Buying an insurance write-off
An insurance write-off is a vehicle an insurer has decided is unsafe or uneconomical to repair after damage, usually following an accident, flood or fire. In the UK, write-offs are graded using salvage categories set out in an industry Code of Practice, which was updated in October 2017.
The four write-off categories
- Category A – the most severe. The entire vehicle must be crushed, including all of its parts. It can never return to the road.
- Category B – the bodyshell must be destroyed, but some undamaged components can be salvaged and sold as parts. The car itself can never legally be driven again.
- Category S (formerly Cat C) – the car suffered structural damage, for example to the chassis or crash structure, but it can be professionally repaired and put back on the road.
- Category N (formerly Cat D) – non-structural damage only, such as cosmetic panels, electrics or lightly damaged components. It can also be repaired and returned to the road.
Should you buy one?
Buying a Cat S or Cat N car is legal and can be a genuine bargain, because write-off history typically reduces a car’s market value significantly. However, we would strongly advise getting any previously written-off vehicle inspected by a professional body or qualified engineer before you buy, because the quality of the repair is everything. Bear in mind that the write-off marker stays on the car’s record permanently, which affects resale value, and some insurers charge more or decline cover altogether. Cat A and Cat B vehicles must never be bought to drive.
A written-off car will not always be advertised as such, so always run a car history check before viewing to see whether a write-off marker is recorded.