If you’ve got a damaged, unregistered, or barely-running car sitting in the driveway, it’s natural to wonder whether you need to get it inspected before you can legally sell it. In some states, the answer is yes — and it can be an expensive step for a car that’s already on its way to the wreckers. In Western Australia, the rules work differently.
The Short Answer: No, WA Doesn’t Require One
Unlike Victoria, Queensland, the ACT, and the Northern Territory, Western Australia does not require a roadworthy certificate (sometimes called a safety certificate) before a private sale can go ahead. There’s no inspection to book, no mechanic’s sign-off, and no certificate to attach to the paperwork. Under WA’s Department of Transport rules, the responsibility for checking a car’s condition sits with the buyer, not the seller — and that applies whether the car runs perfectly, has accident, flood, or fire damage, or doesn’t run at all. The one thing worth remembering is disclosure: if you’re advertising to a private buyer, describe the car’s condition honestly to avoid disputes later.
What You Actually Need to Do When Selling
Not needing a roadworthy certificate doesn’t mean there’s no paperwork at all. A few things still apply to every sale in WA, damaged or not:
- Lodge a Notification of Disposal. Once the car has sold, you’re required to notify the Department of Transport within 7 days using the seller’s copy of the vehicle transfer form (MR9). This is what removes the car from your name — skip it and you can still be linked to fines or infringements the new owner racks up, and late lodgement can attract a penalty.
- Have valid photo ID ready. Whoever hands over the car needs to be able to prove who they are. It doesn’t have to be the person the car is registered to, but ID is expected as part of a proper handover.
- Sort out any finance first. Money still owing on the car has to be cleared before it can be sold. A quick Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) check will show if there’s finance owing or if the car is recorded as written off.
Number Plates Stay With You
One detail that catches people out: in WA, number plates belong to the licence, not the car. When you sell, the plates come off and stay with you — they don’t transfer with the vehicle the way they do in some other states.
What If the Car Is Written Off, Deregistered, or Barely In One Piece?
This is where a lot of Perth car owners get stuck. A private buyer usually wants something they can drive away and register — not a car with fire damage, a written-off history, or missing panels. That narrows the market considerably, even though nothing about the law stops you from selling it. This is generally where a licensed car removal or wrecking service comes in, since they’re set up to buy exactly what private buyers won’t touch: running or not running, accident-damaged, flood or fire-damaged, deregistered, or already written off. A few categories are off-limits everywhere, though — stolen vehicles, cars still under finance, and bare bodies without a chassis generally can’t be bought or sold until those issues are resolved.
What Actually Affects a Damaged Car’s Value
If you’re trying to work out roughly what a damaged car is worth, a few things matter more than others:
- Make and model. Popular models with parts still in demand are worth more for their salvageable components alone.
- How complete the car is. A car missing its engine or transmission is worth less than one that’s all there, even if neither one runs.
- Extent of the damage. Cosmetic damage affects value less than structural, fire, or flood damage.
- Weight and metal content. Most badly damaged cars are recycled for scrap and parts, so weight and current [CHECK: current scrap metal price] play a part in what a wrecker can offer.
Selling to a Licensed Wrecker vs a Private Sale
For a car in good order, a private sale can fetch a higher price if you’ve got time to advertise and field calls. For a damaged, non-running, or written-off vehicle, that process usually isn’t realistic — which is why most Perth owners in this situation go straight to a car removal service instead.
Cash For Cars Perth is a licensed wrecking yard based at 5 Hantke Place, Welshpool, buying cars, utes, trucks, vans, and 4WDs in any condition across the Perth metro area (the service doesn’t extend to Bunbury or further south). Vehicles are paid up to $9,999 depending on condition, with cash or instant OSKO bank transfer paid before the car leaves your property — not after. Towing is free and same-day, often within 2–3 hours if you call before midday. And yes, the Notification of Disposal requirement still applies whether you sell privately or to a wrecker.
If you’ve got a damaged or unwanted car in Perth and want to know what it’s worth without the hassle of a private sale, call Cash For Cars Perth on 0420 262 651 for a quote, or ask about same-day pickup. The team is open Monday to Saturday, 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM.