How to check if a car is Cat A, Cat B, Cat S or Cat N Write-off?

What is cat S write off car?

Category S – Cat S, for short “Structural” – is a description used by insurance companies to describe the level of damage to a vehicle they have written off.

A Cat S write-off vehicle has sustained some sort of structural damage, this can be through a bent or twisted chassis, damage to the crumple zone or issues with vital parts of the car. A Category S car can be repaired and put back to a roadworthy condition and used on the road again. Cat S refers to vehicles with damage after 2017, if this type of damage occurred before then, it would be classed as a Cat C on the documentation.

What is cat N write off car?

Category N – Cat N, for short “Non – Structural” is a description used by insurance companies to describe the level of damage to a vehicle they have written off.

A Cat N write-off vehicle has suffered some damage, probably in an accident, but not to its structural frame or chassis. There may still be some safety critical items that require replacement (e.g. steering and suspension parts). Cat N refers to cars with damage after 2017, if the damage occurred before then, it would be classed as Cat D.

Is it alright to buy a repaired write-off?

If you have an N or S vehicle that’s been professionally repaired it should be fine to buy, and you might even make a saving. Having been written off reduces a car’s used value. They can look temptingly cheap, but you need to do your homework and do your research. Use an online service such as Full Car Checks to get the cars full history including full write off detail and salvage history listing.