When an insurer decides a damaged car is not worth repairing, it is written off and given a salvage category under the ABI Salvage Code. There are four: Category A and Category B vehicles can never legally return to the road, while Category S (structural damage) and Category N (non-structural damage) can be repaired and driven again. These replaced the old Cat C and Cat D categories in October 2017.
The category tells you how badly a car was damaged and whether it can be put back on the road, which matters both if your own car is written off and if you are thinking of buying a repaired ex-write-off.
What are the four write-off categories?
Category A is the most severe: the car is so badly damaged it must be crushed entirely, and even undamaged parts must be destroyed. Category B means the body shell must be crushed and the car can never return to the road, but safe salvageable parts may be reused in other vehicles. Category S means the car has suffered structural damage, such as a bent chassis or a collapsed crumple zone, but can be professionally repaired and returned to the road. Category N means the damage is non-structural, cosmetic or a fault the insurer judged uneconomic to repair, and the car can be repaired and driven again.
Can you drive a Cat S or Cat N car?
Yes, once it has been properly repaired. A Category S car has had structural damage, so the repair must be done professionally and the car re-registered, with the DVLA notified. A Category N car has no structural damage, but the faults can still include safety-related items such as brakes or steering, so a proper repair and inspection still matter. Neither category can be sold as if it had never been written off; the history stays with the car.
What is the difference from the old Cat C and Cat D?
Before October 2017, the repairable categories were Cat C and Cat D, which were based purely on the cost of repair relative to the car’s value. The ABI replaced them with Cat S and Cat N to focus on whether the damage was structural and safety-critical, rather than just on cost. Older cars may still show Cat C or Cat D on their history.
How does a write-off affect insurance and value?
A car with a recorded write-off category is worth less than an equivalent car with clean history, and you must declare the category when insuring it. Some insurers will not cover ex-write-offs, or will charge more, and the category will show on a vehicle history check. If your own car is written off, the insurer pays its pre-accident market value, which is where disputes often arise.
Where your cover fits
Whether you are insuring a repaired write-off or want to understand how your own total-loss claim would be valued, the policy wording and the declared history both matter. A broker can help place cover on a car with a write-off marker that many insurers decline. To review your motor cover, get a quote or speak to the team.