How to check if a car has been written off

Since October 2017, UK insurers use four categories:

• Category A — scrap only. The car must be crushed and nothing may be salvaged. It can never legally return to the road.
• Category B — the body shell must be crushed, though some parts may be salvaged. It cannot return to the road.
• Category S — structural damage (formerly Cat C). The car can be repaired and returned to the road, but the structure — chassis or crumple zones — was affected.
• Category N — non-structural damage (formerly Cat D). Cosmetic, electrical or mechanical damage only; the structure is intact.

You may still see older cars described as Cat C or Cat D — these were written off under the pre-2017 system and broadly match today's Cat S and Cat N.

A properly repaired Cat N car can be perfectly good value — it should simply be cheaper than an equivalent car with a clean history. Cat S cars carry more risk because the structure was damaged; the quality of the repair matters enormously.

The real problem is the seller who doesn't mention it. A write-off marker affects a car's value by typically 20–40%, and some insurers charge more or refuse cover on previously written-off vehicles. If the seller hasn't told you, you can't judge whether the price is fair.

Write-off records are held by insurers and the MIAFTR database — they don't appear on the V5C logbook, and a repaired car can look immaculate. Fresh paint on one panel, mismatched panel gaps or newer-looking headlights on an older car can hint at repair work, but only a data check confirms it.

• Ask for evidence of the repair: invoices, photos of the damage, and who carried out the work.
• For Cat S cars, consider an independent engineer's inspection before buying.
• Check your insurer will cover it and at what price.
• Negotiate — the marker should be reflected in the price.