written off vehicle

Without knowing the details of why it was written off, it's difficult to say. The sales guy is obviously using it as leverage for all he's worth to give you a crap trade in. Maybe try not to be in such a desperate hurry to trade in for this ute. There's thousands of others. Try another dealer who might not worry about it or even notice it or look at what he's offering you and sell privately for a few grand more, but still reasonable. Don't let him put you into a corner - you probably don't need this ute yesterday even if you might want it. Of course, there are two sides to the story: your cruiser might be an accident waiting to happen, but more than likely, ok. I'd steer clear buying a write off but they're not always dodgy.

I'm sure others will shed a bit more light on the different categories of write-offs and what they mean.

Stay cool.

Stevo

Hi Mike

The dealer usually has a liability under consumer law to ensure that the vehicle you were sold was the correct vehicle. The written off vehicle inspection should have resolved the identity of the vehicle. If there is an identity issue then the selling dealer has a problem.
The vehicle should have been repaired properly and again as the dealer has the knowledge, then they are saying the vehicle was fit for purpose. So if there are issues about incorrect repairs it would appear the dealer should be liable.
In Victoria there is a legal obligation to disclose the written off status. A call to your rego people should let you know the local situation.
If there is nothing wrong with your vehicle then there can be a perception that the vehicle is tainted and therefore worth less money.
Many dealers won’t touch write off's no matter how well they are repaired and private buyers often assume the vehicle is still faulty, again damaging the value.
If written off vehicles have a consistently lower value than unlisted vehicles and you can’t sell it for reasonable value, then you may have a case against the dealer for misrepresentation of that value. A dealer will have known the status of the vehicle and can’t claim ignorance.
I don’t know how well the Qld inspection system works so it’s worth asking if they confirm the standard of repair as happens in Vic and SA. I wouldn’t touch a NSW vehicle without a comprehensive inspection.
The funny thing about all this is at least you know what has happened to one of these vehicles whereas an unlisted vehicle could have been badly repaired and you won’t know until it is too late.
Hope this helps a bit
regards
A

Hi
If the vehicle is reg in your name on paper and you have a copy you should have all the rights at your finger tips.
I am not sure of Queensland rules but a statutory right off is not allowed to be repaired ,
if it was a uneconomical write off it has to have a engineers report
So it falls back onto both the rego branch and the dealer in my mind.
Check it out with consumer affairs to see what they say first and also find out what sort o write off it is.
The vehicle should have been transferred to you in about 14 days after purchase.
I hope this helps some.
Cheers

Big difference in some of the ways they write them off. Some only have to have fresh water just inside the doors covering the carpets and they total them. Salt water is an instant write off. Roll overs generally are written off and not very often repaired even by dodgy brothers as there too hard.

Cut and shut is the most common where one vehicle has been shunted up the arse the other a front ender and cut them in half and join the two (heaps of these around) Alot of write offs have worked there way around eg QLD vehicles found in WA due to the last floods in QLD. And the smart way around it by the owners is they dont even make a claim as either there not insured so they cant or they dont want to have the thing repaired so they dry them out, clean them up and sell them most of the time privately as they get more for them so they wont even be on the register of written off vehicles.

I think its a great idea they bought it in, it does help some people BUT there are still people who dont do any of the available checks although still not 100% guarantee of its history. They dont have to tell you they are written off (well they didnt not sure now on the rules) but they do have to be road worthy. Has been on A Current Affairs where people have just replced the airbag with a standard horn pad or have replaced but the airbag is not connected.

There is a certain area in Sydney where I wouldnt even waste my fuel or time driving too as its know as cut and shut city and they dont give a bleep what you drive away in as long as yopu hand over the hard earned $$$. One of the checks available here in Sydney by the REVS mob is the history of pink slips (most electronic now) is shows the klms every time its been registered, and all if any previous owners, about time a welcome move I think......Not sure you will have any luck with chasing it up.

Also you will find most dealers will do a check. (hence how he detected yours been written off) Maybe there is a way to find the previous owner and ask them did they get less as a trade in due to it been written off and this will tell you if the sales person was honest or not BUT in saying that doesnt really matter as they are or at least were not required to tell you anyway.................................

Thanks so far guys with your responses, but cause I am in Qld, we used to have a revs certificate which when I purchased the vehicle was never given one.
I was charged the $ 22.00 for a revs cert. and on the page that states the clear title, there was a safety cert. number but in the revs section, no number ??
So I presumed that they did know about the write off, thats why they never issued me with it and maybe my fault for not picking it up then, but thinking that the dealer was obligated to do the write thing.

Mike

Mike,

Might be an idea to check if the chassis number on the vehicle is the same as on the rego papers. AFAIK once a vehicle is a statutory write off they can not be re-licenced. That should have stopped the licencing mob issueing a renewal.

Cheers
Pop

My son moved to Qld from NSW and owned a vehicle that had been classed in NSW as a repairable write off. It had a fire inside and had burnt the back seat only.
It was all ok'd by NSW RTA.
When he changed rego to Qld he had to pay $500 for a report as they would not except NSW approval.
Still a nice car

Honky

Many thanks again for the replies. The vehicle was a repairable writeoff and has been passed and inspected in 2006. That part of it is legal, all chassis numbers and plates all corresspond.
When I purchased the vehicle, the dealer had the rev payment on the contract invoice, not any special reciept direct from revs. So nothing there to pursue.
What the drama is that I now have a vehicle that nobody will trade in nor buy privately due to this written off status. My main question is since the dealer failed to give me the revs report nor advice me of the status, was that legal and are they liable ?
Mike

Mike, why not spend a few dollars and get good legal advice. Toing and froing on a forum will not resolve the issue, albeit with good intentions and in a general nature. If it was me, I would spend $100 and get some legal advice and at least then you will know where you stand and what your options are.

Good luck.

Jeff

In WA there is no obligation(sadly) on the seller to inform the buyer the vehicle is a WOVR however if you do a REVS check or ask the DoT they will tell you if it is a WOVR or not. In other words it is a case of 'caveat emptor' (let the buyer beware) Not sure what the consumer law in QLS states.

Hi Mike MM sent

I finally did what Jeff recommended, and paid my 250 bucks to find out that I don't have a leg to stand on !!!
In Qld, the dealers do not have to disclose that a vehicle has been in a write off, only if they sold you an unregistered vehicle !! As whom buys an unreg. vehicle of a dealer ?!!
So buyers beware, you have the same protection as if you buy private.
So thanks again for all the replies, am just off to drown my sorrows.........