When buying a used car, a clear vehicle history check UK is your essential defence against hidden, irreparable damage. One of the most critical elements of this report is the permanent Insurance Write Off Category. If a vehicle has been written off, it means an insurer deemed the cost of repair to be greater than the car’s market value.
The rules governing this classification are set out in the UK’s Code of Practice for the Categorisation of Motor Vehicle Salvage, which is supported by the government. You can view the official classifications on the GOV.UK Vehicle Salvage Categories page.
Understanding the difference between the four major categories A, B, S, and N is crucial. Buying the wrong category car can leave you with a dangerous vehicle that is difficult, expensive, or even illegal to insure and sell on.This guide provides the definitive breakdown of these categories and confirms why a comprehensive vehicle history check is non negotiable before purchase.
The Categories Explained: What Does the Letter Stand For?
The current UK categorisation system was updated in October 2017, replacing the old Categories C and D with S and N, respectively. These four letters define the severity of the damage and, more importantly, whether the car can ever legally return to the road. Rapid Car Check instantly flags which category a vehicle falls into, based on the records held by the DVLA.
Category A: Scrap Only (The Legal Death Sentence)
- Meaning: The vehicle has suffered severe damage, often due to fire or flooding, that makes it unsafe and completely irreparable.
- Action: Must never return to the road. The entire vehicle, including all reusable parts, must be crushed and recycled immediately.
- Buyer’s Note: If you see a vehicle listed for sale with a Category A marker, it is illegal, and the seller is attempting a serious criminal fraud. Your vehicle history check will flag this instantly, and you must report the seller.
Category B: Break for Parts (The Structural Death Sentence)
- Meaning: The vehicle has sustained serious damage, typically to the structural frame or chassis, making it unsafe to repair and use again on the road. The safety cage has been compromised.
- Action: The body shell and structural frame must be destroyed. Non structural parts (e.g., engine, gearbox, clean interior components) may be legally salvaged and sold for use in other vehicles.
- Buyer’s Note: Like Category A, a Category B car must not return to the road. If you find a Category B car for sale as a functional vehicle, the sale is illegal and highly dangerous.
Category S: Structurally Damaged Repairable (The Modern Cat C)
- Meaning: The vehicle has sustained structural damage to the chassis, frame, or safety cage, but the damage is deemed repairable to the manufacturer’s specifications by a competent professional.
- Action: Requires professional repair. In England and Wales, the mandatory post repair inspection has largely been removed, placing the entire burden of verifying safety and quality onto the buyer.
- Buyer’s Note: A Cat S vehicle will always be worth significantly less than a clear history car. You must demand full documentation and photographs of the structural repair process. Always assume higher insurance premiums and be prepared for potential difficulty selling it on later.
Category N: Non Structural Damaged Repairable (The Modern Cat D)
- Meaning: The vehicle has sustained non structural damage, meaning the chassis and structural frame are undamaged. The repair costs exceeded the insurance payout threshold, but the damage is cosmetic or related to non structural mechanical or electrical components (e.g., panel damage, major electrical fault, minor flood damage).
- Action: Requires repair. Since the structure is untouched, these are generally the safest write offs to buy.
- Buyer’s Note: Cat N vehicles often represent a good bargain. The cost of repair exceeded the market value, but the underlying safety remains intact. Thoroughly inspect the repaired areas to ensure the electrical systems are sound, especially if the write off was due to flood damage.
Key Considerations for Buyers of Write Offs
A vehicle history check UK needs to be followed up with diligent physical inspection, particularly for Cat S and Cat N cars. Rapid Car Check instantly pulls this permanent marker from the database, giving you the immediate ability to negotiate or walk away.
1. Insurance and Valuation Impact
The Cat S or Cat N marker is permanent and will always be attached to the vehicle’s history. When you insure the vehicle, you must declare this marker.
- Premium: Many insurers will offer cover, but some may refuse, and the premium may be higher.
- Valuation: In the event of a future claim (even if not your fault), the valuation of the car will be significantly reduced often by 20 per cent to 50 per cent because of the write off history. This means your financial loss is higher if the car is written off again.
2. Proof of Professional Repair
If you are buying a Cat S or Cat N vehicle, you must obtain definitive evidence of the repair quality:
- Documentation:Â Demand receipts for all new parts used and full documentation of the repair labour.
- Visual Proof: Ask for photographs of the car before the repair work began. This helps verify the extent of the original damage.
Without proof that the repair was carried out by a professional, you are gambling with the car’s safety and future insurance viability.
3. The Fraudulent Sale Trap
Be extremely wary of any seller who “forgot” to mention a write off marker. This is a clear indicator of a seller attempting to deceive you into paying full market price. Your vehicle history check is the only objective, third party evidence you have to counter their claims. Do not risk your safety or your investment on a verbal assurance.
