Insurance write-offs are vehicles that have suffered an accident or sustained damage where the vehicle is seen as unsafe to drive back on the road.
A vehicle that is damaged and the costs exceed its worth is classed as ‘Beyond Economic Repair’.
An insurance company will conduct an inspection of the vehicle. If the damage and predicted cost exceeds 60% of the value of the car, the insurance company will class this as beyond repair and will assign a category.
Insurance writes off categories were updated in 2017 under the salvage code.
The revised categories are now classed as:
Cat A: Scrap Vehicles
Cat B: Break Vehicles
Cat S: Structure Damaged Repairable.
Cat N: Non-Structurally Damaged Repairable.
Under the new categories, more clarity is provided to consumers on what can and cannot be put back on the roads to drive, eliminating dodgy dealers in the process.
The cat A category is for vehicles that are so badly damaged that they are required by law to be crushed, never to appear on UK roads.
Vehicles commonly classed as Category A are those that have been involved in severe fires and floods.
Cat A Cars will be written off completely by your insurance provider.
These vehicles are only suitable for scrap and cannot be salvaged for parts. Everything from the gearbox, engine, alloys and gear knob have to be scrapped as they are now classed as waste.
A category B write-off is a vehicle that has been severely damaged and is broken beyond repair.
These faulty vehicles are not legally allowed to be driven back on the road however unlike a Cat A vehicle, they can be salvageable for parts.
Although key components such as the engine, gearbox and clutch can be broken down, the vehicle’s shell must be scrapped.
Replacing Category C in 2017, A Cat S vehicle has received structural damage to the chassis body.
This is due to major damages to the car’s ‘crumple zone’, which is a safety feature located near the rear of a vehicle and is designed to crush the impact of a powerful collision.
Cat S Vehicles have to be repaired professionally in order to be driven back on UK roads. Such repairs affect how much the car is worth.
Non-structural damaged vehicles are classed as Cat N, which replaced the previous Category D Vehicle.
Such damages can be electrical or cosmetic that are assessed as not the most economical to repair.
Often seen as safer than any other category, a Cat N vehicle whilst structurally safe, could have non-structural faults to parts that may make the car unsafe to drive in the future.
Such damages can affect the steering and brakes so it’s important to assess the longevity of the vehicle.
If your vehicle has been involved in your accident, Insurance providers will offer different insurance finance for category write-offs.
Generally, this can be broken down into the following:
You must contact your insurance ASAP to buy back your write-off. You have to buy back the insurance write-off before accepting any payout in compensation. Once the payout has been accepted the insurance provider will take ownership of the write-off and can even refuse to give you your vehicle back!
Read below for some common questions and answers about insurance category write-offs. If you have any other queries, please visit our FAQ page or social media pages @ScrapLocal.
In 2017, the salvage code for insurance writes off categories was updated. Cat D vehicles are now Cat N Vehicles.
The key insurance write-off categories are now classed under
Cat A – Scrap. Classed as waste and needs to be completely destroyed.
Cat B – Break. Chassis will be scrapped but car parts can be salvaged by a car breaker.
Cat S – Structural. Structural Damage. Has to be repaired in order to drive back on the road.
Cat N – Non-structural. Can be driven on the roads but may pose expensive repairs in the future.
Category C was also changed to Cat N for better clarity to consumers.
Cat A and Cat B insurance categories are both damaged and broken vehicles. However, the main difference Is Cat A, and Cat B insurance categories are both damaged and broken vehicles.
However, the main difference is that Cat A vehicles are classed as waste and have to be destroyed, whereas Cat B vehicles can be salvageable for parts by a licensed car breaker.
Cat A vehicles are classed as waste and have to be destroyed, whereas Cat B vehicles can be salvageable for parts by a licensed car breaker.
Replacing Cat C, A Cat S vehicle is one that has received structural damage. The vehicle can be salvageable for parts but the vehicle body must be destroyed.
A Cat’s vehicle can be insured providing it has passed its MOT.
Previously Cat D, A Cat N vehicle has non-structural damage but may have cosmetic and electric issues.
They are not the most economical to repair but can be insured although often come at a higher premium cost to the driver.
Scrapping a car whislt getting the best scrap car value can be difficult, especially if you’re unsure of what to expect and who to trust.
Scrapping a car should be a stress-free process, which is why at Scrap Local we are proud to connect producers of scrap metal waste and end of life vehicles to trusted recyclers locally.
Whether your car is an MOT failure, insurance write-off, damaged or broken car and needs to be scrapped fast then contact us for a professional friendly scrap car removal near you!
Some write off categories can be insured, although it’s important to note with:
Cat S: A Cat’s vehicle can be insured but will need to be roadworthy and pass its MOT. Many insurers will complete a risk assessment which can affect your insurance premium.
Cat N: You can insure a Cat N providing its declared as roadworthy. If the vehicle is beyond economic repair an insurance provider can payout via compensation however you will have to cover any additional repair costs, which can be costly.
Cat A and Cat B vehicles cannot be insured and need to be either destroyed or salvaged for parts respectively. Get a guaranteed price!
There are a few steps to sorting out any outstanding finance on your insurance write-off. Depending on the category, you would have to:
For Cat S vehicles, you will have to ensure the vehicle has passed its MOT and has passed a full HPI check.
Cat N vehicles will be paid compensation from your insurance provider.
In both cases, you will have to contact the DVLA and your finance provider. This will help determine whether you can:
Clear the outstanding balance on the agreement
Buyback the vehicle and have it repaired.
Invest in a new vehicle with your insurance payout.
You’re In Luck!
If you have an insurance write-off that is causing too much hassle or isn’t worth your time, effort or money; selling it off for cash in the bank may be a better option.
Our network of salvage car buyers can pay great prices on a range of cat S and Cat N vehicles, helping you with any paperwork for stress-free vehicle removal.
If your vehicle is younger than 8 years we can offer very competitive prices for a range of damaged and broken, accident damaged cars – Make an inquiry today to see how we can help!
Whether you’re a scrap metal dealer, vehicle recycler or even a scrap collector, joining Scrap Local today will give you access to thousands of new enquiries each month!
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