Cat N + Cat S Write-Off FAQ: Every Answer in One Place
What Cat S, Cat N, Cat C and Cat D actually mean, whether you can legally drive one, insure one, finance one and sell one, plus how to check any reg plate against MIAFTR, the insurance industry's write-off database, for £4.99.
Last reviewed October 2026
Short answer: a Cat S or Cat N car can legally go back on the road once it has been repaired to a roadworthy condition, and it can be insured and sold, as long as you answer insurers' questions truthfully and describe it accurately. There has been no official inspection of repairs since the Vehicle Identity Check scheme closed on 26 October 2015. DVLA notes a kept Cat S in the log book but not a Cat N, so a history check, such as CarCostCheck's at £4.99, is how you find one.
Write-off check with MIAFTR data, £4.99
Check Cat A, B, S, N (and legacy Cat C, D) markers on any UK reg. Sourced via Experian from MIAFTR, the insurance industry's write-off database. Plus full MOT history, mileage check and outstanding finance.
Categories explained
For a side-by-side table of all six categories and the dates they applied, see insurance write-off categories explained.
What is a Cat S write-off?
Structural damage. The vehicle has suffered structural damage that compromised the chassis, frame or crumple zones. It can legally go back on the road once it has been repaired to a roadworthy condition, and if the owner keeps it, DVLA records the category in the log book (V5C). Insurance policies vary on whether they will cover Cat S vehicles. Cat S replaced the older Cat C in October 2017.
What is a Cat N write-off?
Non-structural damage. Significant damage to non-structural components, bodywork, electrics, interior, mechanical, but the underlying structure is intact. Cat N can go back on the road once it has been repaired to a roadworthy condition, and an owner who keeps it can keep the existing log book. Often the repair is straightforward. Cat N replaced the older Cat D in October 2017.
What is a Cat A write-off?
Scrap only. The damage is so severe the vehicle must be crushed; even individual parts cannot be salvaged. Cat A vehicles cannot be repaired or returned to the road under any circumstances.
What is a Cat B write-off?
Body shell destroyed. The vehicle itself cannot be repaired and must be scrapped, but individual parts (engine, gearbox, electronics) can be salvaged for use in other vehicles. Cat B cars cannot be put back on the road; only their parts can be reused.
What is a Cat C write-off?
Legacy category, replaced by Cat S in October 2017. The two are roughly comparable but defined differently: Cat C was a repairable car where the cost to repair exceeded the vehicle's pre-accident value, whether or not the damage was structural. Existing Cat C markers normally stay on the vehicle's history.
What is a Cat D write-off?
Legacy category, replaced by Cat N in October 2017. The two are roughly comparable but defined differently: Cat D was a repairable car where the repair cost was below the vehicle's value but the insurer still chose to pay out, based on cost rather than on whether the damage was structural. Existing Cat D markers normally stay on the vehicle's history.
Driving a write-off legally
Can you legally drive a Cat S car?
Yes, once it has been repaired to a roadworthy condition. There is no official inspection of the repair: Vehicle Identity Checks, which repaired Cat C cars used to need, were abolished in October 2015. If the owner keeps a Cat S car, DVLA records the category in the log book (V5C). Keep the repair documentation, as buyers and insurers will ask for it.
Can you legally drive a Cat N car?
Yes, once it has been repaired to a roadworthy condition. There is no official inspection of the repair, and an owner who keeps a Cat N car can keep the existing log book. The write-off record stays on the vehicle's history, which is what a history check shows.
Can you legally drive a Cat C or Cat D car?
Yes, both legacy categories could return to the road after repair. Repaired Cat C cars used to need a Vehicle Identity Check, but those checks were abolished in October 2015. Like Cat S and N, the write-off record normally stays on the car's history.
Do I need to declare a Cat S or Cat N to the DVLA?
GOV.UK says you must tell DVLA if your car has been written off and scrapped by your insurer, and that you can be fined £1,000 if you do not. To keep a Cat S car you send the complete log book to your insurer and apply for a free duplicate with form V62, and DVLA records the category in the new log book. If you keep a Cat N car, you can keep the existing log book, and the category is not added to it.
Insuring a write-off
Can you insure a Cat S car?
Yes, a repaired Cat S car can be insured, but insurers set their own rules: some may decline a written-off car or charge more, so get a quote for the exact car before you buy. If an insurer asks about write-offs, tell it the car is a Cat S. Under the Consumer Insurance (Disclosure and Representations) Act 2012 you must take reasonable care not to misrepresent the car, and a careless or deliberate misstatement can let the insurer reduce or refuse a claim or cancel the policy.
Can you insure a Cat N car?
Yes, a repaired Cat N car can be insured, but insurers set their own rules, so some may charge more or decline it; get a quote before you buy. Answer any question about write-offs truthfully: the Cat N record stays on the car's history even though it is not shown in the log book.
