What is an insurance write-off?
When an insurer handles a damage claim, it may decide to pay the vehicle’s current value instead of meeting the repair cost. That past insurance decision does not prove what the vehicle is like today.
UK write-off categories
GOV.UK lists Category A and B as vehicles that cannot be repaired for road use. Category S is repairable after structural damage and Category N is repairable after non-structural damage; either may be used again if repaired to a roadworthy condition.
How to check
Ask the seller direct questions and use appropriate vehicle-history checks alongside GOV.UK vehicle information and MOT history. Do not imply that any history provider has complete data.
Evidence and inspection
Request repair photographs, itemised invoices and any later inspection evidence. Compare those records with the car and consider an independent inspection where the history, value or evidence calls for one.
Insurance, value and resale
Get an insurance quote reflecting the vehicle’s true history before committing. There is no universal discount: compare genuine alternatives and allow for condition, evidence and future resale questions.
When to walk away
Pause if the story changes, documents and vehicle details do not match, evidence is thin or you are pressured to pay before sensible checks.
Practical checklist
Frequently asked questions
Can a Cat S or Cat N car be driven again?
GOV.UK says either can be used again if repaired to a roadworthy condition. The category itself does not prove that condition.
Does a write-off mean the car is unsafe?
No. It records a past insurance classification. Current physical and mechanical condition need separate assessment.