What is a Cat A, Cat B, Cat S or Cat N write-off car?

In simple terms, a vehicle may be written-off when it has suffered accident damage and is either unsafe to return to the road or it has been damaged to the extent that it will cost more to repair than the vehicle is worth in the current market. In the insurance industry, the latter is known as being ‘beyond economic repair’ (or BER for short.)

The insurance company will often appoint a vehicle assessor to calculate the cost to repair the damage. If the predicted cost comes to more than 60% of the car’s value, then the insurance company will deem this uneconomical to repair and categorise the vehicle based on the extent of the damage.

These categories are A, B, S and N, which replace the old A, B, C and D categories. The switch happened in 2017 after a review by the ABI (Association of British Insurers). The main difference is that the new system puts a greater focus on highlighting any structural issues that affect could affect the safety of a vehicle.

Here’s a breakdown of the four A, B, S and N write-off categories and what they tell you about the damage a car has suffered.

Category A write-offs

Category A write-offs are vehicles that have suffered severe structural damage. They can’t be repaired. The car’s chassis and/or bodyshell (the components that give a car its strength in a crash) may have been heavily damaged in an accident, or it may have been burnt-out in a fire. Whatever’s left of the car must be scrapped and a certificate of destruction issued after the car has been destroyed. You can’t even take the gearknob off it.

Category B write-offs

Category B write-offs have suffered severe damage that can’t be repaired. The remains of the car can be stripped for parts for use on other vehicles, but the chassis and/or bodyshell must be scrapped because this may have suffered serious or irreperable damage.

Category S write-off (formerly CAT C)

Cat S write-offs have suffered damage to structural areas of the vehicle such as the chassis or crumple zones. A Category S car can be repaired and put back to a roadworthy condition and used on the road again. However, the car must pass an inspection by an accredited engineer and be re-registered with the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency). Depending on what parts have been used to carry out repairs, the DVLA may issue a new registration number for the car. If so, this will start with the letter ‘Q’.

Category N write-offs

Category N write-offs are vehicles that have suffered non-structural damage and can be repaired to a roadworthy condition and put back into use. The term ‘non-structural’ covers a lot of ground these days and could include the bumpers and roof panel, not to mention the electrics, the engine and the seats. A CAT N car doesn’t need to pass an inspection or be re-registered before it is returned to the road.

What about Cat C and D?

Categories S and N replaced categories C and D respectively in 2017. The precise wording of the definitions has changed slightly, but what can be done with a Cat S or N write-off hasn’t changed from the old Cat C and D rules.

The change was made to better reflect the materials and construction methods used in modern cars, as well as to put greater emphasis on the damage that could affect the safety of a car rather than the cost of repairs.

Dealing with the DVLA

The DVLA must be told if your car has been declared a Cat S write-off. You’ll receive a new V5C (vehicle log book) marked to show that the car has been written off. This protects car buyers against unwittingly buying a car that was previously a write-off. You don’t need to contact the DVLA yourself – your insurer should handle this. Make sure you get the new V5C, though.

Likewise, your insurer will notify the DVLA if your car is being scrapped or sold for spares. In either case, you’ll receive confirmation from the DVLA that you’re no longer responsible for the car. If you don’t, chase it up with your insurer.

I’m not happy with the repairs to my car

If you are not satisfied with the repairs to your car, you should inform your insurer immediately, regardless of the extent of the work. Poor repairs could affect your car’s used value (putting your wallet at risk) or its safety (potentially putting your life on the line).

Inspect the repairs carefully as soon as the car is returned and itemise any problems. If you’re not confident doing this yourself, the AA and RAC offer inspection services. Inform them of the work that’s been carried out when booking so the engineer knows what to look for. You’ll receive a report detailing any problems which should be submitted to your insurer who will arrange for any rectification work to be carried out. Repeat the process until you’re happy.

In extreme cases of poor repairs or multiple rounds of rectification work, you’re within your rights to reject the car outright. Different insurers have different policies to deal with the situation but you’re likely to be offered a cash sum equivalent to the market value of the car, or a direct replacement.

Is it alright to buy a repaired write-off?

Having been written off reduces a car’s used value. They can look temptingly cheap, but you need to do your homework and keep your eyes open. In the first instance, as when buying any used car, use an online service such as HPI to check the car’s history.

It’s vital that you ascertain which parts of the car were replaced and/or repaired. The car should come with an engineer’s report, schedule of work, itemised bill or before and after photos showing what was done. If it doesn’t, arrange for the car to be inspected by the AA or RAC, making sure to inform them that the car has been written off and repaired, so the engineer knows what to look for. A report will be issued that should identify what work has been carried out and, crucially, the standard of that work.

Just because the car has been repaired to roadworthy condition doesn’t mean it has been repaired to factory standard. Badly fitted parts, misaligned panels and poorly applied paint are usually easy to spot, but there could be other errors and bodges that only an expert eye will see. This is particularly important when buying a Cat S or C write-off that’s had structural repairs. The repairs may have been deemed safe, but they could affect how the car drives or even compromise its ability to absorb further impacts, potentially putting the occupants’ lives at risk in a future crash.

If you find a write-off that’s been repaired properly, you could get a real bargain. But if you’re even slightly unsure, you should walk away. It’s not worth potentially risking your life to save a few hundred quid.

Can I insure a write-off?

You must inform your insurance provider if your car has previously been written off. Not all providers will cover a write-off, essentially because they don’t know how good the repairs were and, if future repairs are needed, they may reveal a mess of bodges that need rectifying. It’s understandable that some insurers don’t want to take on this risk.

Insurers that will cover a write-off may request an engineer’s report and will almost certainly charge more than they would for an equivalent car that hasn’t been written-off. Don’t forget that, if you’re the one who caused the damage that wrote the car off, you must inform your insurer.

How can I check if a car has been written-off?

When buying any used car, it’s important to check the history of the vehicle. A detailed vehicle HPI check will provide information on whether or not a car has been previously registered or categorised as an insurance write-off. It’s important to check this because it will affect the overall value of the car. After all, you don’t want to pay over the market value for a car that was previously involved in a road traffic accident…

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