written off vehicle check qld Page 62

In Queensland, the definitive way to check if a car’s been written off is a PPSR search using the VIN—it pulls the national Written-Off Vehicle Register (WOVR) plus any theft or finance data.

Grab the 17‑digit VIN, buy a PPSR certificate (a few dollars), and you’ll get a clear written-off status with damage type (e.g., water, collision).

“Statutory write-off” means it can’t be re-registered; “repairable write-off” may return to the road only after approved repairs and inspections (including a WOVI in QLD) and all the paperwork lines up.

Always cross-check the VIN on the car with the rego papers, and if anything smells fishier than last week’s prawns, walk away.

Keep the PPSR certificate as proof when buying or selling; it’s cheap insurance and very Australian in its bluntness.