You've found a used car priced well below similar ones, and the advert says Cat N. So what is a Cat N car, and should that put you off? Fair question.
The answer changes three things for you: what you'll pay to insure the car, what it's worth when you sell, and whether a lender will fund it.
What does Cat N mean?
Cat N means an insurer has written a car off even though its frame and chassis weren't damaged, so it can be repaired and driven again. In Category N, the N stands for non-structural. Cat N is one of four write-off categories in the Association of British Insurers (ABI) Salvage Code, a voluntary code that insurers follow.
Being written off doesn't automatically mean a car is a wreck. The Cat N marker tells you what wasn't damaged, not how much repair work the car needed.
Why does an insurer write off a car that can be repaired?
An insurer writes off a car when repairing it would cost too much compared with what the car is worth. That's why older, cheaper cars get written off for damage a newer car would simply have repaired. On a car worth a few thousand pounds, a new bumper, wing and headlight can tip the balance.
Once the insurer pays out, the car is usually sold on, repaired and advertised again.
What damage does a Cat N car have?
A Cat N car can have damage to its body panels, bumpers, lights, glass or interior trim, as long as the structural frame wasn't affected. A Cat N car can also have damaged electrics, such as sensors, wiring and control units. Cat N damage can come from a collision, but also from theft, vandalism, hail or a flood.
Does non-structural mean minor? Not always. A Cat N car can need new airbags, sensors and wiring with its frame untouched, because cameras, radar and parking sensors now sit inside bumpers and mirrors.
So the marker won't tell you whether the car had a scuffed bumper or a rebuilt front end. The repair paperwork will.
What are the write-off categories?
Insurers sort write-offs into four categories under the ABI code: A, B, S and N. Only S and N cars can go back on the road:
| Category | What it means | Can it go back on the road? |
|---|---|---|
| Cat A | Scrap only. The whole car must be crushed, with no parts reused. | No |
| Cat B | The body shell must be crushed, but usable parts can be taken off and sold. | No |
| Cat S | Repairable, but the structural frame or chassis was damaged. | Yes, once repaired |
| Cat N | Repairable, with no damage to the structural frame or chassis. | Yes, once repaired |
What is the difference between Cat N and Cat S?
Cat S cars have damage to the structural frame or chassis and Cat N cars don't, but both can be repaired, driven again and keep their marker for life. Structural repairs are harder to judge, so give a Cat S car an even closer look.
Is Cat N the same as Cat D?
Cat N replaced Cat D on 1 October 2017, but Cat N isn't simply a new name for Cat D, because the two use different tests. Cat D was based on the cost of repair, while Cat N is based on the type of damage.
Cars written off before the change kept their old category, so Cat C and Cat D still turn up on older cars for sale. And a Cat D car could have had structural damage that would make it a Cat S today. Treat it like a Cat S when you check it.
Is a Cat N car safe to drive?
A Cat N car can be safe to drive once it has been properly repaired, but no one checks the repair for you. The Cat N marker means the frame wasn't damaged. Yet it doesn't mean the car is roadworthy today.
Who did the work? It might have been a main dealer, an independent garage or a previous owner on the driveway, and the quality varies. That's why the repair evidence and an independent inspection matter more than the marker.
Does a Cat N car need a new MOT?
A Cat N car doesn't need a new MOT just because it was written off, but like any car over three years old it needs a valid MOT certificate.
But an MOT pass doesn't prove the repair was done well. The test checks that key parts meet a minimum standard on the day it's carried out, and how the car was put back together is outside its scope.
Should you buy a Cat N car?
A Cat N car can be worth buying if the saving is big enough and you plan to keep it for years. You also need an insurance quote you're happy with and repair evidence that checks out.
Cat N cars tend to suit three kinds of buyer:
- Long-term owners keeping an older car for years, who won't lose much when they sell.
- Buyers on a tight budget who'd rather have a newer or better-equipped car for the money.
- People who know cars, or who bring along a mechanic who does.
Swap cars every two or three years? Then a Cat N car suits you less, because you'd face the same discount each time you sell.
How do you judge the saving on a Cat N car?
The saving on a Cat N car only makes sense next to the price of an equivalent clean car, with the same model, age, mileage and spec. Divide the saving by that price. There's no fixed discount, so the percentage is what tells you whether an offer is any good.
