What Does Cat D Mean On A Car?

by Will Marsh on Jun 20, 2025 2:40:24 PM

Key Summary

A Category D (Cat D) car is a vehicle declared a total loss by an insurance company because the cost to repair exceeded its pre-accident market value.
These cars did not suffer structural damage and could be repaired and legally returned to the road.
(Replaced by Category N in October 2017.)

The front of a car that has been in a collision, with major damage to the front, and another car in the background that has sustained some damage.

What Is A Cat D Write-Off?

Summary: Cat D cars are declared total losses due to repair costs exceeding their market value, but can still be safely repaired.

Cat D is a type of insurance write-off used when the repair cost is greater than the car’s value before the incident. The decision is made by the insurance company, not the garage or owner. Cat D cars can be repaired, but the cost of doing this outweighs the value of the car.

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When Was Cat D Replaced By Cat N?

In October 2017, the UK’s insurance industry replaced Cat D with Category N (non-structural) under new write-off rules. While the name changed, the meaning stayed the same: the car’s damage was non-structural and repairable.

What If I Had A Cat D Car From Before October 2017?

If you have a vehicle that was branded Cat D before the changeover, your car will remain as a Cat D write-off, not move to Cat N.

An orange car crashing into a yellow car.

What Type of Damage Does A Cat D Car Include?

Summary: Cat D cars experience damage that doesn’t compromise the structure of the car, but still needs fixing.

Cat D (now Cat N) refers to non-structural damage such as:

Cosmetic issues – scratches, dents, minor bodywork
Electrical or mechanical faults
Airbag deployment or dashboard damage
Vandalism or theft recovery damage
These issues don’t compromise the chassis or safety shell, but will usually cost more than the car is worth.

A toy car on stacks of coins, rising in amount from right to left, indicating rising car prices.

Is A Cat D Car Cheaper To Buy?

Summary: Cat D cars are cheaper to buy but may face higher insurance costs and hurt you down the line.

Yes — Cat D cars are cheaper to buy because of their write-off status. However, the savings may be offset by higher insurance costs and lower resale value. If you buy one, confirm that the repairs were completed and documented.

With a lower demand, the Cat D cars tend to be priced cheaper than their clean, healthy alternatives. While a Cat D car appeals on sale price, its inflated car insurance premiums mean you probably won’t be saving much money in the long run, though.

Safety and Inspection Advice Before Buying

Summary: Make sure you’ve checked all documentation and consulted an expert to decide if the car is fit to drive again. Consider test driving and checking insurability with your car insurance provider.

Buying a Cat D car can be a great way to save money, but safety should always come first. Before committing, make sure the vehicle has been properly repaired and independently inspected.

How to Make Sure a Cat D Car Is Safe

Follow these steps to check that your Cat D car is safe and road-ready:

Check repair documentation: Ask the seller for proof of repairs and review it carefully. The paperwork should show what was fixed and who carried out the work.
Get a professional inspection: Have a qualified mechanic inspect the car, paying close attention to key safety systems like airbags, brakes, and steering.
Test drive the car: Take it for a drive to make sure everything feels right — no unusual noises, vibrations, or warning lights.
Ask questions: Don’t hesitate to ask about the car’s history, previous damage, or how the repairs were done. A reputable seller will be happy to explain.
Confirm insurance eligibility: Before buying, check with your insurer to confirm they’ll cover the vehicle, as some may have restrictions for Cat D or Cat N cars.

Hands over a model car protecting it, representing car care and insurance.

How Does Cat D Impact Car Insurance?

If a car is previously Cat D, it will face higher insurance rates and may even get rejected. A car that has previously been written off is seen as a risk to car insurers, and to guard against this risk, they tend to either increase premiums or deny insurance.

Yes, a Cat D will be cheap, but this saving covers the much higher insurance premiums than you’d pay on a car with a clean history. If you are considering insuring a Cat D car, you should get in touch with your current insurance provider to see what the insurance might look like.

Close-up of yellow file folder tabs labelled alphabetically with bold black letters A to I, arranged in a filing cabinet for organizing documents by name or category.

Cat D Vs Other Write-Off Categories

There are six main UK write-off categories.

Type Of Write-Off	Description
Cat A	Scrap only – the car cannot be reused.
Cat B	Car parts salvageable only – the body must be crushed.
Cat C	Repairable but costs exceed the vehicle’s value (older category).
Cat D	Non-structural, uneconomical to repair (replaced by Cat N).
Cat S	Structural damage – repairable if fixed professionally.
Cat N	Non-structural, repairable – the modern equivalent of Cat D.

Compared to some of the options in the list, like Cat A and B, there is hope for a Cat D car. Yes, repairs are expensive, but your car can return to the roads.

Car keys being handed to someone, with a car in the background, likely showing a car purchase.

Is It Worth Buying A Cat D Car?

If you are looking for a good deal, a Cat D car can be a decent choice. They tend to be cheaper than alternatives due to past issues. If these problems have been solved, though, the car should be good to go.

Make sure any write-off cars you are interested in have been given a clean bill of health and consider getting a second opinion from a qualified mechanic. On top of this, consider the higher insurance premiums you will likely pay for a Cat D car.

Conclusion

In short, Cat D (now Cat N) cars are non-structural insurance write-offs that can be safe and affordable if repaired to professional standards.

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Cat D FAQs

A car written off as uneconomical to repair but without structural damage.

Yes. Cat D cars often cost more to insure or may be refused by some insurers.

Cat D was the old classification, replaced in 2017 by Cat N for non-structural damage.

No – you cannot remove a Cat D from a car. However, if you make all the necessary repairs, the car can be driven on roads again.

Yes – Cat D cars can be hard to insure, due to the increased risk of another write-off in future.

Topics: Car Insurance