Plain-English reference
Car auction & write-off glossary
Every term you'll meet buying a car at an Australian auction, explained in plain English — from repairable write-off and WOVR to reserve, passed in and buyer's premium. Regulatory terms vary by state — the linked guides carry the detail.
Write-off & title status
- Write-off
- A vehicle an insurer (or owner) has declared a total loss — not economical to repair relative to its value. In Australia it is then recorded on the Written-Off Vehicles Register (WOVR). WOVR explained →
- Repairable write-off (RWO)
- A written-off vehicle whose damage was assessed as repairable. Depending on the state, it can be repaired and returned to the road after passing the required inspections. Repairable write-off guide →
- Statutory write-off
- A vehicle with damage so severe that, under current Australian rules, it cannot be re-registered for road use anywhere in the country — it is for parts, dismantling or export only. The categories are set by each state. Statutory write-off guide →
- WOVR (Written-Off Vehicles Register)
- The register that records a vehicle's write-off status and category. Once recorded, the status stays with the vehicle permanently and shows on a PPSR check. Exactly what's captured varies by state — most registers cover light vehicles, with heavy vehicles often recorded separately. WOVR explained →
- Inspected / passed write-off
- A repairable write-off that has already passed a written-off vehicle inspection in some states. Terminology varies by state.
- Damage category
- The classification the assessor or auction assigns to describe the main damage — for example impact (collision), hail, water/flood or vandalism. It strongly affects price. Prices by damage type →
The auction process
- Salvage auction
- An auction selling damaged, written-off or end-of-life vehicles, typically sourced from insurers and fleets.
- Lot
- A single item in an auction — here, one vehicle — identified by a lot number.
- Simulcast / live online auction
- A real-time auction with a live auctioneer that you watch and bid in online as it happens (for example Pickles Simulcast).
- Timed online auction
- An online auction that runs for a set period and closes at a deadline, with no live auctioneer — closer to eBay-style bidding.
- Tender / Expression of Interest (EOI)
- A sale where you submit a sealed offer by a deadline instead of bidding openly. The highest or best offer is accepted.
- Buy Now
- A fixed price to buy a lot immediately, without bidding.
- Reserve price
- The minimum the seller will accept. If bidding doesn't reach it, the lot is "passed in" rather than sold.
- Passed in
- A lot that did not sell because bidding failed to meet the reserve. It may be negotiated afterwards or relisted.
- Hammer price (knockdown price)
- The winning bid amount — what the vehicle "sold" for — before buyer's premium, fees and GST. See real hammer prices →
- Proxy / auto bid
- You set the maximum you're willing to pay and the system bids on your behalf up to that limit.
- Relisted
- A lot offered again at a later sale, often after it passed in.
Costs & fees
- Documentation / admin fee
- A fixed fee per vehicle covering paperwork and transfer.
- GST
- The 10% Goods and Services Tax. It may apply to the hammer price and/or the fees, depending on the seller and the vehicle.
- Deposit
- An amount taken at the fall of the hammer to secure the purchase. The balance is due shortly after, usually by bank transfer. The full payment flow →
- Storage fee
- A daily charge that applies if you don't collect the vehicle within the free storage window.
- Transport / towing
- Moving the vehicle from the auction yard. Write-offs often can't be driven away, so most buyers arrange a tow or transporter.
Buying & ownership
- ABN (Australian Business Number)
- A business identifier. You do NOT need an ABN to buy at the major salvage auctions as a private individual — you need one (and the right licences) only to trade vehicles or parts commercially.
- Dealer licence
- A motor-dealer licence required to sell vehicles commercially. It is not required to buy a car for yourself.
- Private buyer
- An individual buying for themselves. At most major salvage houses, anyone 18 or over with an ID-verified account can buy — though some sales or lot types are restricted to licensed dealers or wreckers.
- Zero-balance / clearance invoice
- The paid-in-full invoice issued once your funds clear. You need it (plus photo ID) to collect the vehicle.
Checks & due diligence
- PPSR (Personal Property Securities Register)
- A national check on a vehicle by VIN. It reveals money owing (encumbrance), theft records and write-off (WOVR) status. Always run one before you commit. How a PPSR check works →
- VIN (Vehicle Identification Number)
- The unique 17-character identifier on the vehicle, used for PPSR/WOVR checks and identity inspections.
- Encumbrance (finance owing)
- Money still owed on the vehicle under finance. If unpaid, it can follow the car to a new owner — which is why a PPSR check matters.
- Compliance plate / build date
- Markers of when the vehicle was built and complied for Australian roads. Used in identity inspections.
- Registration status
- Whether the vehicle is currently registered, unregistered or cancelled.
- Odometer
- The recorded distance the vehicle has travelled, in kilometres.
Repair & getting back on the road
- Roadworthy certificate (RWC)
- A safety-inspection certificate required to register a vehicle. The name varies by state — roadworthy certificate, pink slip / eSafety, safety certificate, and so on. Inspect & re-register →
- Identity inspection (VIV / VIIU / WOVI)
- A written-off-vehicle identity check (anti-rebirthing) you must pass before re-registering a repaired write-off. The name and responsible body vary by state — for example VIV in Victoria, VIIU in NSW, WOVI in Queensland — and some states also require a separate general unregistered-vehicle inspection (in NSW, the "blue slip" / AUVIS).
- VASS (Vehicle Assessment Signatory Scheme)
- A Victorian engineering sign-off required for modifications — not for standard repair back to original specification.
- SRS / airbag report
- A report confirming the supplementary restraint (airbag) system was correctly repaired, generally required where airbags were deployed.
- Re-registration
- Returning a repaired repairable write-off to the road after it passes the identity and roadworthy inspections. Allowed in most states once it passes — but New South Wales generally blocks open-market buyers from re-registering a light repairable write-off (narrow exceptions apply, such as the prior owner, an heir, or hail-only damage). Rules and scope vary by state, so check before you bid. The re-registration process →
Vehicle condition
- Runs & drives
- The auction's note that the vehicle started and moved under its own power at inspection. It is an observation, not a guarantee.
- Keys present
- Whether keys are included with the lot.
- Salvage / wreck
- A damaged vehicle sold for repair or for parts. Buying for parts →
- Hail damage
- Dents from hail. Often cosmetic and the car is usually mechanically sound — but heavy hail can crack glass and let water in, so still inspect it. Hail write-offs tend to sell for more than crash-damaged ones. Damage vs price →
- Water / flood damage
- Damage from immersion. It can cause hidden electrical, corrosion and drivetrain faults that resurface for years — among the riskiest repairs to take on.
Now put it into practice
Read the full walkthrough of buying, paying for, repairing and re-registering a salvage car — or jump straight into searching live write-offs.