Do You Need a Roadworthy Certificate to Sell a Damaged Car in WA?
No, you don’t need a roadworthy certificate to sell a damaged car in WA. Western Australia doesn’t require private sellers to get a roadworthiness check before a sale. That applies whether your car has a scratched bumper or a crumpled front end.
You may have heard of a roadworthy certificate (RWC) in Victoria or a safety certificate in Queensland. WA doesn’t require either one for a private sale.
What matters more is your car’s official status. A vehicle recorded as a statutory write off can never be licensed in WA again, so it can only be sold for parts or scrap. You also still have transfer paperwork and number plates to deal with.
At Spare Car Removal, we’ve spent more than six years buying unwanted and damaged vehicles across Perth. Sellers ask us the same questions again and again, so this guide covers the rules, the write off categories, the paperwork and the selling options that actually work.
Can You Sell a Damaged Car Without a Roadworthy in WA?
Yes. WA Consumer Protection confirms tha private sellers are not legally required to do a roadworthiness check before selling. Some sellers get one anyway because it can help a car sell faster. For a damaged car, though, it rarely makes sense, because the car would fail.
You can sell a damaged car to a private buyer, a dealer or a wrecker. A few things are worth knowing before you list it:
- No roadworthy doesn’t mean safe to drive. If the car has a defect notice (yellow sticker), it can’t legally be driven after the notice expires.
- Unlicensed cars and cars that don’t run need towing. Don’t drive them to the buyer. Arrange transport instead.
- Be upfront about damage. Mention known faults, warning lights, deployed airbags and accident history in your ad. Honest descriptions lead to fewer disputes and faster sales.
- Private sales carry less protection. The Australian Consumer Law doesn’t apply to private sales, so both sides should put everything in writing.
What If Your Car Has Been Written Off?
This is where the rules get stricter. Not every damaged car is a write-off. A car only becomes one when an assessor, usually from your insurer, notifies the Written Off Vehicle Register (WOVR).
WA uses two categories:
→ Repairable write-off: The car can be repaired, inspected by an approved Written Off Vehicle (WOV) business, passed at an Authorised Inspection Station and then relicensed.
→ Statutory write off: The damage is too severe. Under Transport WA’s written off vehicle rules, these cars can never be licensed in Western Australia. They’re sold for parts or scrap metal only.
Flood, fire or collision damage doesn’t tell you which category applies. Only the official record does. Run a PPSR check with the car’s VIN or chassis number before you agree to anything, because the category decides who can legally buy the car and what they can do with it.
Quick Guide: How Your Car’s Status Changes the Sale
| Your car’s situation | Roadworthy needed to sell? | What actually affects the sale |
| Licensed, damaged but driveable | No | You must notify DTMI within 7 days. Private buyers will often want a mechanical inspection first. |
| Licence expired more than 15 days ago | No | The buyer must pass an inspection before relicensing, so the car should be towed. |
| Yellow sticker (defect notice) | No | The car can’t be driven after the notice expires. The buyer takes on the repairs and a full inspection. |
| Repairable write off | No | The buyer also needs an approved immobiliser and a WOV inspection, and the write off history stays on the PPSR permanently. |
| Statutory write off | No | It can only be sold for parts or scrap, and the plates must be returned within 28 days. |
What Paperwork Do You Need to Sell an Accident Damaged Vehicle in WA?
Even without a roadworthy, you still need the right documents. Have these ready before a buyer turns up:
- Photo ID and proof of ownership, such as licence papers or your purchase receipt
- Vehicle details, including make, model, VIN, engine number and plate number
- A written receipt showing the sale price, date and buyer’s details
- Finance details, if money is still owing on the car
If the car is still licensed, Transport WA requires sellers to notify DTMI within 7 days. You can do this online through DoTDirect or with the MR9 Notification of Change of Ownership form. If you skip this step, fines and parking infringements incurred by the new owner can still land in your name.
If you’re selling to a wrecker, the requirements differ slightly. We’ve put together a checklist of the documents you need so you can prepare everything in one go.
Do Number Plates Stay With the Car When You Sell It in WA?
It depends on your plate type and the car’s status.
- Standard plates stay with the car and are handled through the normal licence transfer.
- Personalised plates transfer to the buyer if you leave them on, and you lose the right to them. To keep them, remove them before the sale and get ordinary plates for the car.
- Optional plates must be exchanged at a DTMI service centre or regional agent before the sale if you want to keep them.
- Written-off vehicles have their licence cancelled, and the plates must be returned within 28 days.
- Scrapping the car? Return the plates to DTMI, and you may be able to claim a pro rata refund of your unused licence fees.
Don’t hand over a car with personalised plates still attached. Once the transfer goes through, they’re gone.
Your Options for Selling a Smashed or Non Running Car
1. Sell privately
This works for cars with cosmetic or minor mechanical damage. Expect buyers to inspect closely and haggle hard. Make sure the payment has fully cleared before you hand over the keys, because fake payment scams are common with private car sales.
2. Repair before selling
This only pays off when the repair bill is small compared with the car’s value. Repairs won’t remove an existing write off record. If you’re unsure, our breakdown on whether it’s worth repairing or selling your car can help you run the numbers.
3. Sell to a wrecker or removal company
This is often the quickest option for accident-damaged vehicles, cars that won’t start and statutory write-offs. Even a badly damaged car still has value in its reusable parts and scrap metal. Our professional car wreckers dismantle vehicles and salvage quality parts, so a car that no private buyer wants can still be worth money to us.
If your car has collision, flood or mechanical damage, see how our cash for damaged cars offer works across Perth.
Turn Your Damaged Vehicle Into Cash With Spare Car Removal
You don’t need a roadworthy to sell your damaged car in WA. The car’s write-off status, your paperwork and safe transport are the parts that still matter.
At Spare Car Removal, we take that stress off your hands. We buy cars, utes, vans and trucks of all makes and models in any condition. Call us for a no-obligation cash offer and a fair vehicle valuation.
We arrange free towing, often with same-day removal, and we pay cash on the spot once the pickup is done.
We’re based in Maddington and serve all areas of Perth. Ready to move on from your damaged vehicle? Tell us about your car and book a pickup through our car removal service.
FAQs
Can you sell an unregistered damaged car in WA?
Yes. Unlicensed cars can be sold legally. If the licence expired more than 15 days ago, the buyer needs an inspection before relicensing, so the car should be towed.
Can you sell a car with a yellow sticker in WA?
Yes. However, the sticker can’t legally be removed until the defects are fixed and the car passes a full inspection. The car also can’t be driven after the notice expires.
Do you get a rego refund when scrapping a car in WA?
Usually, yes. Return your plates to a DTMI service centre or regional agent and apply for a pro rata refund. The refund applies from the date the plates are returned.
Can you sell a damaged car with finance owing in WA?
You’ll need to pay out the loan before selling. A $2 PPSR check shows whether finance is recorded against the car, and most buyers will run one.
Does a repairable write off stay on a car’s history in WA?
Yes. Even after repairs, inspections and relicensing, the repairable write off record stays on file and remains visible on a PPSR check.