My son is looking at buying a Volkswagen Caravelle, but found out that its repairable write off. The owner bought in South Australia, and is selling it in Queensland. Does anyone have any suggestions ... as it appears to be a bargain price.
Possum3 said
04:01 PM Jan 23, 2018
It will most probably be unable to have comprehensive insurance - check with Insurance companies for a decision. If it can get an Engineer's Certificate to get a Blue Slip it may be a viable option to save some dollars.
hako said
04:05 PM Jan 23, 2018
I bought a vehicle that had been a "repairable write-off" for my daughter. It was a 2006 Mazda 3 hatch which had previously been hit in the rear with the hatch caved in plus a side door damaged. We bought it already repaired by a non-mechanic for 30% less than it would have normally sold for. It was written off because the cost of the panels exceeded the insured value.
That was 2 years ago and since then we've had no troubles. Before they can be re-registered they must have a comprehensive mechanical examination by an engineer, not a mechanic and this cost $600 (to the bloke who repaired it)
It does not take much to write a car off - anything under $6000 that has a few panels damaged or gets hail damage is a likely suspect to be written off. If the airbags have gone off then many cars around the $10K figure are writeoffs.
If it drives OK, has no unusual tyre wear, all doors are aligned correctly and shut and no oil leaks then you should have no problems. I would not buy it unless it came with a QLD Safety Certificate and also do a check on the WOVR register with the cars VIN.
Good Luck.
Aus-Kiwi said
04:19 PM Jan 23, 2018
Yes generally repaired weight offâs donât have majer chassis damage . Know a Ranger that was towing a trailer full of metal .it run up the back of a truck . The main damage other than grill etc was bent rails . In this case it was chassis but repaired and strengthened!! Been 5 years since rebuilt .. still a top vehicle. Now they are registered as built write off . They ARE repaired properly !!
Splottboy said
04:45 PM Jan 23, 2018
Many thanks
Kebbin said
05:46 PM Jan 23, 2018
When I bought a BMW motorbike as a repairable write off in NSW, after repair it goes over the RTA pits for a complete inspection, so you should be good, as for insurance I had it comprehensively insured after repair no problems.
Desert Dweller said
06:30 PM Jan 23, 2018
God knows what happens to some vehicles. Our 3 year old Ford Ranger was hit by lightning in our driveway at home.
The complete electrical/ safety system was fried & repaired under insurance ($16,000 approx). The car was twice reprogrammed by Ford at the request of the Auto Electrician.
Lights kept appearing on the newly installed instrument panel ($3,000) every so often, so we were advised to get rid of it due to reliability problems.
We received a great trade in price on a run out model Nissan Navara. It pulls our modest sized caravan well (50,000kms). Job done.
-- Edited by Desert Dweller on Tuesday 23rd of January 2018 06:31:28 PM
Jaahn said
06:34 PM Jan 23, 2018
Splottboy wrote:
Hi,
My son is looking at buying a Volkswagen Caravelle, but found out that its repairable write off. The owner bought in South Australia, and is selling it in Queensland. Does anyone have any suggestions ... as it appears to be a bargain price.
Hi
My suggestion is to make enquirys with the registration authority in the state your son lives in, wherever that is and see what the official policy for re-registration is there. Then if that looks OK you should get some estimate of the repairs required plus the initial cost pus the rego costs and then compare that total final on road cost, with the cost of getting a similar vehicle that is registered and going and can be driven away today. Your decision then about the worth of the difference in money VS the stuffing around required.
Any write off can be rebuilt correctly by good competent tradesmen, but sometimes they are not as the cost can be high ?
Jaahn
PS I would not be keen on buying any Caravelle as they are overpriced IMHO and the reliability not nearly as good as people imagine either. I have wrecked several T4s when they failed and were not worth repairing
Jaahn
-- Edited by Jaahn on Tuesday 23rd of January 2018 06:44:02 PM
montie said
06:56 AM Jan 24, 2018
Desert Dweller wrote:
God knows what happens to some vehicles. Our 3 year old Ford Ranger was hit by lightning in our driveway at home.
The complete electrical/ safety system was fried & repaired under insurance ($16,000 approx). The car was twice reprogrammed by Ford at the request of the Auto Electrician.
Lights kept appearing on the newly installed instrument panel ($3,000) every so often, so we were advised to get rid of it due to reliability problems.
We received a great trade in price on a run out model Nissan Navara. It pulls our modest sized caravan well (50,000kms). Job done.
Was the Nissan dealer aware of it's history when they traded it?
-- Edited by Desert Dweller on Tuesday 23rd of January 2018 06:31:28 PM
Kebbin said
08:07 AM Jan 24, 2018
So instead of putting up with the inconvenience and following through on insurance, you decide to unload it with it's faults on an unsuspecting customer ???
Aus-Kiwi said
09:34 AM Jan 24, 2018
Electrical issues is one of those things we cannot see. Strange part it could be one faulty connection or earth !! Not even a 50c item ..
