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Cat S and Cat N cars can be legally sold without disclosure

Check a Car's
Write-Off History

Insurers assign Category A, B, S or N to written-off vehicles. Categories A and B cannot legally return to the road. Category S may have structural damage. Know before you buy.

Enter any UK reg to run a free check

Free results load in seconds. MOT history, mileage, tax and specs always free. Add the full check on the results page for £4.99 + VAT. No account needed.

Cat A, B, S, N
All four insurance categories checked
£4.99 + VAT
Write-off check included in full report
Instant results
Free check loads in under 60 seconds

What your results look like

Free data loads in seconds. The full check unlocks within 30 seconds of payment.

SAMPLE
AB12 CDE
VW Golf 1.5 TSI
2019 · Silver · 1.5L Petrol
Always FreeFREE
✓
MOT History6 tests · Last: PASS Jun 2025 · Advisory: brake pad wear noted
✓Mileage Records48,203 miles · Consistent year-on-year
✓Tax StatusTaxed · Valid until Jan 2027
✓Vehicle Specs1.5L Petrol · 128g/km CO2 · Euro 6
Full History Report£4.99 + VAT
✓Outstanding Finance
CLEAR
✓Stolen Check
CLEAR
✓Write-off History
CLEAR
✓Mileage Verification
CONSISTENT

Sample report. Registration, vehicle details and results are illustrative only.

Write-off categories explained

UK insurers use four categories to classify written-off vehicles. The category determines whether it can legally return to the road and how safe it is to buy.

Category ACannot be resold

Total write-off. The vehicle and all its parts must be crushed. It is illegal to put a Category A vehicle back on the road or sell any part of it.

Category BCannot be resold

The body shell must be crushed. Some parts may be salvaged and sold. The car itself cannot be returned to the road under any circumstances.

Category SCan be resold

Structural damage (previously Cat C). The chassis or frame has been damaged. Can be repaired and returned to the road but must be declared and inspected. Structural integrity may be permanently compromised.

Category NCan be resold

Non-structural damage (previously Cat D). No structural damage. Can be repaired and sold. Still significantly affects insurance costs and resale value. Often cosmetic or electrical damage.

Buying a Cat S car? See the full guide: Cat S check. Buying Cat N? See: Cat N check.

Why write-off history matters

Sellers are not required to disclose write-off history in a private sale. The risk is on you to find out.

Structural damage
A Category S repair may have been done poorly or not at all. Compromised chassis integrity affects crash protection, handling and long-term safety.
Insurance refusal
Some insurers refuse to cover written-off vehicles. Others will insure but the premium is significantly higher and any claim may be disputed.
Lower resale value
Write-off status depresses a vehicle's value by 20-40% compared to a clean example. Future buyers will pay less. You are overpaying if you don't know.
The seller may not declare it
Sellers are not always legally required to disclose write-off history in a private sale. The risk is on you to check.

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How we source our data

MOTCO accesses the same underlying databases as HPI, Total Car Check and CarVertical. No vehicle history provider has exclusive access to these sources.

DVSAUK Government

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency publishes full MOT test records from 2005 via a government API. Every test result, advisory, failure reason and odometer reading is sourced directly from the national testing database with no third-party processing.

Police National DatabaseLaw Enforcement

Operated by the National Police Chiefs' Council. All UK police forces submit stolen vehicle records here. A check against the PND is the authoritative source for stolen status used by all major vehicle history providers in the UK.

Finance and insurance registersIndustry

Outstanding finance data comes from UK lender databases covering HP, PCP and lease agreements. Write-off data comes from the Motor Insurance Anti-Fraud and Theft Register (MIAFTR) and the Claims and Underwriting Exchange (CUE). These are the same registers used by HPI, Total Car Check and CarVertical.

How it works

1
Enter any UK reg
Works on all UK-registered vehicles. No account needed.
2
Free results instantly
MOT history, mileage records, tax status and vehicle specs load immediately.
3
Add the full report
Write-off history, stolen check, outstanding finance and mileage verification for £4.99 + VAT.

If the check finds a write-off

Do not complete the purchase until you have worked through these steps.

1
Ask for the full repair history and sign-off documentation
A properly repaired write-off should have itemised repair receipts from a qualified bodyshop and a sign-off confirming the vehicle was returned to roadworthy condition.
2
For Category S: commission an independent structural inspection
Structural damage affects crash protection. An inspection by a manufacturer-approved repairer or structural engineer confirms whether repairs were completed correctly. Budget £100 to £200.
3
For Category N: request receipts for all specific repairs
For airbag write-offs: replacement certificates and SRS module reset confirmation. For flood damage: remediation report signed off by a qualified auto electrician.
4
Negotiate the price based on category
Category S history typically reduces market value by 20 to 40 percent. Category N reduces it by 15 to 30 percent versus a clean equivalent. Price in the discount before committing.
5
Declare write-off history when insuring the vehicle
Every future insurance application must declare write-off status. Failing to do so invalidates the policy on any claim, regardless of category.

Related guides

Common questions

What does a write-off check tell me?
It tells you whether an insurer has ever declared the vehicle a total loss, and if so, which category was assigned: A, B, S or N. Categories A and B cannot legally be returned to the road. Category S has structural damage. Category N has non-structural damage. All four affect the value and insurability of the vehicle.
Can I buy a Category S or N car?
Yes. Category S and N vehicles can be legally bought and sold in the UK. The risk is in not knowing. A Category S vehicle may have structural damage that was not properly repaired. Both categories significantly affect insurance premiums and resale value. Some insurers will not cover written-off vehicles at all.
How does the write-off check work?
MOTCO checks the registration against insurance industry databases including the Motor Insurance Anti-Fraud and Theft Register and the Claims and Underwriting Exchange. These hold records of all insurance write-off decisions made by UK insurers.
Does write-off status affect insurance?
Yes, significantly. You are legally required to declare write-off history when applying for car insurance. Some insurers will not cover Cat S or N vehicles. Those that do typically charge higher premiums. Failing to declare write-off history may invalidate your policy.
What is the difference between Cat S and Cat N?
Category S means the vehicle sustained structural damage -- the chassis, crumple zones or body-in-white were damaged. Category N means non-structural damage only -- airbags, electronics, or cosmetic damage. Both are write-offs in insurance terms but Cat S carries more risk due to potential structural integrity issues.
How much does the check cost?
Write-off history is included in the £4.99 + VAT full history report. This also covers outstanding finance, stolen check and mileage verification. MOT history and mileage records are always free.

Check before you buy

Write-off history, stolen check, outstanding finance and mileage verification. Full report £4.99 + VAT. Enter any UK reg to start.

Enter any UK reg

Write-off data sourced from the Motor Insurance Anti-Fraud and Theft Register (MIAFTR) and Claims and Underwriting Exchange (CUE). MOT data from DVSA (UK Government). Reviewed by the MOTCO vehicle data team. Updated June 2026.