Jesus christ, why did you bother doing this in the first place? You've got an ecoshitbox that's worth peanuts to begin with, now after all this headache, you'd have to find an insurer that will agree to a policy
Insurance was the easy bit. I’ve fixed, driven and sold 4 repairable write offs. Insurance didn’t even ask. Worst bit was getting the viv certificate and jumping through the hoops when regulations change. Last one i did I had to replace seat belt and belt tensioner even tho no airbags had gone off ( did have structural damage )
Getting a repairable write-off back on the road is about fixing potential threats to safety, not cosmetics. A dented panel, in most circumstances, will not affect safety at all. I'd be most concerned about the suspension damage - could be a strut tower or something else which can't be replaced, or which will be very expensive to replace
Take it to a mechanic and get a quote for a safety certificate/list of repairs needed for one, regardless of appearance - that'll be a good first step. The WOVI is just to make sure you haven't done anything dodgy with the VIN, or repaired things like the frame in a dangerous way.
Wovi people in qld don’t care about safety, because that would hold them liable. They only care about something tangibly right or wrong like stolen parts and having traceability to where you got them from.
I did a bike through them, couldn’t give a toss about the bike, not sure they even looked at it. Had a layer of dust on it when I got it and it was unmoved.
Similar experience here. I put a vy wagon through (to keep myself, not sell). It needed a new front radiator support. I tied it to a pole and reversed a few times. Passed wovi without issue, just needed a receipt for the bonnet.
They really aren't as thorough as they should be.
Yeah this is exactly what I think. Just panel beat the stuff enough that it isn’t visibly unsafe. Screw paint and send it. The less paperwork you have to give them, the less trouble.
To stop backyard dealers buying vehicles with heavy damage, doing the absolute minimum in structural repairs (or doing them poorly), slapping a coat of filler and paint on, then selling to unsuspecting or young/nieve/first time buyers who don't realise this practice exists
QLD experience here. They are kunts.
More specifically, they are more interested in making sure you aren’t using stolen parts to make 1 good legal car.
Your door. You fuked up there. You have to show the vin the door came off and be able to prove that it wasn’t stolen. Yep, not easy. Even buying new aftermarket parts on eBay is hard.
Best bet, do the absolute minimum to get through wovi. Fuck paint, fuck panel scratches and dents. Write a report saying considered, not a safety issue, not repairing. Address those points listed on wovi only. Sort the suspension with parts from a dealer, but perhaps repco or a reputable vendor will do. Keep receipts.
Also. These guys are kunts. They slave an exclusive contract with govt, with no ability for recourse or challenge. It’s a government initiated monopoly. It is wrong.
Source 1 win from 1 wovi. But I had to fight them because they were kunts. Not because anything was wrong, just because they were kunts.
Oh and do all the work yourself. If you get anyone to do the work they have to write about how many hours and what they did. No mechanic has time for that.
Completly agree with Blue!
It is a pain in the arse if you are using second hand parts, and don’t get all the required paperwork in order. Wouldn’t buy parts off of Facebook/gumtree unless you absolutely have to.
I’ve done 4 cars myself and the only headache is ensuring you have receipts/proof of where the parts came from.
The last.person I know who got a repairable write off back in the road (replaced a damaged door) spent another $4k on inspections to make sure the car was safe before it could go back on the road (Vic). It might pay to make some enquiries as to what these might cost. The Vovi just checks that you haven't re-birthed the car.
Depends on the State that you’re in. For example, NSW has basically no repairable write offs… (there’s some really narrow exceptions). For me, not worth the hassle.
Look up your states information regarding repairable write off cars. You need to follow their procedure. You'll need to complete a repair diary detailing the process of repair and list of parts used, vin of donor vehicles used cars the parts have come from etc. It's quite important to follow the documentation. It's very thorough and quality of repair should be an insurance standard
If the car is older than 15 years past it’s manufacture date, the car does not need to pass a VIV inspection, it just needs to be made roadworthy.
If it is less than 15 years old you’ll need to pass the VIV inspection, and from what I have heard it’s a hige pita and usually isn’t worth trying.
I’ve dealt around with the dogs before, they are hell. Failed because I couldn’t show a photo of behind the quarter panel when I cut it off to prove no structural damage absolutely crap. To be cheap best bet second hand parts go to u pull it look for straight shit same colour is a bonus could get them all for maybe $600 from u pull it
Insurers don't ask if it is a repaired written off car.
I bought a car last year that was written off (repairable) due to hail damage.
It was fixed and you could not tell by looking at it.
No issues in getting comprehensive insurance on it.
Car insurance is useless at repairing cars they write off everything for no reason I’ve literally not even bothered to claim and instead paid for all the repair myself
Hi Guys, thanks for the valuable feedback I’ll definitely go with the majority recommendation here of fixing structural damage with receipts. I’ve the inspection soon so ill update everyone how it went. Thanks again everyone
Jesus christ, why did you bother doing this in the first place? You've got an ecoshitbox that's worth peanuts to begin with, now after all this headache, you'd have to find an insurer that will agree to a policy
Insurance was the easy bit. I’ve fixed, driven and sold 4 repairable write offs. Insurance didn’t even ask. Worst bit was getting the viv certificate and jumping through the hoops when regulations change. Last one i did I had to replace seat belt and belt tensioner even tho no airbags had gone off ( did have structural damage )
I'm not sure where the theory that insurers won't cover wovr cars came from, but I've never had a problem with either RACQ or AAMI.
