How to check cheaply if a car has ever been written off. Covers every category (Cat A, B, S, N, plus legacy Cat C and D) and ranks the main UK providers by price and data depth (prices checked 8 October 2026).
| Category | Active dates | Road legal? | Typical damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cat A | All | No (scrap only) | Irreparable |
| Cat B | All | No (body destroyed) | Severe |
| Cat S | Oct 2017+ | Yes after repair | Structural |
| Cat N | Oct 2017+ | Yes after repair | Non-structural |
| Cat C (legacy) | Pre-Oct 2017 | Yes after repair | Repair > value |
| Cat D (legacy) | Pre-Oct 2017 | Yes after repair | Repair + costs > value |
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Key takeaway: CarCostCheck premium costs £4.99. It covers all six categories (Cat A, B, S, N, plus legacy Cat C and Cat D) using write-off records from MIAFTR, the insurance industry's register, and includes stolen, finance, keeper, VIN, and colour change data in the same report. A few checks cost less, and some of them leave out finance, so compare what each includes as well as the price (prices checked 8 October 2026).
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An insurer writes off a car when the cost to repair it exceeds its value. The insurer then records the write-off on MIAFTR (the Motor Insurance Anti-Fraud and Theft Register), the insurance industry's private register. A write-off check looks the car up on MIAFTR and tells you whether it has ever been recorded as a total loss, and under which category.
This matters because a write-off record is permanent. A car written off in 2012 will still show the marker in 2026. It affects the car's insurance cost, its resale value, and its loan eligibility for the rest of its life.
Cat C and Cat D were retired for new write-offs in October 2017 and replaced by Cat S and Cat N. Any car written off before that date still carries the legacy category permanently.
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Data from DVSA and DVLA. Used by thousands of UK car buyers.
Here is how CarCostCheck compares with the main UK write-off checks, the others sorted by price (checked 8 October 2026):
| Service | Price | Covers all 6 categories? | Extras |
|---|---|---|---|
| CarCostCheck premium | £4.99 | ✓ | Stolen, finance, VIN, keepers, colour, full MOT analysis, running costs |
| "Free" car check sites | Free | ✗ | Basic DVLA data only, no write-off data |
| DealerPricing History Check | £3.99 | Cat A, B, S and N listed (legacy C and D not stated) | Stolen, finance, keepers, plate and colour changes, MOT history, mileage |
| Total Car Check (Silver) | £3.99 | Not stated | Stolen; no finance check (Gold, with finance, is £9.99) |
| AA car check | £14.99 | ✓ | Stolen, finance, VIN, keepers, £30,000 guarantee |
| RAC Vehicle History Check (Full) | £14.99 | ✓ | Finance details, mileage, MOT history, running costs, £30,000 guarantee |
| CarVertical | £39.99 | ✓ | UK + European history, market price |
Among the checks that include finance, DealerPricing's £3.99 History Check costs the least. CarCostCheck's £4.99 is a third of the AA's and the RAC Full check's £14.99, and its free report also adds full MOT history with repair cost estimates, a reliability score and a running-cost estimate alongside the write-off check.
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Some websites advertise a "free car check" and claim to cover write-off data. They do not. Write-off records sit on MIAFTR, a private insurance industry register, and checks that include them cost money to run. A free check usually gives you DVLA and MOT data (make, tax and MOT status), which is useful but is not a write-off check. Do not rely on it before spending thousands on a used car.
Even without paying, the free CarCostCheck report can reveal fingerprints of a written-off car:
If you see any of these, spending the £4.99 on the premium check before visiting the car is a no-brainer. It confirms any write-off and also shows colour changes, which can follow a respray after repairs.
A few checks cost less: DealerPricing's £3.99 History Check includes finance, and Total Car Check's £3.99 Silver check leaves finance out. CarCostCheck premium is £4.99 and covers all six categories.
Not from the free government services. The records sit on MIAFTR, a private insurance industry register, so check what any "free" offer really includes.
Not legally, but an independent inspection is highly recommended. A non-structural category can still hide poor repairs, and an inspection costs far less than a bad buy.
Usually. Many insurers charge more to cover a write-off, especially Cat S or legacy Cat C, and some will not cover them at all, so get a quote before you buy.
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Related reading: Cheapest Car History Check Prices Compared | Cat N Explained | Cat S Explained | Is It Safe to Buy a Write-Off?
A few checks cost less: DealerPricing's £3.99 History Check includes finance, and Total Car Check's £3.99 Silver check leaves finance out. CarCostCheck's £4.99 check returns Cat A, B, S, N and legacy C/D status, with the date, insurer and damage, alongside stolen, outstanding finance, keeper, VIN and colour change data. That compares with £14.99 at the AA or RAC (prices checked 8 October 2026).
Not from the free government services. Write-off records are held on MIAFTR, the insurance industry's register, which is not public, and the DVLA vehicle enquiry and MOT history services do not show write-off status. CarCostCheck's £4.99 check includes it, along with stolen and outstanding finance checks.
Current (from October 2017): Cat A (scrap only), Cat B (body shell destroyed), Cat S (structural damage, road-legal after repair), Cat N (non-structural damage, road-legal). Legacy (pre-October 2017): Cat C (replaced by Cat S), Cat D (replaced by Cat N). All remain on the record permanently.
Not automatically. Cat N and Cat D (the lightest categories) can be genuine bargains. Cat S means structural damage, so it carries more risk, and legacy Cat C cars were ones where repairs cost more than the car was worth. Cat A and Cat B are not road-legal. Always run the full check and get an independent inspection before buying any write-off.
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Used by thousands of UK car buyers. Data from DVSA and DVLA.
Example report preview
2019 Ford Fiesta
1.0 EcoBoost, Petrol, Manual
82
Grade B
£1,860
per year
Pass
MOT status
42k
Mileage
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