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Car Write-Off Check | Verify if Your Vehicle is Written Off
Around 384,000 to 400,000 vehicles are written off each year, many ending up in the used car market with hidden risks like extensive damage, safety issues, and legal problems. Get a car write-off check to spot them easily and make informed decisions.
What is an Insurance Write-Off Check in UK?
An Insurance write off check looks up the history of the vehicle to verify if it has been written off by an insurance company.
When a car is involved in an accident or stolen and then recovered, insurance companies will assess the damage or loss and decide whether to repair the vehicle or write it off. If the cost of repairing the car is more than its value, the insurance company will declare it a write-off and pay out the market value of the car instead.
What Kind of Information Does Your Write-Off Check Show?
A typical car write-off check would provide the following information:
- Number of write-off markers: The number of write off markers placed on the vehicle.
- Date of entry in MIAFTR: The date the vehicle was added to the Motor Insurance Anti-Fraud & Theft Register.
- Date of loss: The date when the vehicle was deemed a total loss by the insurer.
- Type of loss: The reason the vehicle was written off (e.g., structural, non-structural, etc).
- Category: The classification of the write-off (A, B, S, or N).
- Type of damage: The specific damage the vehicle sustained (e.g., structural, non-structural).
That’s not all! With a full car check, you can view more than written off records, including:
Outstanding finance
Written-off records
Stolen records
High-risk records
Vehicle specifications
Scrapped records
Auction history
Plate/colour change
Ownership records
Imported records
Exported records
Log book history
MOT history
Road tax
VIC Inspected Records
VIN Number Check
Why is a Car Write-Off Check Important?
Let’s take a quick look at some statistics concerning written-off vehicles in the UK:
- 384,000 cars are written off each year in the UK (approximately one every 90 seconds).
- Only 10.8% of buyers feel comfortable purchasing a repaired write-off.
- In London and Birmingham, 24.7% and 23.8% of used cars have been written off.
- 54.1% of buyers are concerned about repair quality, and 43.1% worry about resale issues.
- 16% of write-off buyers later encountered problems linked to previous incidents damage.
A car write-off check helps you determine if the car has been involved in a serious accident or sustained damage that led to it being considered a total loss. With this knowledge, car buyers and sellers can easily avoid these vehicles.
The importance of write-off checks includes:
Easily Spot Damaged Cars
Without a write-off check, you could unknowingly purchase a car that was declared a write-off with hidden structural issues or safety concerns that can be costly to repair.
Avoid Hidden Repair Costs
By checking the write-off status of a vehicle, you can avoid one with damages that would cost unexpected repair bills down the road.
Ensure Safety
A car that was written off due to structural damage could pose safety risks. If repairs weren’t carried out properly, the vehicle might not meet safety standards, potentially endangering you and your passengers.
Protect Yourself from Legal Issues
A written-off car might not legally be sold without specific repairs or certification. If the vehicle was declared a total loss and not properly rebuilt or inspected, you could violate regulations by purchasing, selling, or driving it.
Better Negotiation Leverage
If you discover that the car you’re interested in has been written off, it provides an opportunity to negotiate a lower price and avoid overpaying for it.
Before buying, make sure your car is not written off! Use Smart Car Check to uncover hidden risks.
Car Insurance Write-Off Categories Explained
Car insurance companies assign different write-off categories to vehicles depending on the level of damage sustained:
These categories are:
Category A (Cat A)
Category A write-offs are vehicles that are damaged beyond repair with severe structural damage. They can’t be repaired, sold, or used on the road again. These vehicles are mostly scrapped and a certificate of destruction (CoD) issued after.
Category B (Cat B)
Cat B vehicles are severely damaged and cannot return to the road, just like Cat A. However, these vehicles can be stripped for parts and used for other vehicles. However, the chassis and body must be scrapped.
