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UK insurance write-off categories explained

When an insurer decides repairing a damaged car isn't worthwhile, they record it as a write-off in one of four categories. The system changed in October 2017 — older cars may still show the previous lettering (Cat A/B/C/D), while anything written off since then uses Cat A/B/S/N.

The current system (since 2017)

Category	Meaning	Can it be driven again?
Cat A	Most severe. Must be crushed entirely — no parts can be reused or sold.	Never — must be destroyed
Cat B	Body/shell must be crushed, but some parts can be salvaged and resold.	Never — the vehicle itself must be destroyed
Cat S (full guide)	Structural damage — affects the frame or chassis.	Yes, if professionally repaired
Cat N (full guide)	Non-structural damage — cosmetic, electrical, or non-load-bearing parts.	Yes, generally easier to repair than Cat S

The old system (before October 2017)

You may still see these on older vehicles' history:

• Cat C — roughly equivalent to today's Cat S. Repairable, but the cost was close to or above the car's value.
• Cat D — roughly equivalent to today's Cat N. Repairable, often for a relatively minor reason economically.

Cat A and Cat B have always meant the same thing — the naming didn't change for those two, only C/D became S/N.

Does a write-off category mean the car is unsafe?

Not automatically. A Cat S or Cat N car (or old Cat C/D) can be legally and safely driven if it's been properly repaired — the category tells you it was damaged, not that it currently is. What matters is the quality of the repair, which is why an independent inspection matters more than the label itself.

What to actually do if a car has any write-off history

• Ask for repair evidence — invoices, photos, or an engineer's report
• Get an independent inspection specifically checking the repair
• Check your insurer will actually cover it, and at what cost, before agreeing to buy
• Expect — and negotiate for — a noticeably lower price than an equivalent car with no write-off history