What does Cat C car insurance write-off mean?

If a vehicle is involved in a serious accident or incident, it may be deemed uneconomical to fix by the insurance company. If this happens, it'll be placed into an insurance write off category.

Cat C stands for Category C and it means that although the car is repairable, the cost of the parts, labour and potentially an expensive hire car would significantly exceed the value of the vehicle. Vehicles written off after an accident, a flood, or fire damage are often classified as Cat C.

The insurance term Cat C was replaced in 2017 as part of wider changes to insurance write off categories, but there are still lots of Cat C vehicles on the road and they often appear in the used car classifieds. However, while these vehicles are often advertised with big discounts, it's important to do your research as a Cat C car can present serious headaches when it comes to servicing and insurance.

To help you understand what a Cat C car is and how the Category C write off category works, we've put together this useful know how guide to help you make the most informed decision before buying one. 

What does Cat C mean?

A Cat C classification is applied when a vehicle has been seriously damaged and the cost of the repair is deemed greater than its market value. This may happen after a road accident, a fire or a flood. 

In the event of a Category C write off, the insurer will not pay for the vehicle to be repaired and will take ownership of it after paying the owner a lump sum as part of the insurance claim.

Cat C cars can be repaired and legally returned to the road. However, due to the extensive nature of the damage, insurers would usually sell these vehicles at special auctions to motor traders and repair garages that would fix the vehicles at trade prices – usually much less than an insurance company would be charged.

The insurance term Cat C was itself scrapped in 2017 as part of a major overhaul to write-off categories in the UK. However, there are still thousands of Cat C cars on the road. 

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​What is Cat C damage?

A Cat C vehicle will have suffered significant damage that will have made it uneconomical for the insurance company to repair and return to the road.

Flooding, fire or a road collision could all result in a vehicle being given a Category C write off marker. The vehicle may have also suffered structural damage, although it is not considered severe enough to prevent it from being repaired and returned to the road. 

Are Cat C cars safe?

If the car has been repaired properly and to a good standard by a reputable garage, there’s no reason that any Cat C vehicle shouldn’t be as safe.

For example, if the vehicle was in a relatively small accident and featured parking and radar guided cruise control sensors in its bumpers, the cost of these parts along with a replacement hire car might outweigh the price of the second-hand vehicle itself – even though no structural damage has been caused.

This is why surprisingly lightly damaged cars were written off under the Category C rules.

Even so, if you’re thinking of buying a Category C insurance write-off, it could be worth getting an independent vehicle inspection to warrant the quality of the repair work, deeming the car safe to be used on the public road.

Anyone who is selling a Cat C car should have a comprehensive history file for the vehicle, which documents all of its repairs.

The seller should also be able to provide receipts for the work that's been carried out to the vehicle, along with details of the garage(s) and workshop(s) that conducted the repairs. 

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How do I spot a Cat C insurance write-off?

A professional motor trader is required to tell you if a vehicle has been written off; however, a private seller doesn’t.

That’s why we’d recommend running a car check on the vehicle before any potential purchase.

All you need is the registration number and the RAC can do the rest for you, outlining the vehicle’s history, if it’s recorded stolen, or if it has any outstanding finance.

Are Cat C cars expensive to insure?

Insurance for Cat C cars can be expensive. Some insurers will refuse to provide insurance for a Cat C car, while others will demand a vehicle inspection to check the quality of the repair. 

If your insurer asks for a report on the vehicle’s mechanical condition then the RAC offers vehicle inspections, which can assist.

Are Cat C cars cheap to buy?

Often, a Cat C car will be on sale for less than the market value.

This doesn’t necessarily mean it is worse than another car of its type, it just reflects that the car has suffered damage and previously been repaired.

However, it doesn’t take into account the type of damage.

Beware that if you do buy a Cat C car, when you come to sell it the vehicle might not be worth as much as you think.

There’s no reason not to buy a Cat C insurance write-off if you can guarantee it’s in first-class condition.

Equally, if you steer clear of a Cat C car when you’re looking for a used vehicle, we understand.

How do I remove a Cat C from a car?

A Cat C or Category C cannot be legally removed from a car. Once this marker has been applied to a vehicle, it remains on its history file for the life of the car. 

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If you're in the market for a new car, use the RAC Vehicle History Check to see if the vehicle has previously been written off