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Non-structural damage write-off · Experian data

Cat N check: has this car been written off?

A Cat N car was written off by an insurer after damage that didn't affect its structure, such as cosmetic, electrical or mechanical damage, and can return to the road once repaired to a roadworthy condition. A Cat N check on the registration shows whether the car has a Cat N (or older Cat D) record and the date of the loss. Free DVLA and DVSA checks don't show it. CarVouch's £9.99 Full Vehicle Check does, using Experian data.

Published by CarVouch · Last reviewed: 10 October 2026

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The free scan shows MOT, mileage and advert red flags. The write-off check is part of the Full Vehicle Check (£9.99).

What does Cat N mean?

Cat N is the insurance write-off category for a car that can be repaired following non-structural damage. GOV.UK says you can use it again if it's repaired to a roadworthy condition (checked 10 October 2026). Cat N replaced Cat D in October 2017.

When a car is written off, the insurer pays the owner its current value instead of the cost of repairing it, so a Cat N record doesn't tell you how serious the damage was. For all four categories, see the write-off check.

How to check if a car is Cat N

  1. Enter the registration for a free scan of MOT history, mileage and advert red flags.
  2. Add the Full Vehicle Check (£9.99). If the car has a write-off record, the report shows the category and the loss date. It also checks outstanding finance and stolen records.
  3. Match the VIN on the car to the V5C and the report.

Before you buy a Cat N car

  • Ask what was damaged and how it was repaired. Ask for repair invoices and photos.
  • Check the repaired areas at the viewing, or get an independent inspection.
  • Read the MOT history after the loss date. The free CarVouch scan shows every MOT test, including advisories since the repair.
  • Get an insurance quote first. Some insurers won't cover Cat N cars.
  • Price it as a Cat N car. Don't pay what the same car would cost without a write-off record.

Insurance and value

Insurers usually ask whether a car has been written off. Under the Consumer Insurance (Disclosure and Representations) Act 2012 you must take reasonable care not to misrepresent, and a careless wrong answer can mean a claim is reduced or refused.

A Cat N record usually lowers a car's value compared with the same car without one, and it stays on the history when you sell. Some lenders may also decline to finance a written-off car.

Cat N or Cat S?

Cat S is the other repairable category, for structural damage. See the Cat S check, what's in the full vehicle history check, or a sample report. CarVouch's write-off data comes from Experian, with Experian's £20,000 Data Guarantee for 12 months.

Cat N check FAQs

Cat N means an insurer wrote the car off after non-structural damage, for example cosmetic, electrical or mechanical damage. GOV.UK says a Cat N car can be used again once it has been repaired to a roadworthy condition.

Enter the registration. CarVouch's Full Vehicle Check (£9.99) searches Experian's insurance write-off records and shows the category and the date of the loss, along with finance and stolen records.

Yes, once it has been repaired to a roadworthy condition. Ask how it was repaired and get it inspected before you buy.

Cat D. In October 2017 Cat D was replaced by Cat N and Cat C by Cat S. Older cars may still show Cat D on their history.

Don't rely on it. GOV.UK says an owner who keeps a Cat N car can keep the log book, so run a write-off check on the registration rather than relying on the V5C.

Cat N means the damage didn't affect the car's structure, which many buyers prefer. It says nothing about how well the car was repaired, so check the repair either way.

Often, but some insurers won't cover Cat N cars. Insurers usually ask whether a car has been written off, and you must answer accurately. Get a quote before you buy.

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