How to Photograph Your Repairs for a WOVI
Photos are how you prove repairs that disappear behind panels once the car is rebuilt. Done well, they turn a sceptical inspection into a formality. This guide shows you exactly how to document each stage so a Queensland assessor can verify the work.
Think of your photo set as the assessor's window into work they can no longer see. Once a repairable write-off is reassembled, structural repairs, replaced airbags and inner-panel work are hidden. If you can't show them through clear, sequenced images, the assessor has to assume the work wasn't done - and that means a fail.
Get the basics right
- Shoot in good light - daylight or strong workshop lighting
- Hold the camera steady so detail is sharp, not blurred
- Take a wide shot for context, then a close-up for detail
- Include something that identifies the part, such as a label or receipt in frame
- Use the same angles for before and after shots so they line up
Photograph it in the right order
- 1
Before any work
Record the vehicle's damaged state matching the WOVR damage assessment.
- 2
During disassembly
Capture what's revealed once damaged panels and trim are removed.
- 3
Parts in and structural repairs
Show new and recycled parts being fitted and any chassis or rail work.
- 4
After completion
Document the finished result area by area before final reassembly hides it.
Don't start late
The most common photo mistake is beginning only once repairs are underway. With no before images, you can't prove what the original damage was - and that gap alone can cost you the pass.
Safety parts deserve extra attention
Airbags, seatbelt pretensioners and structural sections are the components the assessor cares about most. For each, capture the old part removed, the new part with its identifier, and the new part installed. Pairing those photos with the matching tax invoice creates an evidence chain that's hard to argue with.
Pair photos with receipts
A photo proves the part was fitted; the receipt proves it was lawfully sourced. Presented together, they answer both of the assessor's key questions in one go.
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