Written-off car check
How to check whether a car has been written off, the difference between a statutory and a repairable write-off, and what every NEVDIS damage code on a PPSR certificate means.
How the check works
When an insurer or a road authority declares a car a write-off, the record goes onto the state written-off vehicle register and into NEVDIS, the national vehicle database. A PPSR search by VIN returns those NEVDIS records alongside the register’s own finance data, so one A$2.99 check covers both.
Statutory write-off vs repairable write-off
A statutory write-off is a car that is too badly damaged to be repaired safely, for example one with a bent chassis or severe fire or flood damage. It can never be registered again and can only be used for parts. Do not buy one for the road.
A repairable write-off was declared a write-off because repairs would cost more than the car is worth, which is common with hail damage. Rules differ by state. New South Wales generally does not allow a repairable write-off back onto the road, apart from limited exceptions such as some hail-damaged cars. Most other states and territories allow re-registration after the car passes an identity and safety inspection. Check with the road authority in the state where you will register it before you pay.
Reading the result
A written-off record on a PPSR certificate has four parts: a string of damage codes, the state or territory, the date, and the write-off type. For example I01BI05BI06B, NSW, 19 Mar 1997, Repairable Write-off means three impact events on the passenger front, passenger rear and passenger side, each with light panel damage, recorded in New South Wales. Each four-character code is an incident type letter, a two-digit damage location and a severity letter. VinClear decodes them for you on the result page.
Incident type (first letter)
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| D | Dismantled |
| F | Fire |
| H | Hail |
| I | Impact |
| M | Malicious / vandalism / stripped |
| W | Water |
Damage location (two digits)
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 10 | Front (caravan / trailer / motorbike) |
| 11 | Rear (caravan / trailer) |
| 12 | Left rear (motorbike) |
| 13 | Right rear (motorbike) |
| 14 | Whole vehicle |
| 15 | Floor pan (passenger front) |
| 16 | Fire wall |
| 17 | Chassis / structural rails (passenger) |
| 18 | Floor pan (driver rear) |
| 19 | Floor pan (driver front) |
| 20 | Floor pan (passenger rear) |
| 21 | Chassis / structural rails (driver) |
| 22 | A pillar passenger |
| 23 | A pillar driver |
| 24 | B pillar passenger |
| 25 | B pillar driver |
| 26 | C pillar passenger |
| 27 | C pillar driver |
| 28 | D pillar passenger |
| 29 | D pillar driver |
| 30 | Engine block (cracked, fractured) |
| 31 | Transmission case |
| 32 | Differential case |
| 33 | Axle housing |
| 34 | Suspension (passenger front) |
| 35 | Suspension (driver front) |
| 36 | Suspension (passenger rear) |
| 37 | Suspension (driver rear) |
| 38 | Airbag front |
| 39 | Airbag side |
| 40 | Airbag curtain |
| 41 | Seat belt pre-tensioner |
| 42 | Battery pack (NSW heavy vehicles) |
| 43 | Tow point (NSW heavy vehicles) |
| 44 | Auxiliary equipment (NSW heavy vehicles) |
| 45 | Hydraulic or other lifting equipment (NSW heavy vehicles) |
| 46 | Rollover protective structure (NSW heavy vehicles) |
| 01 | Passenger front |
| 02 | Driver front |
| 03 | Driver side |
| 04 | Driver rear |
| 05 | Passenger rear |
| 06 | Passenger side |
| 07 | Engine |
| 08 | Roof |
| 09 | Interior |
Damage severity (last letter)
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| A | Heavy panel |
| B | Light panel |
| C | Heavy structural |
| D | Light structural |
| E | Unrepairable |
| F | Major mechanical damage |
| G | Minor mechanical damage |
| H | Major stripping |
| I | Minor stripping |
| J | Major vandalism |
| K | Minor vandalism |
| L | Water (salt) |
| M | Water (fresh) |
| N | Burnt / blistered |
| O | Smoke and heat |
| P | Minor smoke |
What to do with a write-off result
- Statutory write-off: walk away unless you are buying it for parts.
- Repairable write-off: ask for the repair invoices and the inspection certificate, expect a lower price and lower resale value, and confirm your insurer will cover it.
- No record: reassuring, but the data is only as current as the state registers. Combine the check with a physical inspection.