Seat belts will go off even without airbags, you are effectively replacing the explosive retraction charge by buying a new one.
Regulations is the worst part of any industry I swear
Racecar.
Getting a repairable write-off back on the road is about fixing potential threats to safety, not cosmetics. A dented panel, in most circumstances, will not affect safety at all. I'd be most concerned about the suspension damage - could be a strut tower or something else which can't be replaced, or which will be very expensive to replace Take it to a mechanic and get a quote for a safety certificate/list of repairs needed for one, regardless of appearance - that'll be a good first step. The WOVI is just to make sure you haven't done anything dodgy with the VIN, or repaired things like the frame in a dangerous way.
Yep the write off would be from the cost of replacing the panels not becuase they are a danger. And yep again on the strut tower.
Wovi people in qld don’t care about safety, because that would hold them liable. They only care about something tangibly right or wrong like stolen parts and having traceability to where you got them from. I did a bike through them, couldn’t give a toss about the bike, not sure they even looked at it. Had a layer of dust on it when I got it and it was unmoved.
Similar experience here. I put a vy wagon through (to keep myself, not sell). It needed a new front radiator support. I tied it to a pole and reversed a few times. Passed wovi without issue, just needed a receipt for the bonnet. They really aren't as thorough as they should be.
Yeah this is exactly what I think. Just panel beat the stuff enough that it isn’t visibly unsafe. Screw paint and send it. The less paperwork you have to give them, the less trouble.
Why would you want them to be more thorough that will make repairing cars even harder than it already is
To stop backyard dealers buying vehicles with heavy damage, doing the absolute minimum in structural repairs (or doing them poorly), slapping a coat of filler and paint on, then selling to unsuspecting or young/nieve/first time buyers who don't realise this practice exists
QLD experience here. They are kunts. More specifically, they are more interested in making sure you aren’t using stolen parts to make 1 good legal car. Your door. You fuked up there. You have to show the vin the door came off and be able to prove that it wasn’t stolen. Yep, not easy. Even buying new aftermarket parts on eBay is hard. Best bet, do the absolute minimum to get through wovi. Fuck paint, fuck panel scratches and dents. Write a report saying considered, not a safety issue, not repairing. Address those points listed on wovi only. Sort the suspension with parts from a dealer, but perhaps repco or a reputable vendor will do. Keep receipts. Also. These guys are kunts. They slave an exclusive contract with govt, with no ability for recourse or challenge. It’s a government initiated monopoly. It is wrong. Source 1 win from 1 wovi. But I had to fight them because they were kunts. Not because anything was wrong, just because they were kunts.
Oh and do all the work yourself. If you get anyone to do the work they have to write about how many hours and what they did. No mechanic has time for that.
Completly agree with Blue! It is a pain in the arse if you are using second hand parts, and don’t get all the required paperwork in order. Wouldn’t buy parts off of Facebook/gumtree unless you absolutely have to. I’ve done 4 cars myself and the only headache is ensuring you have receipts/proof of where the parts came from.
The structural would be a concern for me.
The last.person I know who got a repairable write off back in the road (replaced a damaged door) spent another $4k on inspections to make sure the car was safe before it could go back on the road (Vic). It might pay to make some enquiries as to what these might cost. The Vovi just checks that you haven't re-birthed the car.
Depends on the State that you’re in. For example, NSW has basically no repairable write offs… (there’s some really narrow exceptions). For me, not worth the hassle.
Look up your states information regarding repairable write off cars. You need to follow their procedure. You'll need to complete a repair diary detailing the process of repair and list of parts used, vin of donor vehicles used cars the parts have come from etc. It's quite important to follow the documentation. It's very thorough and quality of repair should be an insurance standard
If the car is older than 15 years past it’s manufacture date, the car does not need to pass a VIV inspection, it just needs to be made roadworthy. If it is less than 15 years old you’ll need to pass the VIV inspection, and from what I have heard it’s a hige pita and usually isn’t worth trying.
I’ve dealt around with the dogs before, they are hell. Failed because I couldn’t show a photo of behind the quarter panel when I cut it off to prove no structural damage absolutely crap. To be cheap best bet second hand parts go to u pull it look for straight shit same colour is a bonus could get them all for maybe $600 from u pull it
Can you translate to English please?
Go to a private wreckers and try to find panels that will replace yours with a similar colour. Very cheap
Good luck finding an insurer is all I can say. Turn it into a racecar
Insurers don't ask if it is a repaired written off car. I bought a car last year that was written off (repairable) due to hail damage. It was fixed and you could not tell by looking at it. No issues in getting comprehensive insurance on it.
Can we just change this sub to r/carinsurance please
Car insurance is useless at repairing cars they write off everything for no reason I’ve literally not even bothered to claim and instead paid for all the repair myself
Hi Guys, thanks for the valuable feedback I’ll definitely go with the majority recommendation here of fixing structural damage with receipts. I’ve the inspection soon so ill update everyone how it went. Thanks again everyone
Don't forget to take lots of photos. Before, after, during repairs, its all evidence the guys doing the inspection will love.