How to Buy a Repairable Write-Off

The most successful repairable write-off buyers treat it like a project, not a punt. They know their total cost before they bid, they verify the vehicle's status, and they plan the WOVI booking from the outset. This guide turns that approach into a repeatable process.

Where to find repairable write-offs

Queensland salvage stock is concentrated with a handful of major auction houses. Pickles and Manheim run the largest insurance salvage operations, with both online and on-site auctions. Lloyds and Grays also list significant volumes online. Each has its own buyer registration, deposit and collection rules, so read the terms before you bid.

Always run a PPSR check first

Reading the damage honestly

• Structural and chassis damage is the costliest and hardest to pass at a WOVI
• Deployed airbags mean replacing the airbags, modules and often seatbelt pretensioners
• Hail damage is usually cosmetic - often the best value repairable category
• Flood damage hides electrical faults and corrosion that surface months later

Budgeting beyond the bid

The auction price is only the start. Add buyer's premium, transport of an unregistered vehicle, parts and labour, the government WOVI fee, a possible re-inspection, and a safety certificate. Underestimating these is the classic first-timer error that turns a 'bargain' into a loss.