OCBA - Damaged vehicles

Damaged vehicles

If you intend to purchase a second-hand car from Queensland, Victoria or New South Wales be mindful that it may have been damaged by the recent floods. Damage caused by water particularly in the vehicle body, vehicle interior and electrical components will cause serious corrosion, sometimes only appearing and causing problems months later and can be costly to repair.

It is highly recommended to have the vehicle inspected by a professional before you buy it. Various Motoring Associations can provide pre purchase inspections, either mobile or workshop based that provide you with a comprehensive report on the vehicle. Always inspect the car to the best of your ability before you arrange the inspection, be sure the inspection includes the body and interior - this will save you the cost of a mechanical report if you decide the car simply isn't worth it.

Buying a car at auction may appear to be a cheaper alternative than buying through a dealer or even buying privately, but it also presents the most risk. For example, you are most unlikely to be able to test drive or arrange for an inspection of the vehicle before purchase.

Crisis factsheet: Damaged vehicles- Buying, selling and repairs ( 177 KB PDF File )

Related information

The Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure (DTEI) have published detailed material on written-off vehicles, including:
- What is a written-off vehicle?
- Presenting a written-off vehicle for inspection
- Find out if a vehicle is reported as wrecked or written-off
- When to report a written-off vehicle
- What is a notifiable vehicle?
- How to report a written-off vehicle
- Guidelines for the assessment of statutory write-offs
- Guidelines for the South Australian written-off register
For further information on the purchase of a vehicle within South Australia, see our Buying a car page.

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