Media Release

THOUSANDS of cars damaged in the freak hailstorm that lashed Melbourne last month have been ordered off the road because of a VicRoads technicality that makes them illegal to drive.

The state government agency is refusing to issue roadworthy certificates for many standard cars, but giving prestige vehicle owners the green light to keep vehicles with identical damage on the road.

The rule has seen drivers with cars such as a $6000 Holden Commodore unable to get a roadworthy or re-insure their vehicle, but owners of $100,000 Toyota Land Cruisers with similar damage able to drive.

The problem was so widespread that motorists and the State Opposition have urged the Brumby Government to introduce emergency legislation to allow hail-damaged, but structurally sound vehicles, to remain registered.

The situation has arisen because insurance companies have declared many mainstream cars write-offs, despite being in perfect working order apart from the hail damage, because the repair bill would be higher than its market value.

Eastern suburbs retiree Charlie Blackburn said VicRoads refused to grant a roadworthy to his wife's car despite it having a few bonnet dents.

``We couldn't get it back on the road even though there was barely anything wrong with it,'' he said.

``You can drive around in a rotten old rust bucket and that's fine, but just because it has a dent in it you can't put it on the road.''

University student Cathryn Mann has decided to keep driving her hail-damaged car rather than risk having it written off by insurers or VicRoads.

``I didn't want to be in a position where I didn't have a car, because I need it to get to uni,'' she said.

``I've got friends who had to sell theirs to their insurer and ended up not having enough money to buy another car.''

Shadow cabinet secretary David Hodgett said the problem needed to be urgently addressed.

``It's an absurd situation,'' he said.