Write-Off Check — Know the Category Before You Buy

An insurance write-off check queries national insurer databases to find out whether a vehicle has ever been declared a total loss (write-off) by an insurance company. When a car is written off, insurers assign a category: Cat A (crush only), Cat B (body crush, parts may be salvaged), Cat S (structural damage — can be repaired and returned to road), or Cat N (non-structural damage — can be repaired and returned to road). A Carhealth write-off check (£14.99) reveals which category applies, if any.

There are four UK write-off categories. Category A: the vehicle must be crushed entirely — no parts may be reused. Category B: the bodyshell must be crushed, but non-structural parts may be salvaged. Neither Cat A nor Cat B cars may return to the road. Category S (formerly Cat C): the vehicle has sustained structural damage such as a bent chassis or crumple zone — it can legally return to the road after a qualifying repair, but must be re-inspected. Category N (formerly Cat D): the vehicle has non-structural damage (electrical, cosmetic) — it can return to the road after repair. Cat S and Cat N cars must be declared on any future insurance policy and typically carry a lower resale value.

Enter the vehicle's registration plate on the Carhealth homepage and run a full history report (£14.99). The report includes a write-off check against UK insurer records and tells you the category (if any), the date of the write-off, and whether the car has since been repaired and returned to road. Results arrive in under 60 seconds. Free services like the DVLA vehicle enquiry do not access insurer write-off databases — you need an accredited provider like Carhealth.

Yes, Cat S and Cat N vehicles can legally be bought, repaired, and driven on UK roads. However, you must disclose the write-off history to your insurer, and the car will typically be worth less than an undamaged equivalent — sometimes significantly so. A Cat S car requires a structural repair inspection before returning to road. Always factor repair costs, ongoing insurance implications, and lower resale value into your purchase decision. Cat A and Cat B cars are a different matter — they must not be driven and should only be sold for parts or scrap.

Yes. If you buy a Cat S or Cat N vehicle, you are legally required to declare its write-off history to your insurer. Failure to do so could invalidate your policy. Insurers typically charge higher premiums for write-off cars, and some insurers may decline to cover them at all. The vehicle's agreed value may also be reduced. Knowing about the write-off before purchase lets you get accurate insurance quotes before committing.

Cat S (structural) means the vehicle suffered damage to its structural components — the chassis, crumple zones, sills, or pillars. A qualified repairer must fix these and the vehicle must pass an inspection before returning to road. Cat N (non-structural) means the damage was to non-structural parts — trim, electrical systems, suspension components that aren't load-bearing. Both are write-offs, both must be declared to insurers, and both typically reduce resale value — but Cat S cars generally have more serious underlying damage and repair costs are typically higher. See our full guides at /cat-s-check and /cat-n-check.