What Insurance Category information does Autotrader check?

Is it safe to buy a Category B vehicle?

Generally, no. Cat B indicates that the insurance company did not believe the vehicle could be adequately repaired.

How can I find out what happened to this vehicle?

It is hard to find details about what damage the vehicle suffered. You can ask the seller, but they may have a vested interest in underplaying the extent of the damage.

What should I consider before buying a Category B vehicle?

Walk away from any Cat B vehicle, even if it looks like a great deal.

If the vehicle has been repaired, there is a good chance the repairs are inadequate or dangerous. It may be hard to get insurance and almost impossible to sell the vehicle on.

Selling a category B vehicle

Can I sell my Cat B vehicle to someone else?

There is no law against doing this, although Cat B vehicles can be very difficult to sell on. We do not allow Cat B vehicles to be advertised on Autotrader.

I just found out my vehicle is in Category B. What should I do?

It is hard to find details about what damage your vehicle suffered, but many Cat B write-offs suffer structural damage. Even if the vehicle seems sound, there could be problems that are not obvious.

If you plan to continue driving the vehicle, consider getting a professional inspection to be sure it's safe. And let your insurance company know of the vehicle's status. If you don't, your policy could be invalid.

Should the person who sold me the vehicle have said it is in Cat B?

If you bought the vehicle from a dealer then they should have told you its insurance status. You may be able to make a claim against them.

Private sellers do not have to tell you about the Cat B status. If you ask, they must tell you of any problems they know about — but maybe they didn't know either.

Is it safe to buy a Category S vehicle?

When a vehicle is described as Cat S, it means it is repairable but the insurer chose not to do so.

If a Cat S vehicle is repaired properly, you can own and drive it safely. However, it's important to check the vehicle's condition carefully before making an offer.

How can I find out exactly what happened to this vehicle?

Ask the seller if they have documentation explaining what happened to the vehicle and what repairs it needed. Be wary of sellers who provide information without documents to back it up. They may have a vested interest in underplaying the damage.

What should I consider before buying a Category S vehicle?

Here are some things to keep in mind:

• A Cat S vehicle is usually worth much less than an identical vehicle that has never been written off. The asking price— and your offer — should reflect this.

• Because replacement parts can be expensive, Cat S vehicles are sometimes written off for relatively minor damage. However, it's important to make sure the vehicle has been repaired properly and safely.

  For instance, an insurer might write a vehicle off because replacing the airbags is expensive. But a less-scrupulous repairer might simply disconnect the airbag warning light before selling the vehicle on.

  It's hard to spot problems like this yourself, so consider getting a professional inspection to ensure the vehicle is roadworthy and safe.

• Although you will pay less to buy a Cat S vehicle, it will fetch a lower amount if you sell it on in future.

• Some insurance companies will charge more to cover a vehicle in Cat S and others won't provide cover at all. Check before you buy.

Can I sell my Cat S vehicle to someone else?

Yes. Many buyers know that a well-repaired Cat S vehicle will drive well and prove reliable for years to come. You can advertise Cat S vehicles on Autotrader.

When advertising your vehicle, be honest about its status and include as much information as you can about the damage. Buyers will have more confidence if you can document what happened to the vehicle and how it was repaired.

A Cat S vehicle is usually worth much less than an identical vehicle that has never been written off, so your asking price should reflect this.

I just found out my vehicle is in Category S. What should I do?

It is hard to find details about what damage the vehicle suffered. Although many Cat S vehicles are repaired to a high standard, some unscrupulous repairers skimp on expensive components that are hard to check, like airbags. It can therefore be a good idea to have your vehicle professionally inspected, to be sure it's safe.

Let your insurance company know the vehicle's status, too. If you don't, your policy could be invalid.

Should the person who sold me the vehicle have said it is in Cat S?

If you bought the vehicle from a dealer then they should have told you its insurance status. If they haven't informed you of the insurance status should see legal advice about making a claim against them.

Private sellers are not obliged to inform you so make sure you ask about the insurance status, as they must tell you about any problems or issues they are aware of. Ask to see the V5C too, to check details and ensure the vehicle is in their name.

I'm sure my vehicle is wrongly recorded as Category S. How do I fix this?

If you're sure your vehicle shouldn't be recorded in Cat S, we can investigate this further for you. Email customersecurity@autotrader.co.uk together with vehicles details and any comments you may have.

Will it cost me more to insure a Cat S vehicle?

Some insurers charge more to cover a Cat S vehicle, or may refuse cover altogether. Check with your insurer for full details.

For how long does a vehicle's Cat S status last?

Permanently. Once a vehicle is recorded as Insurance Category S, it remains so forever.

