Published November 2026. When your car is written off, your insurer pays its market value: what it was worth just before the accident, not what you paid or what a new one costs. Insurers don't always get that figure right. In 2025 the Financial Conduct Authority said about 270,000 motorists would share around £200 million … Continue reading Car Written Off? How Insurers Value It and How to Challenge the Offer
Published November 2026. Most write-offs you'll see for sale are Cat S or Cat N: damaged cars that can legally be repaired and driven again. Cat A and Cat B are different. They're the most serious categories, and those cars should never be on the road again. Here's what each category means, what happens to … Continue reading Cat A and Cat B Write-Offs Explained, and Can a Scrapped Car Come Back?
If you're searching "should I buy a Cat S car?", you're not alone. Category S vehicles are often advertised at attractive prices, sometimes costing thousands of pounds less than similar cars without damage history. While that discount can make them tempting, buying a Cat S car isn't always straightforward. The key is understanding what Category … Continue reading Should I Buy a Cat S Car? Pros, Cons and What You Need to Know
Cat S vs Cat N summary: Cat S means the car had structural damage, while Cat N means non-structural damage; repaired write-off cars can be safe, but only if the repair quality and inspection history check out. Here we answer, what written-off means? If you need further background. Run a Total Car Check Gold Check … Continue reading Cat S vs Cat N and repaired write-offs: All you need to know
A car is “written off” when an insurance company decides it is not worth repairing, and whether it can still be driven in the UK depends on the write-off category assigned to it. Understanding what this really means is important for drivers, buyers, and sellers, as some written-off cars can legally return to the road … Continue reading What Does “Written Off” Mean and Can You Still Drive the Car?
Buying a used car can be stressful, especially if you encounter terms like CAT C. Understanding the CAT C car meaning, what it’s now called, and how to check a car’s history can help you avoid costly mistakes. This guide provides everything a driver needs to know before purchasing a vehicle with a previous write-off. … Continue reading CAT C Car Meaning: Everything You Need To Know
Updated 22 October 2026. Cat D means a car was written off by an insurer before October 2017, because repairing it would have cost less than its value but still wasn't worth it to the insurer. Cat D was replaced by Cat N in October 2017, but cars written off before then keep their Cat … Continue reading Cat D Car Meaning: What It Means and How It Differs From Cat N
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 … Continue reading Cat N Car Meaning: What It Means and Should You Buy One?
Undertaking a salvage check on a car you're thinking of buying is very important. It can reveal a hidden past that the seller may not be transparent about, or even aware of. A salvage check comes as standard with a Total Car Check Silver or Gold Check. What is a salvage car? A salvage car … Continue reading Salvage Check: Why it’s so important for car buyers
Undertaking a write-off check on a used car is crucial before you buy. But why? This Q&A blog provides a complete guide to write-offs outlining everything drivers need to know. Click on the links below to navigate to the answers: What is a write-off? Why is it important to check? How do I check to … Continue reading Write-off checks – why they are so important
