The premium report checks the Experian database for insurance write-off markers:
| Category | Meaning | Severity |
|---|
| Cat A | Entire car must be crushed. Cannot return to road. | Total loss |
| Cat B | Shell crushed, parts salvaged. Cannot return to road. | Severe |
| Cat S | Structural damage. Can be repaired and re-registered. | Serious |
| Cat N | Non-structural damage. Can be repaired and sold. | Moderate |
If the car has a Cat S or Cat N marker, you know it was in an accident serious enough for the insurer to write it off. This is not necessarily a deal-breaker (see our write-off buying guide), but it significantly affects the value and you should proceed with extra caution.
Paint and Body
- Colour match: Look at each panel in natural daylight. Repainted panels often have a slightly different shade, especially metallic colours.
- Overspray: Check door shuts, boot edges, and under the bonnet for paint where it should not be. Overspray is a telltale sign of a respray.
- Panel gaps: Run your eye along the gaps between panels. They should be even and consistent. Uneven gaps indicate panels that have been removed and refitted (or replaced).
- Body filler: Run a fridge magnet along panels. It will stick less firmly over body filler than bare metal.
Under the Bonnet
- Chassis rails: Look for kinks, fresh welding, or paint that does not match the rest of the engine bay.
- Bolt heads: If bolts on wings, bumper mounts, or headlights show tool marks (scratches from spanners), those parts have been removed, likely for repair.
- Radiator support: The front cross-member should be straight with factory paint. Fresh paint or bends indicate front-end impact.
Boot and Floor
- Boot floor: Lift the carpet. Look for wrinkles, fresh welding, or inconsistent paint. Rear-end impacts often damage the boot floor.
- Spare wheel well: Should be factory-finished with consistent paint. Damage here suggests a rear impact.
A professional pre-purchase inspection (£150-250 from AA, RAC, or independent inspectors) is worth it when:
- The car has a Cat S write-off marker
- You suspect accident damage but cannot confirm it yourself
- The car is high-value (£10,000+) and the cost of missing damage is significant
- You are buying sight-unseen or from a distance
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