What does it mean if your car is a write-off?

You’ve probably heard the term “write-off” in relation to car insurance before. But unless your car has been awarded that unfortunate title, you might not know exactly what the classification means.
Basically, your car can be written-off after an accident or damages if it’s deemed irreparable and unsafe to drive, or uneconomical to repair. If you have cover which includes a pay-out or replacement after a write-off, you may receive a sum from your car insurance company up to the agreed or market value of the car, or a new comparable vehicle.
If you only have third party property car insurance or are not covered beyond Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance, this might not be an option. But if your wheels are deemed a write-off, you may be able to salvage some cash by selling functional parts or the whole lot for scrap.
Who decides if your car is a write-off?
That’d be your insurance company. The specific classifications around vehicle write-offs differ slightly between Australian states and territories. However, insurance providers are the ones labeling vehicles as official write-offs across all areas.
If you are uninsured, the insurance company of an at-fault driver involved in the incident may classify your vehicle as written-off and cover it accordingly (depending on the type of car insurance the at-fault driver has).
A written-off car will end up in one of two camps:
- Statutory write-offs: This is the end game. Statutory write-offs are deemed irreparable, normally due to structural or other extensive damage, and you won’t ever be able to re-register the vehicle. Any usable materials or parts can still be sold for scrap, though.
- Repairable write-offs: You could feasibly fix this kind of damaged car but the provider has assessed that repairs would cost more than the car’s market value. These kinds of write-offs can be sold on and then re-registered if repaired to the correct standards.
Once officially classified, your car will be put on the Written Off Vehicle Register (WOVR).
Can you dispute a car insurance write-off?
In the case of a repairable write-off – the kind where the insurance company decides it’s uneconomical to fix the damages – this is possible. But you’ll have to move quickly, as once the car is placed on the WOVR it’ll be hard to have the assessment changed and the processing time is usually one week.
If you are trying to get your provider to cover the cost of repairs, you’ll need to prove the ‘salvage and repair’ costs are less than the market value (and sum insured) of the vehicle. If the damage has been categorised as “non-repairable” you’ll have a hard time disputing the WOV title.
How much do you get back from a totalled car?
This is dependent on your insurance policy, but it’s likely going to be less than you imagined, as it’s not a simple payment of the value of the car. The amount can be impacted by:
Your excess: This is an amount you’ll have to pay before your insurance kicks in. This could be anywhere from around $500 to $3,000 depending on factors like the value of your car and who was driving it at the time of the insurable incident (if it was a young, unlisted driver, the excess may skyrocket).
Make sure you keep track of your excess and the value of your car to ensure depreciation doesn’t make an insurance claim uneconomical once the excess is paid.
Remaining premiums: Even if you pay monthly, you’ll still have to cover any remaining instalments of your car insurance premium. Insurance companies will often deduct the remainder of your annual premium from your payout.
Unused registration and CTP: You will have either signed up to an agreed value policy (where you negotiate on a set value that’ll be covered in a write-off scenario) or market value cover, which is based on the sale price of a car of similar make, age, condition and odometer reading at the time of the claim.
When assessing market value, your CTP and registration may be included in the equation. If this is the case, it’s remaining value at the time of the claim may be deducted from your pay-out.
What if I still owe money on my vehicle when it’s written off?
If you took out a car loan to purchase your wheels, this debt doesn’t disappear along with your written-off vehicle. Hopefully you’ve insured the car to match its worth and you score a new-for-old replacement vehicle, or get a decent pay-out which you could use to keep paying down the loan while you figure out new transport.
Whatever the situation, it’s important to get in contact with your lender as soon as you have the final word from the insurance company to discuss your options. Many financial institutions have hardship policies in place if you’re struggling to cover repayments.
Head to Mozo’s car insurance comparison page to assess policies and ensure you’ve got competitive cover in case your car is written-off.
Compare car insurance - rates updated daily
Gold Comprehensive Car Insurance
- Monthly premiums
- Yes Costs Extra
- Choice of repairer
- Optional Extra
- Choice of excess
- $500 - $1,850
- Agreed or market value
- Agreed Or Market
Available discounts
- Online Discount Up To 15%
Gold Comprehensive Car Insurance
Get award winning Car Insurance. Save 15% ^ on your first year’s premium when you purchase a new policy online. Budget Direct offers tailor-made cover, new-for-old replacement, 24/7 claims, a highly-rated claims service, and get a hire car following a theft.
- New car if written off
- Yes - within 2 years or 40,000 kilometres of original registration, whichever comes first
- Rental car after theft
- Yes - Up to 14 days, max $1,000 total.
- Rental car after accident
- Not at fault - Yes. At fault - Optional Extra. Up to 14 days for at fault accidents.
- Windscreen cover
- Yes - standard excess. Option to reduce windscreen excess to $40 on every windscreen claim for an additional premium.
- Modifications
- Covered only if agreed in writing.
- Young driver excess imposed
- $600 for drivers under 21, $500 for drivers under 24, $600 for unlisted drivers, $500 for inexperienced drivers over 24.
- Roadside assistance
- Optional Extra
- Other benefits
- -
- Other restrictions
- -
Terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits may apply to any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. These terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits could affect the level of benefits and cover available under any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. Please refer to the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and the Target Market Determination on the provider's website for further information before making any decisions about an insurance product.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about Budget Direct Gold Comprehensive Car Insurance
Comprehensive Car Insurance
- Monthly premiums
- Yes Costs Extra
- Choice of repairer
- No
- Choice of excess
- $800 - $2,000
- Agreed or market value
- Agreed
Available discounts
- No Claim Discount
Comprehensive Car Insurance
Stella have created a more intuitive experience and offer a product that’s been designed with women in mind; offering premium benefits, and optional extras and rewards for being a safe driver. Stella are back by QBE. Get a quick quote online in 40 seconds and insured in 4 minutes. Purchase a new comprehensive car insurance policy from Stella by 30th June 2022 and receive a $100 EGift Card*. T&Cs apply.
