When an insurer decides a damaged car isn't worth repairing, or can't be repaired safely, it is written off and given a category. That category stays on the car's record for life, and it matters a lot if you are buying: it affects safety, insurance and what the car is worth.
The current categories (since October 2017)
- Category A – scrap: the whole car must be crushed. No parts can be reused.
- Category B – break: the body shell must be crushed, but some parts can be salvaged. The car must never return to the road.
- Category S – structural: the structure or chassis was damaged (for example a bent chassis or crumple zone). It can be professionally repaired and return to the road.
- Category N – non-structural: the damage didn't affect the structure (for example cosmetic, electrical or trim damage). It can be repaired and return to the road.
The old categories: Cat C and Cat D
Cars written off before October 2017 may show the old categories. These were based on repair cost, not the type of damage:
- Category C: the repair would have cost more than the car was worth.
- Category D: the repair would have cost less than the car was worth, but the insurer chose not to repair it.
So an old Cat C car may have had minor damage on a low-value car, while a Cat D car could have had serious damage. Treat both with the same care as Cat S and Cat N.
Is it safe to buy a Cat S or Cat N car?
It can be, if the repair was done properly. Many repaired write-offs are sound cars sold at a lower price. The risk is a cheap, hidden repair. Before you buy:
- Ask for photos of the damage and invoices for the repair, ideally from a recognised body shop.
- Pay for an independent inspection, especially on a Cat S car. Ask the inspector to check panel gaps, paint depth, welding and airbags.
- Check the price reflects the write-off. A repaired write-off is usually worth noticeably less than the same car without one, and it will be when you sell it too.
- Get an insurance quote first. Some insurers charge more for write-offs and a few won't cover them.
You must tell your insurer
If you buy a repaired write-off, tell your insurer about the category. If you don't, a claim could be refused because the policy was based on wrong information.
How to find out if a car is a write-off
A seller should tell you, but not all do, and some don't know. A written-off car check shows any insurance write-off record, its category and the date. It's part of every full history report, alongside finance, theft and mileage. Check the salvage auction records too: a car that went through a salvage auction was usually damaged, even if the record is old. A car recorded as scrapped is different again: it should never be for sale at all.
Key points
- Cat A and B cars must never return to the road. Cat S and N cars can, once repaired.
- Old Cat C and D categories were about cost, not how bad the damage was.
- Get repair evidence, an inspection and an insurance quote before buying a repaired write-off. Read more on what a car history check covers.
Many buyers search for a written off check or a car damage history check when they want to know this. Our write-off check shows whether an insurer has recorded the car as Cat S, N, C or D, with the loss date and cause of damage where supplied, so you can check salvage history before you agree a price.