The Different Categories Of Car Write-Offs

If your car is written off, it will be given an insurance write-off category. There are six different insurance write-off categories, with each having different effects on your future options. We’ll take a look at what defines a car write off, how they affect car insurance, the different write off categories and plenty more.

👉 What Is A Car Write-Off?

👉 How Do Write-Offs Affect Car Insurance? 

👉 Insurance Write-Off Categories

👉 The Cheapest Car Insurance Write-Off Categories

👉 Should I Buy A Write-Off?

👉 FAQs

What Is A Car Write-Off?

A write-off is when a car sustains damage that makes it unfit for public roads. Repairs can be made to return the car to roadworthy condition in some write-off cases, but in others, the damage is beyond repair. A write-off can happen in a number of situations, but it most likely occurs in a crash or collision. Once a car has been declared a write-off, it becomes harder to sell and insure 👇.

How Do Write-Offs Affect Car Insurance?

A write-off will increase insurance costs and, in some cases, lead to insurance being refused. To a car insurer, a car that has previously been written off presents a risk of future issues. To guard against this added risk, insurance premiums tend to be much higher than for a car with a clean bill of health. At a time when insurance is already expensive, buying a previously written-off car may not be the best way to protect your finances.

The Different Insurance Write-Off Categories

As mentioned, there are six write-off categories, all varying in severity.

• Cat A - Category A is the worst level of write-off there is. At this point, the car is beyond repair and needs to be crushed.
• Cat B - This is when the car is undriveable, but parts are able to be salvaged.
• Cat C - The car can be repaired, but doing so will cost more than what the car is worth.
• Cat D - You can repair the car for less than it’s worth but the overall package, including labour and a rental vehicle, makes it too expensive.
• Cat N - The car hasn’t suffered any major structural damage but must be repaired to make it roadworthy.
• Cat S - The car has suffered structural damage but can be repaired. It will need to be repaired to be ready for the road.

As you can see, there are only two write-offs that make financial sense to repair: Cat N and Cat S.

The Cheapest Car Insurance Write-Off Categories

The cheapest write-off categories are the ones where as little work as possible is needed. This rules out categories A to D, where the cost of repair is higher than the value of the car. This leaves Cat S and Cat N, but there’s a clear winner in the cheapest write-off race.

Cat N is the cheapest car insurance write-off category. This is because the damage sustained isn’t structural and is likely to be cosmetic. Cosmetic issues and engine troubles cost much less to repair than common Cat S issues like suspension or chassis damage.

As Cat N issues aren’t structural, the main frame of the car is still intact, and the chance of future issues is much smaller than with other insurance write-off categories. To an insurer, Cat N presents the least risk of future issues, and car insurance premiums will reflect this.

Find out more about Cat N write offs.

Should I Buy A Write-Off?

It really depends on the level of write-off and whether the car has been repaired to a good level. In most cases, a write-off is unredeemable, but for Cat S, Cat N, Cat C and even Cat D cars, there’s a chance that they recover to being roadworthy.

From a financial perspective, a past write-off will be around 40% cheaper than a car with a clean history, but insurance premiums will be much higher. Where one cost falls (price), another one rises (insurance).

With that in mind, buying a write-off really depends on both the deal you’re getting and whether the car is now in a good state to drive. If you are set on a car that’s been a write-off, make sure qualified mechanics carried out all repairs, and even consult experts to give the car a clean bill of health.

Got a car in mind that has an imperfect history? We might be able to help. We consider customers of varying credit scores, and this is no different to the cars we finance. If a car matches our vehicle eligibility, we will consider offering finance.

To see if both you and your desired car fit the bill, click here. Don’t worry, our application process doesn’t impact your credit score.

Car Write-Off FAQs