- New car if written off
- Yes - within 3 years and 60,000 km of original registration
- Rental car after theft
- Yes - Up to 14 days.
- Rental car after accident
- Not at fault - yes. At fault - Optional Extra. Up to 14 days.
- Windscreen cover
- Yes - standard excess. Option to reduce windscreen excess to $0 on every windscreen claim for an additional premium.
- Modifications
- Covered only if agreed in writing.
- Young driver excess imposed
- $600 for listed drivers under 25. $1,600 for unlisted drivers under 25
- Roadside assistance
- Optional Extra
- Other benefits
- Receive a $100 eGift card for new Comprehensive Car Insurance policies purchased from Stella by 30th June 2022.
- Other restrictions
- -
Terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits may apply to any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. These terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits could affect the level of benefits and cover available under any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. Please refer to the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and the Target Market Determination on the provider's website for further information before making any decisions about an insurance product.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about Stella Comprehensive Car Insurance
Comprehensive Car Insurance
- Monthly premiums
- Yes
- Choice of repairer
- No
- Choice of excess
- $500 - $5,000
- Agreed or market value
- Agreed Or Market
Available discounts
- Pay As You Drive Cover With Pricing Tiers Available For Limited Kms.
Comprehensive Car Insurance
Huddle Car Insurance, Pay as you drive & save up to 30% (T&Cs apply). 24/7 claims lodgement and new-for-old replacement (under 2 years).
- New car if written off
- Yes - within 2 years of original registration
- Rental car after theft
- Yes - Up to 14 days, max $70 per day.
- Rental car after accident
- Not at fault - Optional Extra. At fault - Optional Extra. Up to 10 days, max $70 per day.
- Windscreen cover
- Yes - standard excess. Option to reduce excess for first windscreen claim each year to $0 for an additional premium.
- Modifications
- Most modifications covered automatically
- Young driver excess imposed
- $1,200 for listed drivers under 21, $800 for listed drivers under 24, $2,000 for unlisted drivers under 21, $1,600 for unlisted drivers under 24, $800 for inexperienced drivers over 24, $800 for learner drivers.
- Roadside assistance
- Optional Service
- Other benefits
- -
- Other restrictions
- -
Terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits may apply to any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. These terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits could affect the level of benefits and cover available under any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. Please refer to the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and the Target Market Determination on the provider's website for further information before making any decisions about an insurance product.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about Huddle Comprehensive Car Insurance
Comprehensive Car Insurance
- Monthly premiums
- Yes
- Choice of repairer
- No
- Choice of excess
- $500 - $5,000
- Agreed or market value
Available discounts
- Pay As You Drive Cover With Pricing Tiers Available For Limited Kms.
Comprehensive Car Insurance
Enjoy flexible car insurance with ahm. Whether you’re driving thousands of kms, or just a few, ahm has cover that could suit your needs. Set up a policy in just minutes. Enjoy adjustable excess options to suit different budgets. Get 24/7 emergency help when you need it. Sign up by 30 June 2022 and receive free roadside assistance* for 12 months. T&Cs apply.
- New car if written off
- Yes - within 2 years of original registration
- Rental car after theft
- Yes - Up to 14 days, max $70 per day.
- Rental car after accident
- Optional Extra
- Windscreen cover
- Yes - standard excess. Optional extra for excess-free windscreen cover.
- Modifications
- -
- Young driver excess imposed
- $1,200 for listed drivers under 21, $800 for listed drivers under 24, $2,000 for unlisted drivers under 21, $1,600 for unlisted drivers under 24, $800 for inexperienced drivers over 24, $800 for learner drivers.
- Roadside assistance
- Optional Service
- Other benefits
- Get free roadside assistance for 12 months when you sign up by 30 June. T&Cs apply.
- Other restrictions
- -
Terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits may apply to any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. These terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits could affect the level of benefits and cover available under any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. Please refer to the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and the Target Market Determination on the provider's website for further information before making any decisions about an insurance product.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about ahm Comprehensive Car Insurance
Comprehensive Car Insurance
- Monthly premiums
- Yes
- Choice of repairer
- No
- Choice of excess
- $800 Flat Excess Fee
- Agreed or market value
- Agreed
Available discounts
Comprehensive Car Insurance
Easier, better, smarter car insurance. Say g’day to ROLLiN'. They've taken the complicated out of car insurance and created a new route that's simple, u-turn free and keeps you in the driver’s seat. No cancellation fees, 24/7 online claims service and a policy that’s pay monthly. Buy now and boost your single car value under your policy by 15%. Excesses Apply.
- New car if written off
- Yes - within 15,000km of original registration
- Rental car after theft
- Yes - Up to 21 days, max $80 per day
- Rental car after accident
- Yes - Up to 21 days, max $80 per day
- Windscreen cover
- Yes - $0 windscreen excess
- Modifications
- Covered only if agreed in writing.
- Young driver excess imposed
- No additional excess for young drivers. $3,000 for unlisted drivers
- Roadside assistance
- No
- Other benefits
- Optional benefit to boost the Single Car Value by 15%, it will be shown on your Insurance Certificate
- Other restrictions
- -
Terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits may apply to any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. These terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits could affect the level of benefits and cover available under any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. Please refer to the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and the Target Market Determination on the provider's website for further information before making any decisions about an insurance product.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about ROLLiN' Comprehensive Car Insurance
* Terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits may apply to any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. These terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits could affect the level of benefits and cover available under any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. Please refer to the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and the Target Market Determination on the provider's website for further information before making any decisions about an insurance product.
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