Category A, B, S Or N?
What each letter means for the car and for you as a buyer.
| Category AScrap | Category BBreak for parts | Category SStructural damage | Category NNon-structural damage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Can it go back on the road? | No. The entire vehicle has to be crushed | No. The body shell has to be crushed | Yes, if repaired to a roadworthy condition | Yes, if repaired to a roadworthy condition |
| Can parts be reused? | No | Yes, suitable parts can be salvaged | Yes | Yes |
| Examples of the damage | Nothing usable is left | The structural frame cannot be repaired | The structural frame or chassis is damaged | Panels, electrics, steering or suspension. Non-structural does not mean cosmetic |
| V5C log book if the owner keeps the car | Not applicable | Not applicable | Owner sends the complete log book to the insurer and applies for a free replacement using form V62. DVLA records the category in it | Owner can keep the log book |
Based on GOV.UK write-off guidance and the ABI salvage code. The category describes the damage the insurer found, not the standard of any later repair.
What A Write-Off Means
An insurer may write off a car because repairing it would cost too much or because it cannot be repaired safely.
The insurer then gives the car a salvage category under the Association of British Insurers' salvage code. The code is voluntary and is supported by the ABI's member motor insurers, and the recorded categories feed into vehicle history checks. The letter records the insurer's view of the damage at the time. It does not tell you whether a later repair was done well, what parts were used or whether anyone checked the work.
The same write-off marker can cover very different damage. Ask what happened to this car and how it was repaired.
The Older Category C And D Labels
Cars written off before October 2017 were graded C or D, and those markers still show up in vehicle histories.
How The Categories Have Changed
- Before October 2017
Categories A, B, C And D
C and D were the repairable grades. The split between them was about repair cost compared with the car's value.
- October 2017
S And N Replace C And D
The ABI's revised salvage code switched the repairable grades to structural (S) and non-structural (N). A and B remained the non-repairable categories.
- Today
Older Cars Can Still Show C Or D
A car written off before the change keeps its original marker. Newer write-offs are graded A, B, S or N, and the ABI updated the code again in May 2025.
Category C meant the car was repairable, but the estimated repair cost was more than its pre-accident value. Category D meant the car was repairable and the repair cost did not exceed its value, but the insurer still chose not to repair it. Neither label says whether the damage was structural, so if a history check shows a C or D marker, apply the same caution you would to Category S or N and ask about the damage and the repair.
Does A Write-Off Marker Stay With The Car?
Yes. A repair, a change of keeper or an MOT pass does not remove a genuine write-off record.
An MOT checks the items on the test list on the day. It is not a write-off, finance or theft check, and a pass says nothing about the quality of an earlier repair. The ABI code allows errors to be corrected and, in exceptional cases, a car to be re-categorised. A repair or an MOT pass is not, by itself, grounds for removing the record.
Category S also leaves a trail on the V5C log book. GOV.UK says that if the keeper wants to keep a Category S car, they send the complete log book to the insurer and apply for a free replacement using form V62, and DVLA records the category in the log book. A keeper who keeps a Category N car can keep the log book.
What To Check Before Buying A Category S Or N Car
Ask what damage the car had and for evidence of the repairs. GOV.UK's consumer guide to buying repaired written-off vehicles recommends an independent inspection, a private history check and an insurance quote before you buy, and warns that a price that looks too good to be true probably is.
Before You Buy A Written-Off Car
Paperwork
- Registration, VIN and V5C log book details all match the car
- Evidence of the repair, such as invoices, photographs or an engineer's report
- Available MOT history, including the mileage pattern
The Car
- An independent inspection, especially if the damage was structural
- Panel gaps, paint finish and colour match
- Warning lights, airbag and seatbelt operation
- Steering, brakes and suspension on a test drive
Before You Pay
- A vehicle history check for recorded write-off, finance and theft information
- An insurance quote for the car, with the marker declared
- Compare the asking price with similar cars, allowing for the write-off history and possible resale value
These checks combine GOV.UK's advice with our own precautions. Paperwork and history checks cannot replace an independent inspection.
Write-Off Myths
Category N means cosmetic damage only, so there is nothing to inspect.
Non-structural still covers steering, suspension and electrics. A Category N car needs the same inspection as any other repaired car.
A low price means the repair must be poor.
GOV.UK says Category S cars are often slightly cheaper than comparable cars, and a well-repaired write-off can be good value. Judge the repair evidence, not just the price.
You cannot insure a written-off car.
You can, but GOV.UK says it can cost more and not every insurer will automatically cover one. Get quotes and declare the marker before you buy.
Sue's note: Ask for repair evidence whether the car is Category S, N, C or D. If the seller cannot show you what was done, get an independent inspection before you decide.
Quick Check: Is This Car Worth Inspecting?
Answer each question before deciding whether to go further. A yes means you need more information, and the next step depends on the issue.
When To Run A Vehicle History Check
Run a history check before you travel to view the car if you can, and always before you pay.
The free MOT history check and car tax check cover the official DVSA and DVLA records. Neither is a write-off, finance or theft check. A Premium Vehicle Report adds the recorded write-off, finance and theft information for the registration you enter. Any history check shows what has been recorded, so use it alongside an inspection rather than instead of one. The fictional sample report shows how a Category S record appears.
Once you have decided to buy, compare car insurance quotes for the car before you collect it, and tell the insurer about the write-off marker when you do.
FAQs
Does A Category N Marker Affect The Price?
It can. GOV.UK's consumer guide says a write-off history can affect a car's value, although its example of cars often being slightly cheaper is about Category S rather than N. Compare the asking price with similar cars, allowing for the marker, the condition and the repair evidence, and remember it may affect what you get when you sell.
Is It Harder To Insure A Written-Off Car?
It can be. GOV.UK's consumer guide says insuring a written-off car can cost more and that not every insurer will automatically cover one. Get quotes and declare the marker before you buy rather than after.
Do I Have To Tell My Insurer The Car Was Written Off?
Yes. GOV.UK's consumer guide says to tell your insurer about a previous write-off, and warns that not disclosing it could mean a later claim is turned down. Say so when you get your quote.
Can A Category S Or N Car Be Driven?
Yes, once it has been repaired to a roadworthy condition and is taxed, insured and has a valid MOT if it needs one. The category itself does not confirm the quality of the repair.
Sources, checked on 9 October 2026: GOV.UK: Scrapping your vehicle and insurance write-offs, GOV.UK: Buying repaired written-off vehicles, a consumer guide, ABI: Code of Practice for the Categorisation of Motorised Vehicle Salvage, May 2025, ABI: Salvage Code of Practice, September 2017