Is it safe to buy a Category C vehicle?

When a vehicle is in Cat C, it means it could have been repaired but the insurer chose not to do so.

If a Cat C vehicle is repaired properly, it can be owned and driven safely. However, it's important to check the vehicle's condition carefully before making an offer.

How can I find out exactly what happened to this vehicle?

Ask the seller if they have documentation explaining what happened to the vehicle and what repairs it needed. Be wary of sellers who provide information without documents to back it up. They may have a vested interest in underplaying the damage.

What should I consider before buying a Category C vehicle?

Here are some things to keep in mind:

• A Cat C vehicle is usually worth much less than an identical vehicle that has never been written off. The asking price— and your offer — should reflect this.

• Because replacement parts can be expensive, Cat C vehicles are sometimes written off for relatively minor damage. However, it's important to make sure the vehicle has been repaired properly and safely.

  For instance, an insurer might write a vehicle off because replacing the airbags is expensive. But a less-scrupulous repairer might simply disconnect the airbag warning light before selling the vehicle on.

  It's hard to spot problems like this yourself, so consider getting a professional inspection to ensure the vehicle is roadworthy and safe.

• Although you will pay less to buy a Cat C vehicle, it will fetch a lower amount if you sell it on in future.

• Some insurance companies will charge more to cover a vehicle in Cat C and others won't provide cover at all. Check before you buy.

Can I sell my Cat C vehicle to someone else?

Yes. Many buyers know that a well-repaired Cat C vehicle will drive well and prove reliable for years to come. You can advertise Cat C vehicles on Autotrader.

When advertising your vehicle, be honest about its status and include as much information as you can about the damage. Buyers will have more confidence if you can document what happened to the vehicle and how it was repaired.

A Cat C vehicle is usually worth much less than an identical vehicle that has never been written off, so your asking price should reflect this.

I just found out my vehicle is in Category C. What should I do?

It is hard to find details about what damage the vehicle suffered. Although many Cat C vehicles are repaired to a high standard, some unscrupulous repairers skimp on expensive components that are hard to check, like airbags. It can therefore be a good idea to have your vehicle professionally inspected, to be sure it's safe.

Let your insurance company know the vehicle's status, too. If you don't, your policy could be invalid.

Should the person who sold me the vehicle have said it is in Cat C?

If you bought the vehicle from a dealer then they should have told you its insurance status. You may be able to make a claim against them.

Private sellers do not have to tell you about the Cat C status. If you ask, they must tell you of any problems they know about — but maybe they didn't know either.

I'm sure my vehicle is wrongly recorded as Category C. How do I fix this?

If you’re sure your vehicle shouldn’t be recorded in Cat C, we can investigate this further for you. Email customersecurity@autotrader.co.uk, together with vehicles details and any comments you may have.

Will it cost me more to insure a Cat C vehicle?

Some insurers charge more to cover a Cat C vehicle, or may refuse cover altogether. Check with your insurer for full details.

For how long does a vehicle's Cat C status last?

Permanently. Once a vehicle has been recorded in Insurance Category C, it stays there forever.

Is it safe to buy a Category D vehicle?

When a vehicle is in Cat D, it means it could have been repaired but the insurer chose not to do so.

If a Cat D vehicle is repaired properly, it can be owned and driven safely. However, it's important to check the vehicle's condition carefully before making an offer.

How can I find out exactly what happened to this vehicle?

Ask the seller if they have documentation explaining what happened to the vehicle and what repairs it needed. Be wary of sellers who provide information without documents to back it up. They may have a vested interest in underplaying the damage.

What should I consider before buying a Category D vehicle?

Here are some things to keep in mind:

• A Cat D vehicle is usually worth less than an identical vehicle that has never been written off. The asking price — and your offer — should reflect this.

• Because replacement parts can be expensive, Cat D vehicles are sometimeswritten off for minor damage. However, it's important to make sure the vehicle has been repaired properly and safely.

  For instance, an insurer might write a vehicle off because replacing the airbags is expensive. But a less-scrupulous repairer might simply disconnect the airbag warning light before selling the vehicle on.

  It's hard to spot problems like this yourself, so consider getting a professional inspection to ensure the vehicle is roadworthy and safe.

• Although you will pay less to buy a Cat D vehicle, it will fetch a lower amount if you sell it on in future.

• Some insurance companies will charge more to cover a vehicle in Cat D and others won't provide cover at all. Check before you buy.

Can I sell my Cat D vehicle to someone else?

Yes. Many buyers know that a well-repaired Cat D vehicle will drive well and prove reliable for years to come. You can advertise Cat D vehicles on Autotrader.