Take a £2,000 saving as an example. On a £5,000 car that's 40% off, on a £10,000 car it's 20%, and on a £20,000 car it's just 10%. Same saving, very different deal.
Then subtract two costs: any extra you'll pay for insurance while you own the car, and the lower price you'll get when you sell. That's the bigger picture. If the saving still looks worthwhile after both, the Cat N car deserves a closer look.
What is a Cat N car worth when you sell it?
A Cat N car is usually worth less than an equivalent clean car when you sell it, because the Cat N marker stays on the car for life. Any buyer who runs a history check will see the write-off. So they may expect a similar discount to the one you got, and some buyers and dealers may not consider a Cat N car at all.
Does a Cat N car cost more to insure?
A Cat N car can cost more to insure, and some insurers won't cover one at all. Others quote much as they would for any car, and a few may even charge less, because the car is worth less to replace. Specialist insurers and brokers may also cover a Cat N car that mainstream insurers turn down, so it pays to compare several quotes.
Before you pay a deposit, get a quote on the car's registration. You'll see what the car really costs each month, and whether you can insure it at all. And if no insurer will cover it, you can't drive it home, because driving uninsured could mean a £300 fixed penalty and 6 penalty points.
You need to tell your insurer the car is Cat N. Leave it out, and the insurer may cancel your cover or refuse to pay a claim. Deliberately hiding it may be treated as fraud.
How do you check if a car is Cat N?
You can check if a car is Cat N with a vehicle history check on its registration number. The check shows whether an insurer recorded the car as a write-off, and in which category (what a vehicle history check shows)
- Ask the seller. A dealer should tell you a car is Cat N, and buying from a dealer gives you more protection if the car isn't as described. A private sale usually costs less and leaves you fewer rights, but the seller must still describe the car accurately, so ask directly and keep the answer in writing.
- Run a paid history check. Check that the category, dates and mileage match what the seller told you.
- Don't rely on the free GOV.UK checks. Those checks are useful for MOT results and tax, but they don't show write-offs.
- Look at the logbook (V5C). If an owner kept a Cat N car after the insurer paid out, DVLA should have recorded the category in the logbook. A logbook that doesn't mention it isn't proof, so the history check is the more reliable guide.
Before you pay a deposit or apply for finance, do all four. Finding out afterwards is much harder to undo.
What should you check before buying a Cat N car?
Before buying a Cat N car, check three things: the repair evidence, the car itself and the way the seller answers your questions. The checklist for buying a used car covers everything else.
What repair evidence should you ask for?
Repair evidence should show what was damaged, who fixed it and what was replaced:
- an account of what happened and why the car was written off
- the repairer's name and contact details
- itemised invoices for parts and labour
- photos of the damage and of the finished repair
- invoices for any replaced airbags, seatbelt parts or sensors
- calibration records for driver-assistance cameras and radar, if fitted
The more of this the seller has, the easier the repair is to judge, and a full set of repair evidence helps you when you sell, too.
What should you check at the viewing?
At the viewing, look for signs of a rushed repair:
- uneven gaps between body panels
- paint that doesn't quite match, or overspray on rubber seals
- a warning light on the dashboard, especially the airbag light
- pulling to one side, knocks or vibration on the test drive
An independent inspection can check what an MOT can't, including how well the car was repaired. It costs money. Far less, though, than a bad repair you only discover later.
When should you walk away?
Walk away from a Cat N car if:
- the seller can't explain what happened to it
- the seller won't allow an independent inspection
- there are no photos or invoices for the repair
- you're pushed to decide quickly or pay a deposit on the spot
Be wary of any seller who gets defensive when you ask for paperwork. There'll be other cars.
Can you get car finance for a Cat N car?
Car finance for a Cat N car can be harder to get, because some lenders won't fund a written-off car. Others may ask for a larger deposit or charge a higher rate, and like all finance, it's subject to status.
What should you do after finding a Cat N car you like?
Once you've found a Cat N car you like, check its history before anything else, then the repair evidence and the car itself. Get an insurance quote on the registration next, and look at finance only when all three check out.
A Cat N car can be a sensible way to get more car for your money, as long as the saving still stands after those checks.
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