Updated 22 October 2026.
Cat N means a car has been written off by an insurer because of non-structural damage. The repair would have cost more than the insurer was willing to pay, but the car’s structure, its chassis and crash protection, wasn’t damaged. A Cat N car can be repaired and driven again, and is often cheaper than one with no write-off history. This guide explains what Cat N covers, how it differs from Cat S and the old Cat D, whether Cat N cars are safe, and what to check before you buy one.
Cat N at a glance
- Full name: Category N, “non-structural”. It replaced Category D in October 2017.
- Can it go back on the road? Yes, once repaired to a roadworthy condition. There’s no special inspection.
- Is it permanent? Yes. The write-off stays on the car’s record and shows on a history check.
- Is it cheaper? Usually, because many buyers avoid write-offs. That also makes it harder to sell later.
- How to check: our Cat N check shows whether a car has been written off, and in which category.
What does Cat N mean?
When a car is badly damaged, the insurer decides whether to repair it or pay out its value instead: to “write it off”. A car is written off when repairing it, together with costs such as a hire car, would cost more than the car is worth to the insurer. The insurer then puts it into one of four categories, which GOV.UK sets out:
| Category | Damage | Can it return to the road? |
|---|---|---|
| Cat A | Severe: scrap only | No. The whole car must be crushed. |
| Cat B | Severe: break for parts | No. The body shell must be crushed, though parts can be salvaged. |
| Cat N | Non-structural | Yes, once repaired to a roadworthy condition. |
| Cat S | Structural | Yes, once repaired to a roadworthy condition. |
Cat N is the least serious write-off category, but it isn’t a guarantee of minor damage: on a modern car, non-structural repairs can be expensive.
What damage makes a car Cat N?
Anything that doesn’t affect the car’s structure, for example:
- body panels, bumpers, doors, wings and the bonnet
- lights, glass and mirrors
- electrics and electronics: wiring, control units, sensors and driver-assistance cameras and radar
- airbags that have gone off, and seat belt pretensioners
- the interior, and some mechanical parts such as suspension or engine ancillaries
- flood damage, if the structure wasn’t affected
Because modern cars are expensive to repair, a fairly light knock can be enough to write off an older car, while a newer, more valuable car might be repaired after the same damage.
Cat N vs Cat S vs Cat D
- Cat S (structural) means the chassis, crumple zones, pillars or floor were damaged. It’s usually seen as the more serious category, and structural repairs need to be done properly to keep the car safe in a crash. Our guide to Cat S vs Cat N compares the two in detail.
- Cat D was the old name, used until October 2017. It was based on repair cost rather than the type of damage, so a Cat D car could have had structural damage. See Cat D car meaning.
- Cat C was the old category for repairable cars whose repairs cost more than the car was worth. Cat S replaced it in 2017.
Is a Cat N car safe?
It can be, but safety depends on the quality of the repair, not the category. Because Cat N means the structure wasn’t damaged, the main risks are repairs that weren’t finished or were done with poor parts, and safety systems that weren’t put right:
- airbags and seat belt pretensioners that weren’t replaced after going off
- driver-assistance sensors, such as cameras and radar, that weren’t recalibrated
- warning lights hidden or cleared rather than fixed
- electrical faults that come and go, especially after flood damage
Can you insure a Cat N car?
Yes, though some insurers won’t cover write-offs, and others charge more. Get a quote before you buy, and always tell your insurer the car is Cat N: not declaring it could invalidate your cover.
Is a Cat N car worth less?
Yes. Even after a good repair, a Cat N car usually sells for noticeably less than the same car without a write-off record, because fewer buyers want one. How much less varies with the car, the damage and the evidence of the repair. That’s the trade-off: you pay less, but you’ll get less when you sell.
Should I buy a Cat N car?
It can be a good-value buy if the repair was done properly and the price reflects the write-off. Before you buy:
- Confirm the category and date with our Cat N check, so you know exactly what was recorded and when.
- Ask what the damage was, and for photos of it, if the seller has them.
- Ask for the repair invoices, showing what was replaced and with which parts.
- Check there are no warning lights, and that the airbag light comes on at start-up and then goes off.
- Have it inspected by an independent mechanic or inspection service, ideally one that can check electronic systems.
- Check the price against the same car without a write-off: it should be clearly cheaper.
- Check the rest of its history: a write-off doesn’t rule out other problems such as finance or clocking.
A seller should always tell you a car is Cat N, but not all do. Run a full car history check before you pay: it shows whether a car has been written off, and in which category, as well as whether it’s been stolen or still has finance owing. See Silver and Gold check prices.
If your own car is written off as Cat N
You can usually keep it: the insurer pays you its value and deducts what it would have got for the damaged car. GOV.UK says you can keep the logbook for a Cat N car. For a Cat S car you send the logbook to your insurer and apply for a duplicate, and the DVLA records the category in it. If you’re not keeping the car, tell the DVLA it’s been written off: you can be fined £1,000 if you don’t. See GOV.UK’s scrapped and written-off vehicles guidance.
Frequently asked questions
What does Cat N mean on a car?
It means an insurer has written the car off because of non-structural damage. It can be repaired and driven again.
Is Cat N worse than Cat S?
No. Cat N is the less serious of the two, because Cat S means the car’s structure was damaged.
Does Cat N stay with the car forever?
Yes. The write-off stays on the car’s record, and a history check will show it whoever owns the car.
Does a Cat N car need an inspection to go back on the road?
No. There’s no special inspection, so it’s up to you as the buyer to check the repair was done properly.
Is Cat N the same as Cat D?
Cat N replaced Cat D in October 2017, but they’re not identical: Cat D was based on repair cost, while Cat N is defined by the damage being non-structural.
How do I check if a car is Cat N?
Enter the registration in our Cat N check. It shows whether the car has been written off, in which category, and when.
- GOV.UK: scrapped and written-off vehicles
- Cat S vs Cat N and repaired write-offs
- Should I buy a Cat S car?
- Cat D car meaning
- What does written off mean?
- What to check when buying a used car
Find out whether a car has been written off, and in which category, with our Cat N check or Cat S check.