{"id":1255,"date":"2018-06-27T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-06-26T23:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.stoneacre.co.uk\/blog\/2018\/06\/27\/what-are-the-insurance-categories-for-car-write-offs\/"},"modified":"2025-07-17T16:28:58","modified_gmt":"2025-07-17T15:28:58","slug":"what-are-the-insurance-categories-for-car-write-offs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stoneacre.co.uk\/blog\/what-are-the-insurance-categories-for-car-write-offs","title":{"rendered":"What are the insurance categories for car ‘write-offs’?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"car<\/figure>
\n

What is an insurance write off? <\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A \u2018write off\u2019 is an insurance industry term for a vehicle that has either sustained so much damage it is unsafe to go back on the road, or a vehicle that would be safe to drive but the cost of repairing<\/strong><\/a> it would outweigh the insurer’s valuation of the vehicle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Insurance write-offs\nare not just the result of accidents, many cars are written off due to damage\nfrom floods, fire, theft or even vandalism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each insurance company has its own \u2018repair to value\u2019 ratio, which is the amount they will pay towards repairing the car. For many insurers, this figure is around 60 per cent of the overall cost of the car which would mean a vehicle worth \u00a310,000 would be a write off if the cost of the repairs would be more than \u00a36,000.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Car insurance repair costs<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Car insurance companies have to work to strict guidelines and have a duty to return vehicles to the condition they were in before the damage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Insurance repair costs are usually based on the cost of repair at an official workshop with new original manufacturer parts used to replace any damaged parts. This can result in a significantly higher repair cost and can mean even minor damage to the car can result in a write-off decision. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Car damage categories<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Write off vehicles can vary from being complete wrecks to working vehicles with cosmetic damage. As a result, there are a variety of write off categories; Cat A, B, S (formerly Cat C) and N (formerly Cat D).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Cat C?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Vehicles categorised\nas Cat C may have suffered from some structural damage, like a bent or twisted\nchassis, but can be repaired. As the damage is more than just cosmetic, the\nrepairs must be carried out professionally, and the car will not be deemed safe\nuntil this is carried out.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Cat D?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Vehicles classed as Cat D have sustained the least amount of damage and have sustained no structural damage. The issue is usually either cosmetic or could, for example, be an issue with the electrics that is not cost-effective to repair. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Cat A?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Cars that are classified as a Cat A write off have sustained the most amount of damage. They are so badly damaged they can only be scrapped and even salvageable parts must be destroyed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Cat B?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Category B write off vehicles will have sustained significant damage, and as a result, the body shell must be crushed. The car should never re-appear on the road, but salvageable parts can be saved and sold as reclaimed parts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"car<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The new classifications <\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In October 2017 changes were made to the classification categories to make it easier for people to understand what damage may have been sustained, to a write off the vehicle. Categories A and B remained unchanged, but Category C has changed to Category S cars, and Category D has changed to Category N.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Cat S?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Category S vehicles were previously known as Cat C. The \u2018S\u2019 in Category S literally stands for structural, thus indicating that the vehicle has suffered from structural damage. Cat S cars be repaired and resold, however the work must be carried out professionally to ensure the vehicle is safe. Furthermore Category S vehicles must be re-registered with the DVLA before being put back on the road. The V5C of a category S vehicle will be marked with a \u2018S\u2019 to clearly indicate that it is a Cat S write off. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Category S vehicles\nwere previously known as Cat C. The \u2018S\u2019 in Category S stands for structural,\nthus indicating that the car has suffered from structural damage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cat S cars can be repaired and resold, but the work has to be done professionally to ensure the vehicle is safe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Category S vehicles must also be re-registered with the DVLA before being put back on the road. The V5C of a category S vehicle will be marked with an \u2018S\u2019 to indicate that it is a Cat S write off.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Cat N?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Category N vehicles\nwere previously known as Cat D vehicles. The \u2018N\u2019 in Category N stands for\nnon-structural and indicates that the cars have not undergone structural\ndamage. The damage on Category N vehicles is usually relatively minor so can be\ncarried out by anyone. For this reason, they can present an opportunity for\npeople to buy a car cheaply and repair it themselves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unlike Cat S vehicles, there is no need to re-register a Cat N car with the DVLA. However, you do still need to let the DVLA know that it has been written off. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Insurance\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Car insurance write-off procedure<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Now you know a bit\nmore about the different car damage categories, it\u2019s time to look at the car\ninsurance write off procedure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once you put a claim\nin your insurance company will appoint an assessor or engineer to assess the\ndamage. The appointed person may visit in person, view photos or read reports\nfrom an approved garage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They will assess the\ndamage and weigh up what it will cost to put the vehicle right again. In many\ncases, if the repair costs are around 60 per cent of the car\u2019s valuation, it is\nlikely, it will be declared a complete loss and written off. