Understand Category A, B, S and N insurance write-offs and the questions to ask when considering a previously damaged vehicle.
An insurance write-off marker tells you that an insurer previously decided a vehicle fell into a defined salvage category after damage. It does not by itself tell you the quality of any later repair, so buyers need to understand both the category and the individual car.
Category A vehicles are intended to be crushed and should not return to the road. Category B vehicles have a body shell that should be crushed, although certain usable parts may be recovered. These are fundamentally different from repairable categories.
Category S indicates structural damage where the vehicle may be repaired and returned to the road. Structural repairs make the quality of workmanship, alignment and supporting documentation especially important. A professional independent inspection can be valuable before purchase.
Category N is used where the insurer classified the damage as non-structural. That does not mean the damage was trivial. Steering, suspension, electrical systems and other components can still be significant, and the repair standard still matters.
If you are considering a previously written-off car, ask for photographs of the damage, repair invoices, details of who carried out the work and any inspection or alignment evidence. Compare the price with equivalent vehicles that do not have a write-off history because the marker can affect future value, insurance and resale.
A history check should be treated as a trigger for better questions. If a write-off marker is present, understand exactly what happened before deciding whether the price properly reflects the additional uncertainty.
What a deeper vehicle-history check should help you decide
A useful history report should help answer the questions that public MOT and tax information cannot: whether there are deeper risks that could affect ownership, value or your willingness to buy.
What to check
Review theft and insurance write-off markers.
Check keeper, plate and V5C activity for unusual chronology.
Use the Ultimate level when outstanding finance and salvage history matter to the purchase.
Compare any significant marker with the seller's explanation and supporting documents.
Why it matters
The value of a history report is not the number of rows it contains. It is whether the information changes what you inspect, what you ask the seller and whether you should proceed.
What the data cannot prove
Data availability varies between vehicles and providers. A clear report cannot guarantee the present mechanical condition of the vehicle or replace document and identity checks.
