Car Write-Off Categories in NZ, Explained

A car is "written off" when an insurer decides it's not worth repairing, or when damage is severe enough that it shouldn't return to the road. The label matters because it affects whether the car can be re-registered — and what it's worth. (General overview — check the vehicle's status with NZTA Waka Kotahi.)

The common situations

• Uneconomical repair (insurance write-off). The repair cost is more than the car's value, so the insurer pays out and takes the wreck. Mechanically the car might be fixable, but it's not worth it. These still have strong parts and metal value.
• Repairable damaged vehicle. Damaged but able to be repaired and re-certified to return to the road. If you don't want to go through that, scrapping is the simpler path.
• Statutory / non-repairable write-off. Damage so severe (heavy structural, fire or flood) that the vehicle is flagged as unable to be re-registered for road use. These go to recycling — and still have real value in parts and metal.

Can you still sell a written-off car?

Yes. Whatever the category, you can sell it to a buyer who recycles or dismantles it. Write-off status doesn't reduce a car to nothing — engines, panels, glass, wheels and the metal itself all retain value. We buy written-off cars, flood-damaged cars and accident-damaged cars across NZ.

What it's worth

A written-off car is valued the same way as any scrap car — parts demand plus recoverable metal. A late-model write-off with good panels and a sound engine can be worth a surprising amount. Use our value calculator for an indicative range.

Frequently asked questions