Write-off categories explained: Cat A, B, S and N
When an insurer decides a damaged car isn't worth repairing, it's “written off” and given a category. Some can never return to the road. Others can be repaired and sold again, sometimes without the next buyer being told.
In short
- Cat A and Cat B cars must never go back on the road.
- Cat S (structural damage) and Cat N (non-structural) can be repaired and driven again.
- A repaired write-off isn't automatically a bad buy, but it should be cheaper, properly repaired, and you need to know about it.
- Write-offs are recorded on the insurance industry's register, which a vehicle history check searches.
The four write-off categories
The current categories have applied since 1 October 2017.
| Category | What it means | Back on the road? |
|---|---|---|
| Cat A | Scrap. So badly damaged the whole vehicle must be crushed. No parts can be reused. | Never |
| Cat B | Break. The body shell must be crushed, but some parts can be salvaged and sold. | Never (only its parts) |
| Cat S | Structural damage, for example to the chassis or crumple zones. Repairable. | Yes, once properly repaired |
| Cat N | Non-structural damage, for example cosmetic or electrical, or repairs that simply cost too much compared with the car's value. | Yes |
Why cars get written off
A write-off is a money decision, not just a measure of how bad the damage was. If repairs would cost more than the car is worth, the insurer pays out and takes the car instead. That means:
- Older, cheaper cars can be written off for fairly modest damage.
- Stolen-and-recovered cars are sometimes written off, even with little damage.
- Flood damage often leads to a write-off, because water gets into wiring and electronics.
What about Cat C and Cat D?
Before October 2017 the categories were different. Cat C meant repairable, but the repair cost more than the car was worth. Cat D meant repairable for less than the car was worth. The old categories didn't say whether the damage was structural, which is why they were replaced. Cars written off before the change can still show Cat C or Cat D.
Is a Cat S or Cat N car safe to buy?
It can be. Plenty are repaired to a good standard. But go in with your eyes open:
- Ask for evidence of the repair: invoices, photos and who did the work. A reputable bodyshop is a good sign; “a mate fixed it” is not.
- Get an independent inspection, especially for Cat S, where the car's structure was damaged.
- Expect to pay less. Repaired write-offs are usually worth noticeably less than the same car without one, and that carries over when you sell it.
- Check your insurance first. Some insurers won't cover a repaired write-off or charge more, and you must tell them about it.
Signs a car may have been written off
- The price is well below similar cars, with no clear reason.
- Paint that doesn't quite match between panels, or overspray on rubber seals.
- Uneven gaps between doors, bonnet and wings.
- Brand-new parts on an otherwise older car, such as headlights, bumpers or airbags.
- A seller who is vague about the car's history.
How to check a car's write-off history
Insurers record write-offs on the industry's register (known as MIAFTR). You can't search it directly, but a vehicle history check does it for you. The Your Car Data full history check shows whether the car has been written off and, where recorded, the category, the date of the loss, the type of damage and the insurer, alongside stolen, outstanding finance and mileage checks.
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