Car accident check.
A car accident check looks for recorded accident and write-off history, alongside finance, stolen, mileage and MOT records, in one £15 report.
Included in your report:
- Accident-related markers
- Insurance write-offs
- Cat S / N / C / D
- Outstanding finance
- Stolen status
- MOT history
- and more…
See the recorded accident history before you buy.
This is how a recorded insurance write-off appears in your report: the category, when it was recorded, and what it means for the car.
Accident-related markers
Insurance write-off records
Example data shown. Your report will show the recorded accident-related history for the reg you check.
What an accident history check helps you spot.
A recorded marker is not always a no. The detail is what matters: know the category, the type of damage, and whether an insurer recorded a write-off before you commit.
Write-off category
See the recorded category, whether Category S, N, C or D, so you know the severity.
Structural damage risk
Spot cars repaired and put back on the road after structural accident damage.
Insurance write-off history
Confirm whether an insurer recorded the car as a write-off against this reg.
How to check if a car has accident history.
You usually cannot tell from photos or a quick look. Repairs can hide serious accident damage, and sellers do not always mention it. The reliable way is to check the registration against insurance write-off records, included as part of your full car history check. You can start with a free car check, then run the full report for the risk markers.
Category S
Structural accident damage. The car may have returned to the road after repair, so understand what was done.
Category N
Non-structural accident damage. Often cosmetic, but it can still be costly or significant depending on what was affected.
Category C / Category D
Older markers you may still see on pre-2017 records. If a report shows Cat D, treat it as Cat D history, not Cat N.
Category A / Category B
The most serious accident write-offs. Cat A is scrap only and Cat B has the body shell destroyed, so these should not be back on the road.
What do Category S and Category N mean for you?
The goal is not to avoid every flagged car, but to understand the type of accident damage and the level of risk before you buy. For a fuller buyer guide, read our Cat S and Cat N cars explained article.
Accident check vs write-off check.
An accident check and a write-off check overlap, but they are not the same. Most recorded accident damage shows up as an insurance write-off marker, such as Cat S or Cat N, so a car accident check looks for those markers alongside other clues.
A car accident check cannot reveal every bump or private repair. Minor knocks fixed without an insurance claim may never be recorded anywhere. What it can show is the recorded risk: insurance write-off categories, a mileage history that does not add up, scrapped or stolen markers, and MOT clues that point to past damage.
Many buyers run it alongside an outstanding finance check, or get every check in one car history check — a modern HPI check alternative.
Check the accident history in seconds.
Enter the registration to see recorded accident-related markers and the full vehicle history before you pay a deposit.
- Instant results
- All checks included
- £30,000 data guarantee
What an accident history check reveals.
A recorded marker rarely tells the whole story on its own. The report puts it next to the other risks that matter when money is about to change hands.
Insurance write-off history
See whether the vehicle has been recorded as an insurance write-off after an accident.
Recorded damage category
Understand the recorded category, whether Category S, Category N, Category C or Category D, when one is found.
Other key buying risks
The same report also covers finance, theft markers and mileage concerns alongside the accident-related history.
MOT and mileage context
Review MOT and mileage records for extra warning signs around the recorded damage.
Accident history is part of your full Carpeep report.
Accident history is included as part of your full Carpeep vehicle history report. No check can show every minor accident or private repair, but the report does show recorded accident-related data, especially insurance write-off records.
Your report also includes checks for finance, stolen status, mileage, MOT history, ownership history, write-off records and more. You do not need to buy separate checks. It all comes in one clear report.
When to run an accident history check.
Run the check before you pay a deposit, transfer money or travel to view the car. Checking early helps you avoid wasted time and reduces the risk of buying a car with serious accident history you did not account for. Because stolen, finance and mileage checks come in the same report, you see the full picture in one go. This matters most on premium models like Land Rovers, where high repair costs make write-offs more common than many buyers expect.
Where our data comes from.
Always from official records. We do not create, edit or estimate any data.
DVLA
Registration, keeper history, import/export status and vehicle specifications.
DVSA
Full MOT test history including results, advisories and mileage at each test.
Insurance industry records
Recorded write-off markers such as Cat A, B, S and N from insurance industry records.
UK finance lenders
Outstanding finance agreements including HP, PCP and conditional sale records.
Police stolen vehicle records
Stolen vehicle markers from UK police databases, checked against the registration and VIN.
Vehicle identity checks
VIN and registration cross-referenced to flag plate changes, cloning or identity mismatches.
Accident History Check FAQs
How do I check if a car has been in an accident?
Enter the car's registration and run a history check. A Carpeep report shows recorded accident-related history, mainly insurance write-off records, so you can see serious damage before you buy.
Can you check accident history by registration?
Yes. Enter the number plate and the report checks the recorded accident-related and insurance write-off history linked to that registration.
What does an accident history check show?
It shows recorded insurance write-off records and the damage category (Category S, N, C or D) where one exists, alongside finance, stolen, mileage and MOT history.
Does a car history check show accident damage?
It shows damage that was officially recorded, usually as an insurance write-off. Damage that was never reported to an insurer may not appear.
Will an accident history check find every accident?
No. It checks recorded data, mainly insurance write-offs. Minor knocks, cosmetic work, private repairs and any damage never reported to an insurer may not show up.
What is the difference between accident history, damage history and write-off history?
Accident and damage history covers any crash or damage. Write-off history is the part an insurer formally recorded as a total loss. The report focuses on that recorded write-off history.
Is Category S accident damage?
Yes. Category S means an insurer recorded structural damage, often from an accident. The car can be repaired and returned to the road, so ask for repair evidence.
Is Category N accident damage?
Yes. Category N is recorded non-structural damage. It is often cosmetic or electrical, but the repair cost and quality can still be significant.
What do Category S, N, C and D mean?
S and N are the current write-off markers for structural and non-structural damage. C and D are the older equivalents on pre-2017 records. Each shows the recorded severity of the damage.
Can a car be repaired after an accident and sold again?
Yes. Many written-off cars are repaired and put back on the road. Checking the history tells you whether that has happened to this car before you commit.
Does accident history affect a car's value?
Usually, yes. A recorded write-off tends to lower resale value and can make a car harder to sell on, so it is worth knowing before you agree a price.
Does accident history affect insurance?
It can. Some insurers charge more, or ask extra questions, to cover a car with a recorded write-off, so it helps to check before you buy.
Why check accident history before buying a used car?
Repairs can hide previous damage, and sellers do not always mention it. Checking the recorded history helps you weigh the risk to safety, value and resale before you pay.
Don't buy a car you haven't checked.
Enter the reg to check recorded accident history and the key risk markers before you commit.
- Full vehicle history
- No account required
- £30,000 data guarantee