What is a categorised car?
When browsing for your next car, you may have noticed them advertised as ‘CAT N, CAT S’ or something similar. The car will probably be an attractive price too, but the deal may be too good to be true. The categories indicate that the car in question has been written off at some point by an insurance company, and each letter indicates a different reason why.
What are the categories?
CAT A & B
Category A cars are determined as having such severe damage they can’t be repaired or returned to the road safely. These cars usually have to be scrapped and crushed.
Category B cars can be broken down for parts to be used on other vehicles. The car itself though isn’t legal to drive on the road.
CAT C & D
As of the 1st October 2017, CAT C has been replaced by CAT S, and signifies a car that has experienced structural damage and should be properly repaired by a professional before being returned to the road.
Category D has now been replaced by Category N, indicating a vehicle that’s safety components such as steering, brakes or suspension have suffered damage and need replacing. If properly repaired, a category D car can legally be returned to the road as with a category C car.
Informing the DVLA
If your vehicle has been involved in an accident, your insurance company will inform the DVLA, who will then send a new V5C stating the car has been written off. When it comes to selling your car, you have to make sure to hand this V5C over so buyers are aware.
Buying a categorised car
The price of categorised cars can be tempting, but it’s important to do your research before committing to buying. It’s a good idea to get an inspection by a professional company, which the AA and RAC both offer, to examine the quality of repair work. Following that, a report will be given identifying what work has been completed and, more importantly, the quality of that work that has been done.
It is ultimately up to you as a consumer to decide whether buying a categorised car is worth it in order to save some money, but it is critical to consider your safety and the safety of others before you buy.
Selling a categorised car
If your car has been involved in an accident, you can legally sell it as long as the damage has been declared. If you don’t, you could face being sued by the new owner.
You’ll always receive less for a categorised car, even if the damage was only minor, as not many buyers out there are interested in buying a car that’s been damaged. It’s also not clear how thorough the repair work done was, impacting buyer confidence even more.
If you’re interested in buying a new car in Essex, check out our sister site, Leigh Cars, for a selection of over 60 quality used cars to choose from.