What is the Written-off Vehicle Register and should I check it before swapping?

What the register records

The Written-off Vehicle Register is administered by the National Exchange of Vehicle and Driver Information System (NEVDIS). It records:

• **Statutory write-offs:** Vehicles assessed by an insurer as too damaged to be repaired safely, or where repair is uneconomical and the vehicle is structurally compromised. These can never be re-registered in Australia.
• **Repairable write-offs:** Vehicles assessed as uneconomical to repair by an insurer, but not structurally compromised. These can be re-registered after a statutory inspection and compliance assessment.

How to search

Go to writtenoffvehicles.gov.au and search by VIN or registration number. Searches are free.

Why it matters for swaps

If a vehicle you receive in a swap is a statutory write-off, you cannot legally drive it on public roads or re-register it. This would render the vehicle effectively worthless for road use.

A repairable write-off is not necessarily a problem, but you should know about it before agreeing to the swap. The vehicle's history as a write-off may affect its insurability and resale value.

What the WOVR does not cover

The WOVR records insurer-assessed write-offs. It does not record: - Vehicles seriously damaged in uninsured accidents (never assessed by an insurer) - Odometer fraud - Outstanding finance (check the PPSR for this)

Using WOVR alongside a PPSR check

A thorough pre-swap check involves both a PPSR search and a WOVR search. Together they cover the two most common hidden risks in private vehicle transactions: undisclosed finance and undisclosed write-off history.