When advertising your vehicle, be honest about its status and include as much information as you can about the damage. Buyers will have more confidence if you can document what happened to the vehicle and how it was repaired.

A Cat D vehicle is usually worth less than an identical vehicle that has never been written off, so your asking price should reflect this.

I just found out my vehicle is in Category D. What should I do?

It is hard to find details about what damage the vehicle suffered. Although many Cat D vehicles are repaired to a high standard, some unscrupulous repairers skimp on expensive components that are hard to check, like airbags. It can therefore be a good idea to have your vehicle professionally inspected, to be sure it's safe.

Let your insurance company know the vehicle's status, too. If you don't, your policy could be invalid.

Should the person who sold me the vehicle have said it is in Cat D?

If you bought the vehicle from a dealer then they should have told you its insurance status. You may be able to make a claim against them.

Private sellers do not have to tell you about the Cat D status. If you ask, they must tell you of any problems they know about — but maybe they didn't know either.

I'm sure my vehicle is wrongly recorded as Category D. How do I fix this?

If you’re sure your vehicle shouldn’t be recorded in Cat D, we can investigate this further for you. Email customersecurity@autotrader.co.uk, together with vehicles details and any comments you may have.

Will it cost me more to insure a Cat D vehicle?

Some insurers charge more to cover a Cat D vehicle, or may refuse cover altogether. Check with your insurer for full details.

For how long does a vehicle's Cat D status last?

Permanently. Once a vehicle has been recorded in Insurance Category D, it stays there forever.

Is it safe to buy a Category N vehicle?

When a vehicle is described as Cat N, it means it is repairable but the insurer chose not to do so.

If a Cat N vehicle is repaired properly, you can own and drive it safely. However, it's important to check the vehicle's condition carefully before making an offer.

How can I find out exactly what happened to this vehicle?

Ask the seller if they have documentation explaining what happened to the vehicle and what repairs it needed. Be wary of sellers who provide information without documents to back it up. They may have a vested interest in underplaying the damage.

What should I consider before buying a Category N vehicle?

Here are some things to keep in mind:

• A Cat N vehicle is usually worth much less than an identical vehicle that has never been written off. The asking price— and your offer — should reflect this.

• Because replacement parts can be expensive, Cat N vehicles are sometimes written off for relatively minor damage. However, it's important to make sure the vehicle has been repaired properly and safely.

  For instance, an insurer might write a vehicle off because replacing the airbags is expensive. But a less-scrupulous repairer might simply disconnect the airbag warning light before selling the vehicle on.

  It's hard to spot problems like this yourself, so consider getting a professional inspection to ensure the vehicle is roadworthy and safe.

• Although you will pay less to buy a Cat N vehicle, it will fetch a lower amount if you sell it on in future.

• Some insurance companies will charge more to cover a vehicle in Cat N and others won't provide cover at all. Check before you buy.

Can I sell my Cat N vehicle to someone else?

Yes. Many buyers know that a well-repaired Cat N vehicle will drive well and prove reliable for years to come. You can advertise Cat N vehicles on Autotrader.

When advertising your vehicle, be honest about its status and include as much information as you can about the damage. Buyers will have more confidence if you can document what happened to the vehicle and how it was repaired.

A Cat N vehicle is usually worth much less than an identical vehicle that has never been written off, so your asking price should reflect this.

I just found out my vehicle is in Category N. What should I do?

It is hard to find details about what damage the vehicle suffered. Although many CAT N vehicles are repaired to a high standard, some unscrupulous repairers skimp on expensive components that are hard to check, like airbags. It can therefore be a good idea to have your vehicle professionally inspected, to be sure it's safe.

Let your insurance company know the vehicle's status, too. If you don't, your policy could be invalid.

Should the person who sold me the vehicle have said it is in Cat N?

If you bought the vehicle from a dealer then they should have told you its insurance status. If they haven’t informed you of the insurance status should see legal advice about making a claim against them

Private sellers are not obliged to inform you so make sure you ask about the insurance status, as they must tell you about any problems or issues they are aware of .Ask to see the V5C too, to check details and ensure the vehicle is in their name.

I'm sure my vehicle is wrongly recorded as Category N. How do I fix this?

If you're sure your vehicle shouldn't be recorded in Category N, we can investigate this further for you. Email customersecurity@autotrader.co.uk together with vehicles details and any comments you may have.

Will it cost me more to insure a Cat N vehicle?

Some insurers charge more to cover a CAT N vehicle, or may refuse cover altogether. Check with your insurer for full details.

For how long does a vehicle's Cat N status last?

Permanently. Once a vehicle is recorded as Insurance Category N, it remains so forever.