written-off cars put back on road

An investigation involving the Garda, the Department of Transport, the Revenue Commissioners and the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has been launched into a claim that cars classed as total write-offs and unfit to drive again following road crashes have been put back on the road.

The RSA received a report from an online company, Cartell.ie, in July showing that cars were not only on the road again after being totally written-off in crashes, but some vehicles classed as total write-offs have been re-taxed by new owners and have even passed the National Car Test (NCT).

Insurers class vehicles that have been damaged beyond repair as total write-offs. This is different to vehicles written-off by insurers as being beyond economic repair - where the cost of fixing the vehicle is higher than the value of the car or not viable. Total write-offs are vehicles that should not be driven again for safety reasons.

RSA chief executive Noel Brett said: "The RSA has been made aware of a potential issue with total write-offs and we are examining it, and until we have concluded the examination, it would be inappropriate to comment."

A spokeswoman for the department said it had also been made aware of the issue and was examining the matter with the RSA, Revenue and the Garda.