If you are looking for a second-hand car, you may come across vehicles described as a ‘previous write-off’.  Essentially, this means that the vehicle has been damaged severely enough for the insurance company to consider it not worth repairing, but someone has repaired it to return it to the road.

You can carry out a vehicle history check by visiting the websites of the major motoring organisations in the UK and for a modest fee they will provide you with a report on your potential purchase.  Car dealerships are obliged pursuant to the Sale of Goods Acts to describe properly what is being sold so such information should be clear. Auctions have different rules and you should check the brochure each time.

A car can be one of four write-off categories, depending on the severity of damage.

These were changed in 2017 when the Association of British Insurers changed its salvage code to reflect the structural damage to a car rather than focusing solely on the repair costs. The four categories are as follows;-

Category A

The most Serious Category.  Category A write-offs must be crushed, parts cannot be removed from the vehicle, even if they appear to be salvageable.

Category B.

This signifies serious damage.  The car should never be used again on the roads and its body shell must be crushed, however parts may be removed from the vehicle for use on other cars.

Category S (formally Category C)

The car has suffered structural damage and would be uneconomical to repair.  If repaired by a professional, it may be returned to the road.

Category N (formally Category D)

The least severe category.  Damage is non-structural, but could affect safety features such as brakes or steering.  Category N write-offs may be returned to the roads, but not until they have been professionally prepared.

It is worth remembering that a car’s value can affect its likelihood to be written off. Insurance companies are responsible for writing a vehicle off following a crash and the car’s value is important.

To put it simply, a nearly new expensive car will need a lot of damage to make it a write off, but an ‘old banger’ with little value only needs small cosmetic damage to be deemed as written off.

 

If you have been in a road traffic collision, remember that you have the right to take independent legal advice from the Solicitor of your choice.

Murlands Litigation Department has a wealth of knowledge and experience – our specialist Solicitors can provide you with the right advice and representation.  Contact us here.