Splottboy said
10:47 AM Jan 24, 2018
Thanks everyone ... we have checked it all out, and it seems a bargain, so will go ahead with it
RustyD said
03:15 PM Jan 24, 2018
Had a motorcycle written off about 8 years ago after a crash. Once the repair bill hit 15% of the insured value it was considered a write-off. It was a repairable write-off.
Hylife said
03:56 PM Jan 24, 2018
It very much depends on what type of write off it was and in what state or territory it was written off in.
Repairable write off, or statutory write off. The Written Off Vehicles Register (WOVR) is National.
Get the VIN and go here. transact.ppsr.gov.au/ppsr/QuickVINSearch
Statutory write offs can never be reregistered anywhere in Australia.
All write offs from NSW are statutory write offs, ie, NSW does NOT have or recognise repairable write offs.
Do NOT buy a repaired repairable write off unless the seller can provide you with a complete repair diary including before, during and after photos and the complete provenance of any and all parts used or it will NOT be accepted by any state for the required safety inspection or the mandatory $435.00 written off vehicle inspection.
Since 2014, in all states, vehicles that are repaired and subsequently re-registered will continue to remain on the WOVR as a Written Off vehicle and all states and territories now legally require you to state this on the sale documentation so it will have zero resale or trade in value.
At sploot boy be carefull if written off in sa check that he hasn't re rego it in queensland happens a lot of queenland cars and 4bys head south to be reconditioned and sold off in small car yard could be a stat write off get the picture
VK5TBC said
09:02 AM Feb 1, 2018
Acquired in Adelaide 2016 & 2017, 2 caravan 23' tandems that were repairable write offs Slightly damaged front left top.
Photos at each stage of repair
then checked in at Motor Transport (by appointment) that repairs met their specification ...passed... then to Rego office. Insured with CIL and used on holidays. On sold each one 6 months later and acquired Motorhome that for 75yr retire was best choice as caravans cause sway and fit person to uncouple & connect up etc.
Have fun 73s
Hi,
My son is looking at buying a Volkswagen Caravelle, but found out that its repairable write off. The owner bought in South Australia, and is selling it in Queensland. Does anyone have any suggestions ... as it appears to be a bargain price.
That was 2 years ago and since then we've had no troubles. Before they can be re-registered they must have a comprehensive mechanical examination by an engineer, not a mechanic and this cost $600 (to the bloke who repaired it)
It does not take much to write a car off - anything under $6000 that has a few panels damaged or gets hail damage is a likely suspect to be written off. If the airbags have gone off then many cars around the $10K figure are writeoffs.
If it drives OK, has no unusual tyre wear, all doors are aligned correctly and shut and no oil leaks then you should have no problems. I would not buy it unless it came with a QLD Safety Certificate and also do a check on the WOVR register with the cars VIN.
Good Luck.
Many thanks
God knows what happens to some vehicles. Our 3 year old Ford Ranger was hit by lightning in our driveway at home.
The complete electrical/ safety system was fried & repaired under insurance ($16,000 approx). The car was twice reprogrammed by Ford at the request of the Auto Electrician.
Lights kept appearing on the newly installed instrument panel ($3,000) every so often, so we were advised to get rid of it due to reliability problems.
We received a great trade in price on a run out model Nissan Navara. It pulls our modest sized caravan well (50,000kms). Job done.
-- Edited by Desert Dweller on Tuesday 23rd of January 2018 06:31:28 PM
Hi
My suggestion is to make enquirys with the registration authority in the state your son lives in, wherever that is and see what the official policy for re-registration is there. Then if that looks OK you should get some estimate of the repairs required plus the initial cost pus the rego costs and then compare that total final on road cost, with the cost of getting a similar vehicle that is registered and going and can be driven away today. Your decision then about the worth of the difference in money VS the stuffing around required.
Any write off can be rebuilt correctly by good competent tradesmen, but sometimes they are not as the cost can be high ?
Jaahn
PS I would not be keen on buying any Caravelle as they are overpriced IMHO and the reliability not nearly as good as people imagine either. I have wrecked several T4s when they failed and were not worth repairing
Jaahn
-- Edited by Jaahn on Tuesday 23rd of January 2018 06:44:02 PM
Repairable write off, or statutory write off. The Written Off Vehicles Register (WOVR) is National.
Get the VIN and go here. transact.ppsr.gov.au/ppsr/QuickVINSearch
Statutory write offs can never be reregistered anywhere in Australia.
All write offs from NSW are statutory write offs, ie, NSW does NOT have or recognise repairable write offs.
Do NOT buy a repaired repairable write off unless the seller can provide you with a complete repair diary including before, during and after photos and the complete provenance of any and all parts used or it will NOT be accepted by any state for the required safety inspection or the mandatory $435.00 written off vehicle inspection.
Since 2014, in all states, vehicles that are repaired and subsequently re-registered will continue to remain on the WOVR as a Written Off vehicle and all states and territories now legally require you to state this on the sale documentation so it will have zero resale or trade in value.
For QLD go here. www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Registration/Registering-vehicles/Written-off-vehicles/Written-off-vehicle-register.aspx
For SA go here. www.sa.gov.au/topics/driving-and-transport/vehicles/vehicle-types-and-specifications/written-off-vehicles