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bear in mind that each\ncar insurance company follows its own procedures when it comes to writing off a\nvehicle. Each provider will have different criteria the car must meet as well\nas different thresholds at which they decide to write the car off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the event your car\nis written-off by your insurance provider, you will be offered a payout. This\namount should be enough to replace your vehicle with a similar model in a\nsimilar condition at the time of the claim. However, the insurance company will\nusually deduct your policy excess from your payout. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You also need to\ninform the DVLA your car is written off and you can do this online. You will\nneed your insurance company\u2019s name and postcode, as you are essentially\nre-registering the vehicle with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So now you know a bit more about the car write-off procedure we will take a look at the car insurance payout you can expect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"car<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Car write off insurance payout value<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The first thing to\nbear in mind regarding your car insurance payout is that it is based on the\nvalue of the car right before the incident, not the price you originally paid\nfor the vehicle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second important\nthing is that your insurer cannot take ownership of your vehicle until you\naccept the settlement offered. So you should not agree to a payout if you\u2019re\nare not happy with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, you do need to be realistic about your car\u2019s worth. Therefore, it is a good idea to do some research looking at similar vehicles in motor trade guides, on car websites and at local dealerships<\/strong><\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can provide your insurance company with any information you think may have an impact on the value of your car, like a full-service history or if you\u2019ve just had a brand new set of tyres fitted. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also pay to have an independent assessment of your car\u2019s worth, but bear in mind this will cost you, so you need to make sure it\u2019s worthwhile before proceeding. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Car insurance payouts are often hotly contested, with many people feeling the insurance is offering an unfair price. While we wouldn\u2019t recommend accepting a payout you are not happy with, you do need to be realistic about the car\u2019s worth and doing your research is the best way to ensure this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What happens if my car is on finance and is written off?<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If your car has\noutstanding finance, you may find that the insurance payout will not cover the\noutstanding finance. It is always best to try and work with your insurer, as if\nthere is only a small discrepancy between the payout and what you still owe,\nthey may agree to settle for you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have GAP insurance<\/strong><\/a> on your car you may be able to make a claim with your GAP provider to cover the difference between your car insurance payout and any outstanding finance.  If you don\u2019t have this added protection and you still owe a considerable on finance, it is worth speaking to the company and seeing if they can help. They may be able to offer you a new vehicle and tie some of the existing debt into a new agreement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next, we explore how car insurance companies estimate repair costs and how this can affect whether your car is considered a write-off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"car<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

How are repair costs estimated?<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Insurance companies\nare required to return the vehicle to the condition it was in before the\ndamage. As a result, repair costs are usually based on an approved workshop\ncarrying out the work using genuine manufacturer parts, which can mean\nsignificantly higher estimated repair costs than if you were to use third party\nparts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This means that even\nif your insurance company believe your car too expensive to repair, you may\nstill consider it is worth repairing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It also means that for\nsome people, Cat S and N cars can present a real bargain. The cars can be\nbought cheaply and if repaired cost-effectively, can offer good value for\nmoney, especially if you will keep the car until the end of its life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Below we uncover the potential risks of buying a Cat S or Cat N car in more detail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are the risks when buying a Cat C (S) or Cat D (N) car?<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Both Cat S and N cars can be sold on by the insurance company to the original owner or a third party via a salvage company and therefore make it to the used car<\/strong><\/a> market. While for some people a Cat S or Cat N could be a bargain, there are some risks to be aware of if buying a previously written-off vehicle: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Private sellers are not\nrequired to divulge if a car has previously been written off. For this reason,\nwe recommend you carry out a vehicle history check before buying a pre-owned\nvehicle.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some sellers may try\nto pass Cat S and N cars as non-damaged motors or may try to downplay the\ndamage that occurred. Even if sellers are upfront about the fact that the car\nhas been written off, it is important to make sure that the repairs have been\ncarried out properly and that the car is safe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bear in mind that Cat\nS and N vehicles can be more difficult to insure. Some insurance companies will\nnot offer insurance at all, while others may bump up premiums or request an\nengineer\u2019s report before they will offer cover on the vehicle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is also worth\nbearing in mind that many people will avoid buying Cat S or N cars due to the\nincreased risks listed below, this means you may have more difficulty selling\non a Cat S or N vehicle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dealers often will not even consider Cat S or N vehicles, so you are unlikely to be able to use a Cat S or N vehicle as part-exchange<\/strong><\/a> in the future. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"car<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Car write off check<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