Will a Cat S or Cat N car be cheaper to insure than a non-marker car?
Do not expect it to be. Insurers price written-off cars by their own rules, so get a quote for the exact car before you buy. A lower purchase price can be offset by a higher premium over the time you own it.
What happens if I don't tell my insurer about a Cat S/N marker?
If the insurer asked about write-offs and you misstated the car's history, the Consumer Insurance (Disclosure and Representations) Act 2012 lets it respond according to how that happened. If it was deliberate or reckless, the insurer can cancel the policy, refuse all claims and keep the premiums. If it was careless, it can act as it would have done had it known: refuse cover and return the premiums, apply the terms it would have used, or pay a claim in proportion to the premium it would have charged. Insurers share claims information through the Claims and Underwriting Exchange (CUE).
Buying or selling a write-off
Are Cat S or Cat N cars worth less than equivalent unmarked cars?
Yes. A write-off marker usually lowers the price compared with an unmarked equivalent, and by more for Cat S than for Cat N. The gap tends to widen with vehicle age and narrow with strong repair documentation.
Can I sell a Cat S or Cat N car?
Yes, as long as you describe it accurately. Any seller, private or trade, must describe a car correctly, so calling a Cat S or Cat N car accident-free or never written off gives the buyer a claim. Dealers must also say it is a write-off: Trading Standards guidance gives failing to tell a buyer that a car was an insurance write-off as an example of a misleading omission, which the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 bans. Some dealers will refuse a part-exchange on a Cat car.
Should I buy a Cat S or Cat N car?
It depends. A well-repaired Cat N at a fair discount can be a genuine bargain, use the saving toward an enhanced inspection. A Cat S or poorly-documented Cat N is higher risk; the structural repair quality is critical and not something most buyers can verify themselves. Always pay for an independent mechanical inspection before completing.
Can a write-off car pass MOT?
Yes. The MOT tests current roadworthiness, not history. A repaired Cat S or N car passes MOT the same as any other car, provided it currently meets the standard. Pre-repair, a written-off vehicle would normally fail MOT regardless of category.
Finance + repossession
Can I get finance on a Cat S or Cat N car?
Some lenders will, with restrictions. Cat N is generally accepted by mainstream PCP and HP providers; Cat S is usually only accepted by specialist used-car finance lenders. Expect higher APR and shorter terms than for unmarked cars.
Can a Cat car still have outstanding finance against it?
Yes. The original finance company's claim is independent of the write-off marker. If a written-off vehicle was repaired and sold while still on finance, the lender may still have a claim on the car. A private buyer who bought in good faith without knowing about the finance is usually protected by the Hire Purchase Act 1964, but not for every type of loan or for trade buyers, and sorting it out can take months. Always run a finance check.
How to check for write-off markers
How do I check if a car has been written off (free options)?
There is no free check that returns write-off markers. Cat A/B/S/N data sits in the insurance industry's MIAFTR database, which charges per query. Free DVLA and DVSA data does not include write-off markers. Any 'free write-off check' site is misleading.
What is the best-value way to check for write-off markers?
CarCostCheck premium at £4.99. It returns Cat A, B, S, N, plus legacy Cat C and D markers, sourced via Experian from MIAFTR, the insurance industry's write-off register. The £4.99 also includes outstanding finance, stolen, VIN check, plate transfers, and previous owners.
Do the new sub-£1 car check sites show write-off markers?
Not if they only use free government data. DVLA and DVSA data does not include insurance write-off markers. Cat A, B, S and N data sits in the MIAFTR database, which we access via Experian and which charges for every lookup, so a check that costs pennies is very unlikely to include it. A very cheap check that stays silent on write-off status is not clearing the car, it simply never looked. CarCostCheck's £4.99 check returns the write-off category, with outstanding finance included.
Is the write-off data the same on every history check?
If the check uses MIAFTR, yes. MIAFTR is the insurance industry's write-off register, and CarCostCheck reaches it through Experian, so the category shown is the one on file. Finance data can differ: providers use different finance registers, and CarCostCheck uses Experian's. The £4.99 check also includes stolen, VIN, plate transfers and the date of each recorded keeper change.
Will a CarCostCheck premium report show legacy Cat C and D markers?
Yes. Write-off records normally stay on a car's history, so even though Cat C was replaced by Cat S in 2017, vehicles previously written off as Cat C still carry the Cat C marker today. Same for Cat D / Cat N. The premium report shows whichever marker is on file, and if an insurer has removed a record, the date it was removed.
Run a write-off check on any UK reg, £4.99
Cat A, B, S, N + legacy Cat C, D markers from MIAFTR via Experian, the insurance industry's write-off register. Plus stolen, finance, VIN check, and full MOT history. Your report in 60 seconds, with a link to keep and a PDF to download.