Here's a piece of useful information, for those like me that often mis-understand the different insurance write-off classifications, hope you also find it helpful:
Here’s a breakdown of the four A, B, S and N write-off categories and what they tell you about the damage a car has suffered.
Category A write-offs
Category A write-offs are vehicles that have suffered severe structural damage. They can’t be repaired. The car’s chassis and/or bodyshell (the components that give a car its strength in a crash) may have been heavily damaged in an accident, or it may have been burnt-out in a fire. Whatever’s left of the car must be scrapped and a certificate of destruction issued after the car has been destroyed. You can’t even take the gearknob off it.
Category B write-offs
Category B write-offs have suffered severe damage that can’t be repaired. The remains of the car can be stripped for parts for use on other vehicles, but the chassis and/or bodyshell must be scrapped because this may have suffered serious or irreperable damage.
Category S write-off (formerly CAT C)
Cat S write-offs have suffered damage to structural areas of the vehicle such as the chassis or crumple zones. A Category S car can be repaired and put back to a roadworthy condition and used on the road again. However, the car must pass an inspection by an accredited engineer and be re-registered with the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency). Depending on what parts have been used to carry out repairs, the DVLA may issue a new registration number for the car. If so, this will start with the letter ‘Q’.
Category N write-offs
Category N write-offs are vehicles that have suffered non-structural damage and can be repaired to a roadworthy condition and put back into use. The term ‘non-structural’ covers a lot of ground these days and could include the bumpers and roof panel, not to mention the electrics, the engine and the seats. A CAT N car doesn’t need to pass an inspection or be re-registered before it is returned to the road.
What about Cat C and D?
Categories S and N replaced categories C and D respectively in 2017. The precise wording of the definitions has changed slightly, but what can be done with a Cat S or N write-off hasn’t changed from the old Cat C and D rules.
The change was made to better reflect the materials and construction methods used in modern cars, as well as to put greater emphasis on the damage that could affect the safety of a car rather than the cost of repairs.
