The quick read
- Category A vehicles must be crushed in full; Category B body shells must be crushed and cannot return to the road.
- Category S means repairable structural damage; Category N means repairable non-structural damage.
- Older Cat C and Cat D markers can still appear on cars written off before the category system changed in October 2017.
- A live history check identifies recorded markers; an independent inspection assesses the car in front of you.
The four current categories at a glance
The current UK system separates vehicles that must never return to the road from those an insurer considered repairable. Category A and B are end-of-life classifications. Category S and N vehicles may be used again after repair, provided they are roadworthy.
The financial reason for a total loss matters too. A car can be written off because safe repair is uneconomic relative to its pre-accident value—not only because the visible damage looks catastrophic.
- Cat A — scrap only. The entire vehicle must be crushed and no parts may be reused.
- Cat B — break for parts. The body shell must be crushed, although suitable parts may be salvaged.
- Cat S — structural damage. The vehicle may return to the road after a roadworthy repair.
- Cat N — non-structural damage. The vehicle may return after repair, but safety-related systems can still be affected.
What happened to Cat C and Cat D?
Cat C and Cat D were replaced by Cat S and Cat N in October 2017. The old categories were driven more directly by repair economics: Cat C usually meant repair costs exceeded the vehicle's pre-accident value, while Cat D could be repaired for less than that value but other costs made the claim uneconomic.
A historic C or D marker does not convert into S or N. It remains part of the vehicle's recorded history, so the date of the marker is useful context when you interpret the letter.
What the category cannot tell you
A category is not a repair certificate. It does not identify every damaged component, show who completed the work, prove that the geometry is correct or confirm that airbags and driver-assistance systems operate as intended.
Ask for pre-repair photographs, a parts list, invoices, alignment or geometry reports and the identity of the repairer. For a Cat S vehicle in particular, commission an independent inspection from a suitably qualified engineer before buying.
- Do the VIN and registration match the V5C and the car?
- Is the seller's explanation consistent with the marker date and repair paperwork?
- Will your insurer quote before purchase, and on what terms?
- Is the asking price meaningfully below a comparable car without a write-off marker?
Frequently asked questions
Can Cat S and Cat N cars be driven legally?
Yes, once properly repaired and roadworthy. A current MOT does not by itself certify the quality of the earlier repair, so a separate inspection can still be sensible.
Does a Cat N car only have cosmetic damage?
No. Cat N means the main structural frame was not damaged under the classification, but brakes, steering, suspension, airbags, electronics or other safety-related parts may still have been affected.
Will a write-off category stay with the car?
Recorded total-loss history remains relevant to the vehicle's history. A subsequent repair does not make the earlier marker disappear.
Does the V5C show every category?
DVLA records Category S on a replacement V5C. Do not rely on the logbook alone to identify every type of historical write-off; run a provenance check.