What do the write-off categories mean?
When an insurer writes a vehicle off, it puts it in a category. gov.uk describes them like this:
| Category | What gov.uk says |
|---|---|
| A | Cannot be repaired. The entire vehicle has to be crushed. |
| B | Cannot be repaired. The body shell has to be crushed, but other parts can be salvaged. |
| S | Can be repaired following structural damage. |
| N | Can be repaired following non-structural damage. |
gov.uk says a Cat S or Cat N vehicle can be used again once it has been repaired to a roadworthy condition, and that when one is kept, DVLA records its category in the log book.
How do you price a Cat S or Cat N car?
Instantly, online, like any other car. Answer “Yes” to the write-off question and your price appears in a couple of minutes, guaranteed for 7 days if the vehicle is as you described it. A car that has been written off is worth less than the same car that hasn’t, so your price takes the write-off into account, and your price page shows exactly how. Before we pay, we check the car’s records and the V5C, as we do for every car.
Useful things to tell us in the “Anything else we should know?” box:
- the category, if you know it
- what the damage was, and how and when it was repaired
- any paperwork or photos from the repair
What if I’m not sure whether it’s been written off?
Choose “Not sure” on the form. We only change the price if the car isn’t as you described, and we show you what and why before you decide.
General information only, not advice about your own situation. gov.uk has the full rules on insurance write-offs.