When it comes to buying a new car, knowing about the history of your new wheels is key. One of the things to check is whether the car has been written off in the past. As part of your checks, you might come across different classifications of write-offs, like Cat S and Cat N, but are not sure what they mean. We've broken down each classification so that you know what to look out for when purchasing your next car.
👉 What is an insurance write-off?
👉 What are the different insurance write-off categories?
👉 What is Cat S?
👉 What is Cat N?
👉 What are the differences between Cat N and Cat S?
👉 Should I buy a car that's previously been written off?
👉 Conclusion
👉 Cat S and Cat N FAQs
An insurance write-off is when a car is damaged to a point where it is either no longer roadworthy or repairing it makes no financial sense. In a write-off, your insurance company will pay you the current value of the car instead of repairing it. In order to know how serious the write-off is, your car will be assigned to a specific category. We’ve taken a look at each below.
There are six write-off categories, all varying in how damaged your car is. Let’s break down each category.
A Cat S car can be driven on the road again but will need repairs to make it roadworthy. The S itself stands for structural damage, but it can be repaired. Damage will likely have occurred to the chassis or suspension, but the important thing is that it can be fixed. Once the car is fixed, it’s important to remember that your car needs to be re-registered with the DVLA. Not doing this could lead to you receiving a fine. AutoTrader have listed some of the more common category s write-offs.
Cat N cars have suffered damage, but these aren’t structural. However, if the car is to be driven on the road, it will need to undergo repairs. Again, the car will need to be re-registered with the DVLA, or you could face a hefty fine. AutoTrader has detailed some of the more common examples of a Cat N write-off.
The main difference between a Cat N car and a Cat S car is the level of damage. In a Cat N car, non-structural damage has occurred. Whereas for a Cat S car, structural damage has occurred. Both can be driven on the road again but will need repairs in order to be road-worthy. Cat N issues tend to be more cosmetic, and Cat S issues more structural.
You can buy a car that’s been written off in the past, but you should always request an inspection before making the final decision. Cars that can be bought after undergoing a write-off fall in the categories C,D,N, and S. Therefore, when it comes to making a car purchase, if you notice a previous write-off, it is best practice to request a full inspection of the car to make sure all previous issues are resolved. Alternatively, you can bring a mechanic with you to inspect the car in person.
Write-offs happen, and this doesn’t necessarily mean that the car is ruined. For Cat A and B, the car is unfortunately unrecoverable, but for the other categories, C,D,N and S, the car can get back to being road ready. If you are about to buy a car and spot a past write-off, don’t panic. Order an inspection of the car to make sure all previous issues are corrected, and if they are, you can go ahead and buy your car!