Can You Drive Your Vehicle After a Not at Fault Accident?

Many people who are involved in a not at fault accident are unsure about whether their vehicle is drivable immediately following the accident. To be able to drive your vehicle away from the accident scene, you need to make sure it meets the standards for roadworthiness in your state.

What Is A Roadworthy Vs An Unroadworthy Vehicle?

If your vehicle is roadworthy, it means that it is in suitable operating condition and meets the accepted standards for safe driving on the road. If you’ve been involved in a minor accident, your vehicle may still meet the standards for roadworthiness in your state.

However, if your vehicle is unroadworthy, it means that it is not suitable or safe enough to be used on the road. After a more severe car accident, you may not be able to leave the accident scene in your vehicle and will need to arrange a towing service. Remember that it is unlawful to drive an unroadworthy vehicle in Australia.

How To Check If Your Car Is Roadworthy

Under normal circumstances, you would need to obtain a Certificate of Roadworthiness from a licenced vehicle tester. Keep in mind that although Right2Drive is Australia’s leading accident loan car provider, we are not a licenced vehicle tester and are therefore unable to confirm roadworthiness of a vehicle.

However, we are able to advise you on instances when a vehicle may not be considered roadworthy:

• Smashed car windscreen or windows.

• Smashed or broken side mirror.

• Damage to suspension, steering, or braking systems.

• Leaking oil.

• Body flaws (like panel damage) have been sustained.

• Damaged or broken headlights or taillights.

• Seat and seatbelts are damaged.

• Airbags have been deployed.

• Vehicle boot has been damaged and cannot be opened or closed.

• Fumes are entering the vehicle.

• Doors are damaged and they are unable to open or close properly.

• Any other damage that has deemed the vehicle to be considered unsafe to be on the road as a result of the accident.

How Can Right2Drive Assist Me If I Am Roadside And My Vehicle Is Not Safe To Drive?

If you’ve been involved in a car accident and you are the not at fault driver, Right2Drive may be able to assist you if you are eligible. Give our helpful team a call on 1300 361 512 if you are roadside and believe your car may not be drivable after your car accident.

Towing Services

We can assist you with arranging a towing service in accordance with the accident towing regulations in your state. In some states, like Victoria, we can assist by providing guidance on how you can arrange a towing service for yourself.

Booking An Uber

If your vehicle needs to be towed, we can also assist you by booking an Uber to pick you up from the scene of the accident – at no cost to you.

Accident Replacement Vehicle

Right2Drive may be able to provide you with a like-for-like accident replacement vehicle for the entire duration of your repairs and at no cost to you. If your car is not drivable directly following an accident, we may even be able to deliver an accident replacement vehicle to you at the scene of the accident (pending staff availability).

At Right2Drive, we’re here to assist you and make sure you receive what you’re legally entitled to after you’ve been involved in a not at fault accident.