Cheap Cat S & Cat N Write-Off Check UK 2026

Short answer: CarCostCheck's £4.99 history check shows whether a car has been written off, with the category (A, B, S or N, plus the older C and D), the date, the insurer and the damage. It checks MIAFTR (the Motor Insurance Anti-Fraud and Theft Register) through Experian. Category detail is included in full, not just a yes/no write-off flag.

Insurers record write-offs on MIAFTR, the insurance industry's Motor Insurance Anti-Fraud and Theft Register, and the full checks above draw on it. The difference is what else comes with it: CarCostCheck's £4.99 includes stolen and outstanding finance, and the free report adds MOT history and a reliability score.

What the Four Write-Off Categories Actually Mean

Before you decide whether to buy a write-off, you need to understand what each category means. These are not just insurance labels; they indicate what kind of damage the car has suffered.

• Cat A. The most severe. The car must be crushed entirely. No parts can be salvaged. If a car is marked Cat A, it should not exist on the road at all. Walk away immediately.
• Cat B. The body shell must be crushed, but parts can be salvaged for reuse. A Cat B car cannot legally return to the road. If a seller tries to pass off a Cat B car as roadworthy, it is fraud.
• Cat S (Structural). The car suffered structural damage, such as to the chassis or frame. It can legally return to the road once properly repaired. The repair quality determines everything: a well-repaired Cat S can be safe, but a poorly repaired one is dangerous.
• Cat N (Non-structural). Cosmetic or non-structural damage, such as electrical faults or minor panel damage. Usually the least risky category, and often a genuine bargain if repaired properly.

Cars written off before October 2017 may show the older categories instead: Cat C (repairable, but repairs would have cost more than the car was worth) and Cat D (repairable for less than the car was worth, but the insurer chose not to). CarCostCheck shows these too.

When Buying a Cat N Car Makes Sense

A well-repaired Cat N car is the bargain-hunter's sweet spot. The damage was non-structural, the price is usually well below an equivalent clean car, and as long as the repair was done properly, it can be a sensible buy.

Rules of thumb for Cat N purchases:

• Only buy from a seller who can provide photos and receipts of the repair work.
• Get an independent engineer's pre-purchase inspection. It is money well spent.
• Check the free CarCostCheck MOT history for advisories since the repair. If the same advisories keep appearing, the repair may not have been complete.
• Ask who carried out the repair. Cars that have changed hands several times since the write-off are riskier, and CarCostCheck's £4.99 check shows the date of each recorded keeper change, so you can count them.
• Insurance may cost more, and some insurers will not cover write-offs. Get a quote before committing.

When to Avoid a Cat S Car

Cat S is higher risk because structural damage affects safety in a crash. Even a properly repaired Cat S car may not crumple the way the manufacturer intended in another collision. Consider Cat S only if:

• The price is well below an equivalent clean car.
• You have full documentation of the repair including photos, parts list, and labour.
• An independent engineer has inspected the repaired areas specifically.
• You understand that insurers may charge more or refuse cover entirely.
• You plan to keep the car long-term, not resell quickly (resale is harder).

Using CarCostCheck to Spot Hidden Write-Offs

Sellers of write-off cars sometimes fail to disclose the history. The free CarCostCheck report can show some warning signs: sudden mileage jumps, MOT test gaps and advisory pattern changes. But to see whether a car is recorded as written off, you need a history check: CarCostCheck's £4.99 report checks the MIAFTR register through Experian. If you see any red flag on the free report, always run the paid check before committing.

Why CarCostCheck Is Great Value

CarCostCheck's £4.99 history check covers stolen, outstanding finance and write-off, and the free report gives you MOT history, a mileage check, a reliability score and running costs. £4.99 is less than most checks that include finance.

• 12 checks free, no sign-up. Full MOT history, MOT and tax status, mileage check with clocking detection, reliability score, red flag alerts, running costs, fuel costs, road tax, common faults, safety recalls, ULEZ and clean air zone compliance, and the export marker.
• Premium history for £4.99. Stolen (Police National Computer), outstanding finance with the lender and agreement details, write-off with category (A, B, S, N and the older C and D), date, insurer and damage, the date of each recorded keeper change, VIN check, plate and colour changes, import and export markers, scrapped and high-risk markers. The data comes from Experian AutoCheck.
• Valuation for £2.99. The local dealer value from live UK listings, a private sale price range and how quickly similar cars sell near you.
• Bundle for £6.99. The history check and valuation together.
• No subscription, ever. Every CarCostCheck report is a one-time payment. One payment, one report, done.
• Reliability score. A single 0-100 health score worked out from the car's own MOT history: pass rate, recent failures, advisory trend, recurring faults and mileage.
• Results in seconds. From DVSA, DVLA and Experian data.

Our premium data comes from Experian AutoCheck: stolen records from the Police National Computer, write-offs from MIAFTR and outstanding finance from Experian's finance register. We keep the price at £4.99 by keeping our overheads low. Every paid check is a one-off payment: your report appears on screen, and we email you a link to it that does not expire.

Related Reading

• Cat N Write-Off Check: What You Need to Know
• Is It Safe to Buy a Cat S or Cat N Car?
• Full Car History Check Under £5 UK