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Structural damage write-off · Experian data

Cat S check: is this car a structural write-off?

A Cat S car was written off by an insurer after structural damage, such as to the frame or chassis, and can return to the road once repaired to a roadworthy condition. A Cat S check on the registration shows whether the car has a Cat S (or older Cat C) 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 S mean?

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

If the owner keeps a Cat S car after the payout, GOV.UK says they apply for a duplicate log book and DVLA records the category in it. For all four categories, see the write-off check.

How to check if a car is Cat S

  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 S car

  • Ask what was damaged and who repaired it. Ask for repair invoices and photos of the damage and the repair.
  • Get an independent inspection by a mechanic or inspection service that checks the structure, not just the paintwork.
  • Read the MOT history after the loss date. The free CarVouch scan shows every MOT test, so you can see advisories and failures since the repair.
  • Get an insurance quote first. Some insurers won't cover Cat S cars.
  • Price it as a Cat S 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 S 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 S or Cat N?

Cat N is the other repairable category, for damage that didn't affect the structure. See the Cat N 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 S check FAQs

Cat S means an insurer wrote the car off after structural damage, for example to the frame or chassis. GOV.UK says a Cat S 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. How safe it is depends on the quality of the repair, so get an independent inspection before you buy.

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

GOV.UK says that when an owner keeps a Cat S car after a write-off, DVLA records the category in the log book. Don't rely on the V5C alone: run a write-off check on the registration.

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

Both can be repaired and driven again. Cat S means the damage was structural; Cat N means it wasn't, for example cosmetic or electrical damage.

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