.
  2. Contact a NSW Fair Trading licensed repairer for advice and guidance before starting repairs.
  3. Damage affecting the structural integrity and safety of your vehicle must be repaired to the manufacturer’s guidelines or recognised industry standards.
  4. If your vehicle is a light truck, it can only be repaired by a suitably licensed repairer.

Certification of repairs

Once repairs are complete, you need a Certificate of Compliance from a suitably licensed repairer declaring that damage affecting the structural integrity and safety of the vehicle has been repaired to the required standards.

If you do the repairs yourself (other than for a light truck), a licensed repairer must certify your repairs. You may need to:

  • present the vehicle to the licenced repairer for inspections during the repair process
  • keep a repair diary of the repair process, photograph the damaged areas before and after repair and present these to the licensed repairer
  • keep copies of the relevant standards used for the repairs and present these to the licensed repairer.

Keep all information to do with the repair process, including invoices and receipts for parts, to support your application for registration.

If your vehicle is successfully repaired and re-registered, it will be noted on the Certificate of Registration that the vehicle has been written-off.

After repairs are completed

Once the repairs are completed and certified, there are three steps you need to take to re-register the vehicle:

1

Authorised Unregistered Vehicle Inspection Scheme (AUVIS) inspection

You’ll need to have the vehicle inspected at an Authorised Unregistered Vehicle Inspection Scheme Station to get an identity, design and safety check.

2

Vehicle Identity & Inspections Unit (VIIU) inspection

Following the AUVIS inspection, the vehicle must then be inspected by the Transport for NSW Vehicle Identity & Inspections Unit (VIIU) to ensure the vehicle has not been rebirthed.

You can make a booking with the VIIU at any service centre and pay the inspection fee.

You’ll need to bring all the documents related to the vehicle repairs, including:

  • Authorisation to repair the written-off vehicle, issued by TfNSW
  • Certificate of Compliance issued by a suitably licensed repairer
  • third-party certifications, for example, for air bag repairs or structural certification
  • A passed AUVIS inspection report from an AUVIS station
  • completed Application for Registration
  • Receipts for all repairs and restoration performed on the vehicle.                                                                 

For vehicles in Sydney, Central Coast or the Illawarra  

Service centre staff will accept your payment, book your VIIU inspection, then give your documents back to you. You need to take your documents to the VIIU inspection.

For vehicles outside Sydney, Central Coast or the Illawarra

Service centre staff will accept your payment and make copies of your documents. The VIIU will contact you later to book your VIIU inspection.

 

3

Apply for registration

You can apply for re-registration by visiting a service centre (or sending a representative).

You’ll need to bring all the documents related to the vehicle repairs, AUVIS and VIIU inspections, including:

Organisations

If you’re registering the vehicle in the name of an organisation, you’ll need to complete the 'Representative’s Authority' section on the

File

Application for Registration (PDF 213.11KB)

Sending a representative

If you send someone else to register the vehicle in your name, you’ll need to complete the 'Representative’s Authority' section on the

File

Application for Registration (PDF 213.11KB)

or provide a letter of authority. Your representative must also provide their own proof of identity.

If you are not an existing Transport for NSW customer you cannot send a representative – you must come in person. If you are unsure, please phone 13 22 13.

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