The four categories
Cat S and Cat N cars can be repaired and driven again. Cat S means structural damage, and Cat N means non-structural damage. Once repaired, either can be driven legally. The owner must tell their insurer, so ask the seller if they have.
Cat A and Cat B cars can never return to the road. Cat A cars are scrapped. Cat B cars are broken for parts, and their body shells are crushed. If a check shows either, walk away and don't pay for a repair that can't happen.
Older cars may still carry the old codes. Before October 2017, Cat C meant the repair cost more than the car was worth. Cat D was the other old code. Check any car's history with our write-off check before you pay.
Buying a Cat S or Cat N car
A Cat S or Cat N car can be a fair buy if you know what you're getting. Both have been written off by an insurer and then repaired, so they can be driven legally. Cat S means structural damage; Cat N means non-structural damage. These cars usually sell for less than the same model with a clean history, and that lower price is what makes them worth a look. Check the category before you view, with a write-off check.
Before you hand over any money, get the car inspected and check: - Match the VIN on the windscreen, door pillar and V5C. - Read the MOT history for past failures and advisories. - Check tyres (legal minimum 1.6mm) and brake pads (fail below 1.5mm).
If the car is repaired Cat S or Cat N, you must tell your insurer. Ask them how they'll treat it before you commit, so the cover isn't a surprise. Ask the seller for the repair paperwork too. For anything personal, check with your insurer or Citizens Advice.
How to find out if a car is a write-off
Run a Full Check before you pay. For £9.99 it shows write-off records, including the category and the date each one was recorded. Details are on our write-off check page.
Ask the seller directly whether the car has ever been written off or declared to an insurer as damaged. Get the answer in writing if you can, and compare it with the record. Make sure the VIN on the car, on the windscreen or door pillar, matches the V5C, and that the name and address on the V5C match the seller's ID.
- Cat A or B: never back on the road. Walk away.
- Cat S or N: repairable, and can be driven legally again. Ask for proof of the repair, and check the owner told their insurer.
If the seller's answer and the record don't match, don't buy the car.