Over the past decade or so Written off Wrecks have become more prevalent
re-appearing in the marketplace as WOVR (Inspected); in other words rehabilitated
and advertised for sale at a discount price.
You may be also told that they are as good as a non-WOVR because they have been inspected.
The questions are: Are these WOVR (I) good value for money and safe?
Personally i dont know the answer to those questions but IMO there are some things
to be aware of:
(a) dont buy a used car without checking its PPSR for written off status, theft, financial encumberance etc.
(b) ensure that you are buying the car from the proper owner (this can be dicey with an unregistered vehicle)
(c) that a RWC only says that the car is Roadworthy according to local standards, not that it is fit for porpose
. and/or of merchantable quality.
Downside of buying a WOVR (I)
(1) you may have a snag financing it
(b) you may have a snag insuring it
(c) you may have a snag claiming balance of manufacturer's warranty
(d) you may have mechanical or body problems later (eg rust)
(e) you may be dealing with a vendor who is "dealing without a licence" which is a criminal offence
(f) you may not be able to have your car registered interstate (I refer here to Qld WOVR/Inspected vehicles)
Just to name a few.
Here is an interesting read albeit a few years old now but still relevant, IMO.
https://autoexpert.com.au/posts/buying-a-repaired-write-offIn Qld there are 2 kinds of vehicles on the WOVR:
-permanently written off vehicles that cannot be rehabilitated
-economic wrecks..that is wrecks that the insurance company has deemed not economically viable to repair.
So when someone tells you that the repairs were minor like a bumper and a headlight, beware,
Insurance Companies wont write off minor damaged vehicles and cop massive financial losses, IMO.
