A written-off car is one an insurer decided was not worth repairing. Some can be repaired and sold on, and the logbook does not always say so. Knowing the four categories, and checking for them before you pay, protects you from paying clean-car prices for a car with a history.
What the categories mean
The current system was introduced in 2017 by the Association of British Insurers. According to What Car?, the four categories are:
| Category | What it means | Can it return to the road? |
| Cat A | Most severely damaged. Must be crushed, with no parts reused | No |
| Cat B | Too damaged to repair. Some parts may be recycled, then the bodyshell is crushed | No |
| Cat S | Structural damage, such as a bent chassis or collapsed crumple zone | Yes, after professional repair and inspection |
| Cat N | Non-structural damage, such as cosmetic panels or mechanical or electrical faults | Yes, after repair |
Cat A and Cat B cars should never be sold as roadworthy. Cat S and Cat N cars legitimately return to sale, and that is where the problems start.
Why this catches people out
A repaired Cat S or Cat N car can look flawless. The logbook for a Cat S car is replaced and marked, but for a Cat N car, the DVLA is told, yet the logbook does not show the status, so a history check is the way to find out. Insurers also do not have to explain how a car came to be written off.
A seller may not mention it, may not know it, or may hope you will not ask.
Why it matters
A write-off history can mean:
None of this means you should never buy one. It means you should know before you do, and the price should reflect it.
How to check
- Run a vehicle history check that covers write-off status. Insurers record write-offs, so a Full Check can show whether a car has been recorded in a category and which one. What a vehicle history check shows, and what it can't explains what each level covers.
- Ask the seller directly what was damaged, what was replaced and where the repairs were done. Ask for invoices.
- Look for signs of repair. Uneven panel gaps, mismatched paint shades, overspray on rubber seals and repair marks near seams.
- Consider an independent inspection. What Car? puts one at around £200 or more, and a good inspector may spot damage you would miss.
- Tell your insurer the car's category before you buy.
If the check shows a write-off
Decide with open eyes. Ask what the damage was, review the repair evidence, get it inspected, and make sure the price reflects the history. If the seller did not tell you, ask why. A seller who hid it has already shown you something. If finance is also showing, read what happens if you buy a car with outstanding finance before you go any further.
What a check cannot tell you
A write-off record exists only if an insurer recorded the loss. A car damaged and repaired privately, with no insurance claim, will not appear. That is why a check works alongside a careful viewing, not instead of one.
Common questions
Is it legal to sell a repaired write-off?
Cat S and Cat N cars can legitimately be repaired and sold. Hiding the history from a buyer can make a sale misleading, so ask about it directly and get the answer in writing.
What happened to Cat C and Cat D?
The 2017 system replaced the older categories, so a car written off before then may carry an old category. A history check should show what is recorded.
Is a repaired Cat S car safe?
It can be if the structural repair was done properly, but it is the category where an independent inspection matters most.
Will it cost more to insure?
It can, and some insurers may decline. Get quotes before you buy, and tell the insurer the category.
Check before you pay
A Full Check at vinfo.app shows write-off status alongside outstanding finance, stolen status, keeper history and a valuation, with credits bought online as one-off payments and no subscription. Start with the free SMART check to confirm the car's details and MOT history first, and look at the advisories for any sign of structural repair or corrosion.
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