Austroads is seeking responses from appropriately experienced service providers to review and update the damage assessment criteria in two separate guides: the light vehicle statutory write-off guide (light vehicle guide) and the heavy vehicle statutory write-off guide (heavy vehicle guide).

The review process will involve engaging with Austroads members and industry stakeholders to ensure the guides remain consistent, accurate, and technically relevant in light of technological advancements.

The primary aim of this project is to improve the accuracy, comprehensiveness, and consistency of the damage criteria used to assess vehicles. These criteria are intended to consistently identify vehicles that should not be repaired for safety reasons, classifying them as suitable only for dismantling or scrap. The overall purpose is to ensure the criteria in both guides remain up-to-date and relevant for vehicle classification.

Objectives:

The objectives of the project are to:

• Improve the accuracy, comprehensiveness and consistency of damage criteria in the guides.
• Limit inconsistencies between the light vehicle and heavy vehicle guides to assist those assessing vehicles for addition to Written-Off Vehicle Registers (WOVR).
• Consider whether combining the guides is practical, would aid consistency in assessments and enhance the safety of vehicles.
• Include new technologies in the guides.
• Improve confidence in the WOVR scheme by members regulating vehicle safety.

Scope:

The project will engage with Austroads members and consult industry stakeholders to:

• Review both the light vehicle and heavy vehicle guides for consistency and relevance.
• Identify the extent to which the damage points and criteria in the guides correlate with safety risks from re-registered written-off vehicles and address gaps and inconsistencies with updated guidance.
• Consider whether the guides can be consolidated into one document.
• Consult relevant industry stakeholders on the review and any updated version of guides including early engagement with peak industry stakeholders in the review period.
• Prepare updated guide text and a guide update report for the Austroads Registration and Licensing Task Force.

Deliverables:

This project will produce the following deliverables:

• A guide update report for the Registration and Licensing Task Force, including potential actions to enhance full adoption of the guide(s) to ensure heavy vehicles are included in the WOVR in all jurisdictions.
• Updated guide text and communication material for members on the changed guide(s).
• Webinar and associated presentation.
• Project Data Management Plan.
• Detailed Project Plan and Engagement Plan.