If you’ve got an old car sitting in the driveway with a dead engine, a cracked windscreen, or panel damage from a prang, you might assume you need to get it fixed up and certified before anyone will take it off your hands. In Western Australia, that’s not the case.
The Short Answer: No Roadworthy Certificate Required in WA
Western Australia does not require a roadworthy certificate (sometimes called a safety certificate) for a private car sale. This is one of the key differences between WA and states like Victoria and Queensland, where a certified inspection is often mandatory before a registered vehicle can legally change hands.
In WA, the responsibility for checking a vehicle’s mechanical condition sits with the buyer, not the seller. Your main legal obligation is completing the ownership transfer paperwork correctly — not proving the car runs or passes a safety check.
Don’t Confuse This With the Five-Year Vehicle Examination
One WA rule that catches people out: vehicles over five years old generally need to pass a vehicle examination when their registration is renewed. That’s a separate requirement tied to keeping a car on the road — it has nothing to do with selling. You can sell a car with a lapsed inspection, expired registration, or no registration at all.
What You Still Need to Do When Selling
Just because a roadworthy certificate isn’t required doesn’t mean there’s no paperwork at all. A few things are worth getting right:
- Lodge a Notification of Disposal. After the sale, notify the WA Department of Transport that you’ve disposed of the vehicle. This protects you from being linked to fines or liability for anything that happens with the car after it’s no longer yours.
- Keep your number plates. In WA, plates stay with the seller, not the vehicle. Don’t hand them over as part of the sale.
- Be upfront about the car’s condition. There’s no legal requirement to certify roadworthiness, but honesty about known faults — a blown head gasket, flood damage, a written-off status — avoids disputes later.
- Have valid photo ID ready. You don’t need to be the registered owner to sell on someone’s behalf, but you do need to be able to identify yourself.
What If the Car Isn’t Roadworthy at All?
This is where a lot of Perth car owners get stuck. If a vehicle won’t start, has been in a serious accident, or has fire or flood damage, selling it privately can be difficult — most everyday buyers want something they can drive away. Since WA doesn’t require a roadworthy certificate to sell, none of that stops you from selling the car. It just changes who’s likely to buy it.
Licensed car removal and wrecking businesses exist for this situation. They buy vehicles for parts and scrap metal, so the condition of the engine, panels, or interior isn’t the deciding factor it would be for a private buyer. Before buying, a reputable buyer will typically check the vehicle isn’t stolen and doesn’t have money owing on it, usually via the Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) — worth doing yourself too if you’re unsure of a car’s history.
Vehicles That Are Generally Off the Table
- Stolen vehicles
- Cars still under finance
- Bodies without a chassis
Outside of those, most running or non-running cars, utes, vans, trucks and 4WDs can still be sold, deregistered or not.
What Affects the Value of a Non-Roadworthy Car
When a car isn’t going to be resold as a working vehicle, its value comes down to different factors than a typical used-car sale:
- Weight and metal content. Heavier vehicles like utes, vans, and 4WDs generally yield more scrap value than small hatchbacks.
- Completeness. A car with its engine, transmission, and catalytic converter intact is worth more than one already stripped for parts.
- Make and model demand. Popular models tend to have stronger demand for used parts, which can lift the price.
- Extent of damage. A total write-off is valued differently from a car that’s simply old or has a single mechanical fault.
- Current scrap metal prices. These fluctuate over time, which is why it’s worth getting a fresh quote online rather than relying on an old figure.
Selling to a Licensed Wrecker in Perth
Cash For Cars Perth operates a licensed wrecking yard at 5 Hantke Place, Welshpool, and buys cars, utes, trucks, vans and 4WDs across the Perth metro area in any condition — running, non-running, accident-damaged, or written off. No roadworthy certificate is needed, and no repairs are expected before the sale.
The process is straightforward: call for a quote, and if you accept, free same-day towing can usually be arranged, often within two to three hours if you call before midday. Payment is made in cash or by instant OSKO bank transfer before the car leaves your property. Note the service covers Perth metro only — it doesn’t extend to Bunbury or further south.
Ready to Sell?
If you’ve got a car in Perth that’s not roadworthy, you don’t need to fix it up or chase down a certificate first. Call Cash For Cars Perth on 0420 262 651 for a free quote, or get in touch to arrange same-day removal. Open Monday to Saturday, 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM.