FAQs about Unsafe2safe

How do l register for the trial?

Click here to submit an application through the Engage Victoria website.

Before you apply, you need to:

Ensure that you have a myVicRoads Account. If you don't have one, sign up here.
Check the safety rating of your vehicle by visiting howsafeisyourcar.com.au

How do l know if my car is old and unsafe?

You can check the safety rating of your vehicle by visiting howsafeisyourcar.com.au.
You can search for your vehicle by make, model and year of your car or by entering your number plate.

The results will display a Used Car Safety Rating out of 5 stars plus additional details about your car's safety features.

To be eligible to participate, your vehicle must:

Be aged 16 years or older and
have a User Car Safety Rating of 1 or 2 stars or be unrated.

Click here for a video with instructions on how to check a vehicle's safety rating.

What kind of vehicles can be purchased?

The newer, safer vehicle must:

Be aged ten years or less
Have a five-star ANCAP with a date-stamp of no more than six years old, or a Used Car Safety rating of four or five stars.
Have never been registered as a repairable write-off in the Written-Off vehicle register (WOVR)
For drivers with a P-plate driver licence, the replacement vehicle must not be a prohibited vehicle for P-plate drivers
Have a purchase price (including GTS, excluding on-road costs) of no more than $30,000.

Do l need to purchase a new vehicle to get the subsidy?

No, you can purchase either a new or second-hand vehicle from the dealer.

However, it must meet the criteria above and it purchase price must not exceed $30,000.

How will l receive the subsidy?

The subsidy will not be provided directly to the purchaser. It will be deducted from the price of the vehicle paid to the dealer.

After the participant purchases a newer, safer vehicle and the old vehicle is scrapped, the dealer will claim the subsidy back from VicRoads.

What does the subsidy cover?

The subsidy is a fixed amount of $5,000 that you can use to purchase an eligible newer, safer vehicle.

If the vehicle's asking price is above $5,000, you will be responsible for covering the difference.

You will need to pay any additional costs associated with purchasing a vehicle that are not included in the purchase price.

Does the subsidy payment include transfer and registration fees?

No. Participants will need to pay any additional costs associated with purchasing a vehicle, such as motor vehicle duty, transfer fees and registration fees.

Where can l purchase my replacement vehicle?

Participants can only purchase a replacement vehicle from a participating dealership.

If you receive an invitation letter to participate, you will also receive a list of participating dealerships, located all across Victoria.

Why is the trial limited to young people in regional Victoria?

The eligibility criteria were carefully designed according to results of crash data analysis. It ensures that those at most risk of being involved in a serious crash are prioritised to participate.

Young drivers in regional Victoria are over-represented in road trauma.

Recent research has indicated that young regional Victorians driving old, unsafe cars are 15 times more likely to be killed in crashes than the state average. Transitioning them to newer, safer cars will significantly reduce their crash risk.

I have an old vehicle, but l don't live in regional Victoria. Can l participate?

Not at this stage. If you're interested in future opportunities, please visit the Engage Victoria website, and register your details. We will inform you if there are any changes to the conditions of the trial or provide you with other relevant information.

I drive an old car, but it is not registered under my name. Can l participate?

No. The car must be registered under the applicant's name. Vehicles registered under the name of a parent or any other person are not eligible to participate.

If l transfer an old car to my name now, will that make me eligible to participate?

No. The car must have registered under the applicant's name before the Expression of Interest started on 10 August 2022.

Transferring an old car to your name after that date will not make you eligible to participate.

Do l have to re-apply if l have not been selected in this phase of the trial?

No, you do not need to re-apply.

If you have expressed your interest but were not selected to participate in previous phases, you will automatically be considered for future phases of the trial.

However, before each phase, you may need to confirm that you are still interested in participating. You will receive a link where you'll be able to confirm your interest.

FAQs about Unsafe2safe

How do l register for the trial?

Click here to submit an application through the Engage Victoria website.

Before you apply, you need to:

Ensure that you have a myVicRoads Account. If you don't have one, sign up here.
Check the safety rating of your vehicle by visiting howsafeisyourcar.com.au

How do l know if my car is old and unsafe?

You can check the safety rating of your vehicle by visiting howsafeisyourcar.com.au.

You can search for your vehicle by make, model and year of your car or, by entering your number plate.

The results will display a Used Car Safety Rating out of 5 stars plus additional details about your car's safety features.

To be eligible to participate, your vehicle must:

Be aged 16 years or older, and
Have a Used Car Safety Rating of 1 or 2 stars or be unrated.

Click here for a video with instructions on how to check a vehicle's safety rating.

What kind of vehicles can be purchased?

The newer, safer vehicle must:

Be aged ten years or less
Have a five-star ANCAP with a date-stamp of no more than six years old, or a Used Car Safety rating of four or five stars
Have never been registered as a repairable write-off in the Written-Off vehicle register (WOVR)
For drivers with a P-plate driver licence, the replacement vehicle must not be a prohibited vehicle for P-plate drivers
Have a purchase price (including GTS, excluding on-road costs) of no more than $30,000.

Do l need to purchase a new vehicle to get the subsidy?

No, you can purchase either a new or a second-hand vehicle from the dealer.

However, it must meet the criteria above and its purchase price must not exceed $30,000.

How will l receive the subsidy?

What does the subsidy cover?

Does the subsidy payment include transfer and registration fees?

No. Participants will need to pay any additional costs associated with purchasing a vehicle, such as motor vehicle duty, transfer fees and registration fees.

Where can l purchase my replacement vehicle?

Why is the trial limited to young people in regional Victoria?

The eligibility criteria was carefully designed according to results of crash data analysis. It ensures that those at most risk of being involved in a serious crash are prioritised to participate.

Young drivers in regional Victoria are over-represented in road trauma.

Recent research has indicated that young regional Victorians driving old, unsafe cars are 15 times more likely to be killed in crashes than the state average. Transitioning them to newer, safer cars will significantly reduce their crash risk.

I have an old vehicle, but l don't live in regional Victoria. Can l participate?

I drive an old car, but it is not registered under my name. Can l participate?

No. The car must be registered under the applicant's name. Vehicles registered under the name of a parent or any other person are not eligible to participate.

If l transfer an old car to my name now, will that make me eligible to participate?

No. The car must have been registered under the applicant's name before the Expression of Interest started on 10 August 2022.

Transferring an old car to your name after that date will not make you eligible to participate.

Do l have to re-apply if l have not been selected in this phase of the trial?

Cheap Cars Melbourne & Unsafe2safe VicRoads

More information about unsafe2safe VicRoads