So how do you know if\nyou are buying a \u2018write-off car\u2019?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When buying any\nsecond-hand car, you must carry out checks to be sure you know what you are\nbuying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A car write off check\nis vital before you buy a used car. It ensures that you have full confidence\nthat the vehicle you buy has not been written off in the past and has no hidden\nhistory. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are lots of online sites offering car history checks, but you should make sure it contains the information you need. Many of the free checks offer only the basics and won\u2019t tell you the full history of the vehicle. More comprehensive history searches, including whether the car has ever been written off are available, usually for a small fee. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"car<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Safe options<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To reduce the risks associated with buying written-off cars, why not consider a new<\/strong><\/a> or used vehicle?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buying Used<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As mentioned above, at\nStoneacre before we accept any pre-owned vehicle for part-exchange, we carry out\na full check to ensure that there is no hidden history or outstanding finance.\nSo our customers can rest assured that they aren\u2019t going to get any nasty\nsurprises down the line. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We also carry out a\ncomprehensive 125-point check of the vehicle to ensure it is working as\nintended. While for further peace of mind, we also offer a Lifetime Guarantee\non all of our used cars for sale. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our used vehicles are\navailable with a host of finance offers and deposit options including 0%\nfinance and nil deposit deals, to help spread the cost of buying a used\nvehicle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buying New<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

At Stoneacre, we aim\nto make motoring more affordable. We have a great range of cash price offers as\nwell as an impressive selection of manufacturer offers, finance packages and\ndeposit deals on all of our new cars. This ensures you can get your perfect car\nat an affordable price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, it\u2019s time to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about car write-offs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Car write-offs FAQ<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"FAQs\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If my car is written off what happens to my insurance?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If your car is written\noff and you make a claim on your insurance, you may be surprised to learn you\nmust still pay your insurance until the end of the policy year. So even though\nyou cannot use the car, you must pay your insurance policy in full.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This means if you pay monthly, you must pay the remaining year\u2019s monthly payments, while if you paid up-front, you will not receive a refund on the price paid for the policy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If my car is written off can I keep it?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If your car is written\noff but you still want to keep it, your insurance company can give you the\npayout and then sell the vehicle back to you. You will need to come to an\nagreeable sum with your insurance company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once you buy the car\nback you are responsible for ensuring it is repaired to a roadworthy condition.\nIf it is a Category S write-off, you will need to send the logbook to your\ninsurer and apply for a new one from the DVLA. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are planning to keep your car, it\u2019s worth bearing in mind what category write-off your vehicle falls into as to whether the cost of repairing it so you can legally use it again is worth it. You should also consider the ease and cost of insuring a vehicle which has previously been written off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If my car is written off how much will I get? <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The payout you get is based on the value of\nyour car at the point of the incident. The payout will not match the amount you\ninitially paid for the vehicle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You do have a right to challenge the payout\nand can provide your insurance provider with any information you feel may\naffect the payout valuation. However, you must be realistic, so doing some\nresearch into what similar makes and models are selling for is essential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Am I still insured if my car is written off? <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If your car is written off you are still\nrequired to pay any remaining payments on your car insurance policy. Or if\nyou\u2019ve paid upfront, you are not due a refund on your policy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are planning to buy a new vehicle,\nthen it is possible to contact your insurer to transfer your existing insurance\nto your new model. Your car insurance company may charge you a fee for the\ntransfer and depending on the model your premium may go up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As ever, you should always shop around as\nit may be cheaper to pay your existing policy off while taking out another on a\nnew vehicle. However, bear in mind that having a claim on your records for the\nwrite-off may increase your premiums when shopping around for insurance on a\nnew car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My car is a write off what happens next? <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If your insurance company writes off your\ncar, you may be wondering what happens next, and this depends on what you\nchoose to do. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can accept the payout the car insurance\noffers for your car and use this money to buy a new car. Or if you want to keep\nyour car you can agree on a price with your insurer and buy it back for them\nusing any remaining money from the payout to pay for the necessary repairs to\nmake it roadworthy again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, if you are not happy with the\npayout figure offered, you can challenge it with your insurer. You will need to\nprovide evidence as to why you don\u2019t think the amount they are offering is\nfair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If on the other hand, you do not agree the\ncar is a write-off you can also challenge this, but you need to act quickly.\nThat\u2019s because as soon as your insurance provider notifies the Motor Insurers\nAnti-Fraud and Theft Register the car is written off, it can be hard to\noverturn the decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To challenge the write-off you need to\nprovide evidence that the insurer has estimated the repairs costs too high. If\nyou are still unhappy with your insurance company\u2019s decision, you can make a\ncomplaint or seek advice from the financial ombudsman.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What is an insurance write off? A \u2018write off\u2019 is an insurance industry term for a vehicle that has either sustained so much damage it is unsafe to go back on the road, or a vehicle that would be safe to drive but the cost of repairing it would outweigh the insurer’s valuation of the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":18246,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,17],"tags":[143],"class_list":["post-1255","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-advice-centre","category-car-buying-selling","tag-car-insurance"],"yoast_head":"\nWhat is a car insurance write-off?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"It may seem more appealing and cheaper to buy a car with a Category S or Category N insurance classification, but is it really your best option? 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