Category S (Cat S)
Cat S write-offs, formerly Cat C, are vehicles that have suffered damage to structural areas of the vehicle but can be repaired to a roadworthy condition and driven again as long as it passes an inspection.
Category N (Cat N)
Cat N write-offs, formerly Cat D, have suffered non-structural damage and can be repaired to a roadworthy condition. These vehicles do not need to pass an inspection before being roadworthy.
Category F (Cat F)
This category is not as common as the others but it is used to classify vehicles that had minor fire damage that are repairable and the insurers decided not to repair them.
Check Smart Car Check Sample Reports
What Happens if My Car is Written Off?
If your car is written off, it means it is no longer roadworthy and will no longer be insured. The insurance company will access its market value and pay you that amount. This automatically gives them full ownership of the vehicle.
Next, the vehicle will be classified into a category (A, B, S, or N), which determines whether it is scrapped, repaired, or salvaged for parts.
If your car is in Category S or N, you may be given the option to keep it and repair it yourself. For Category A and B, the car is usually not returned to you. You can use the payout to buy a replacement, though it might not fully cover the cost of a similar vehicle.
Should I Buy a Written-off Vehicle?
There’s nothing wrong with buying a written-off vehicle in good condition. These vehicles usually come at great prices and provides good value for money. However, you need to consider the severity of the damage, the category of write-off, insurance costs and the cost and quality of repairs.
Weigh the risks and benefits, get a detailed car check, and decide whether a written-off vehicle is a good investment.
Get our Smart Car Check Mobile App
Are you looking for the best car history check UK? Make a smart decision with Smart Car Check App. Perform a Reg. number check in the UK to uncover any past problems and hidden history that the seller will not tell you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the write-off categories change?
The car insurance write-off categories changed in October 2017 to focus on the type and extent of damage, rather than solely the cost of repairs, with Cat S replacing Cat C and Cat N replacing Cat D.
How does my insurer decide if a car is a write-off following an accident?
Your insurer decides if a car is a write-off by comparing the cost of repairs to the car’s market value, considering factors like damage severity, safety concerns, and repair feasibility, often using a “repair-to-value ratio”.
How to check If my car is a write-off?
To check if your car is a write-off, you just need to use a write-off check tool. All you need to do is enter the car reg number into the form on this page or search with the VIN if the reg number is unavailable.
How much does a car write-off check cost in the UK?
The cost of a car write-off check in the UK varies depending on the service provider. Some online car check services offer write-off checks as part of a comprehensive vehicle history check, while others charge a separate fee for the write-off check. With smart car check you can get this report for only £12.99.
What can I do if I don’t agree with the written off decision?
If you don’t agree with the written off decision, you can challenge it by gathering as much evidence as you can about your car’s value and negotiating with your insurer. If necessary, you can also ake the matter to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS).
What does the insurance company do with written-off cars?
After a car is written off, the insurance company takes ownership and typically either scraps it or sells it to salvage companies for parts or potential repairs, depending on the write-off category.
Can I sell a car that has been written off?
Yes, you cal sell a car that’s been written off, just as long as you inform potential buyers about its previous status and the write-off category.
How do write-off categories differ?
Write-off categories differ based on the extent of the damage to the vehicle. For example, a Category A write-off indicates that the vehicle is only suitable for scrap and cannot be repaired, while a Category N write-off indicates that the vehicle can be repaired and returned to the road.
Can I still buy a vehicle that has been written off?
Yes, you can still buy a vehicle that has been written off, but it is essential to get a car write-off to check to ensure that the vehicle is safe to drive and does not have any hidden issues that could be expensive to repair.
How often should I get a car write-off check for a used vehicle?
It is recommended to get a car write-off check for a used vehicle before making a purchase to ensure that the vehicle does not have any previous write-offs.
Is it possible to remove a write-off category from a vehicle's history?
No, it is not possible to remove a write-off category from a vehicle’s history. Once a vehicle has been declared a total loss and written off, the write-off category will remain on the vehicle’s history.
