Cat S check

Find out if a car has been written off as Category S. Check structural damage, accident history, write-off dates and insurer details with a full car history report.

£15 full car history reportInstant results

Works with:

Included in your report:

Write-off category
Date of the loss
Recording insurer
All write-off categories
Outstanding finance
Mileage history

What Is a Cat S Car?

A Cat S car is a vehicle that has been written off by an insurance company after suffering structural damage.

This can include damage to the chassis, pillars, crumple zones or other structural components.

Unlike Category A or B vehicles, Cat S cars can be repaired and returned to the road. However, the write-off marker remains part of the vehicle's history.

Before buying a Cat S car, it's important to check its history and establish whether the structural repairs were completed properly.

What a Cat S record looks like in your report.

A recorded write-off has its own section: the category, the date of loss and the insurer, plus the damaged areas when the record includes them.

Accident history

Example

Category S write-off

An insurer wrote this car off after structural damage on 3 September 2021.

Write-off details

Category: Category S
Date of loss: 3 September 2021
Cause: Accident
Insurer: Aviva

Damage areas: Front, Front offside

Write-off category

More to less serious

Cat AScrap only
Cat BParts only
Cat SStructural
Cat NNon-structural

What does this mean?

Category S means the car's structure was damaged, such as the chassis or crumple zones. It can be driven again once it's been properly repaired.

Ask for proof of the repairs and who did them
Get it inspected by an independent engineer
Expect higher insurance and a lower resale value

Accidents not reported to insurers may not be recorded.

Example data. Cause and damage areas are shown when the record includes them.

What a Cat S check tells you.

Checked against the insurance industry's write-off records for the registration you enter.

Any write-off, not just Cat S

The report shows every recorded category (A, B, S and N, plus the older C and D), so a Cat S check also tells you if a car was written off in any other way.

When it happened

The date of loss. Line it up with the MOT history to see which tests came after the repair.

Who recorded it

The insurer that settled the claim, where the record names one. Two records mean the car was written off twice.

Older Cat C records

Cat S replaced Category C in October 2017. A car written off before then may carry Cat C, and the check shows that too.

Cat S vs Cat N: What's the Difference?

Cat S vs Cat N: What's the Difference?
	Cat SStructural	Cat NNon-structural
Structural damage	Yes	No
Can be repaired	Yes	Yes
Can return to the road	Yes	Yes
Insurance write-off	Yes	Yes
Write-off marker remains	Yes	Yes
Independent inspection recommended	Yes	Yes

Cat S involves structural damage, while Cat N involves non-structural damage. Both categories can affect a car's value, insurance and resale prospects. Looking at a car recorded for non-structural damage? Use the Cat N check.

Why Is a Cat S Car a Risk?

Plenty of Cat S cars are repaired properly and drive well. The risk is not knowing which kind you are looking at.

Previous structural damage

The chassis, pillars, crumple zones or subframe were damaged. These are the parts that decide how the car protects you in a crash.

Quality of repairs

A good structural repair is hard to see. So is a poor one. Paperwork and an independent inspection are the only reliable ways to tell them apart.

Safety

A car repaired to the manufacturer's standard can be as safe as it was before. One that was not may not protect its occupants as designed in another accident.

Insurance

Insurers ask about write-offs. Some charge more for a Cat S car and some will not cover one at all.

Resale value

The marker stays on the record for life, so the next buyer's check will find it and they will expect to pay less too. Do not rely on the logbook to tell you: see does Cat S show on the V5C.

Check for structural damage history first.

Find out if it is recorded as Cat S, or any other write-off, before you travel to see it.

Instant results
Write-off category and date
£30,000 data guarantee

What to Do if a Car Is Cat S

The record tells you the structure was damaged. These checks tell you whether it was put right. Do them before you pay a deposit.

Ask for the repair paperwork

Invoices from a named bodyshop showing what was replaced and repaired, ideally with photos taken during the work. A structural repair with no paperwork is a serious gap.
Get an independent inspection

Pay an independent engineer or bodyshop to check the structure and alignment. On a viewing, uneven panel gaps and doors that do not shut cleanly are worth noting.
Read the MOT history since the loss

Look at the tests after the date of loss for advisories on corrosion near repairs, steering, suspension or uneven tyre wear.
Free MOT history check
Get an insurance quote first

Quote on this registration before you commit. Some insurers charge more for Cat S and some decline it. See can you insure a Cat S car.
Compare the asking price

Compare it with the same model, age and mileage without a record. The discount should be real, because you will give it back when you sell. See how much value a Cat S car loses.
Check the documents match

The V5C logbook, VIN and registration should agree with each other and with the car. Structural write-offs are the cars most often rebuilt with parts from elsewhere.
VIN check

Already bought a Cat S car?

If nobody told you, your options depend on who sold it and how it was described. Act quickly and keep the advert, messages and paperwork. Our guide sold a Cat S car without being told covers each route in detail.

Bought from a dealer: the car must match its description under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. If it does not, you can reject it for a full refund within 30 days.
Bought privately: the car must be as described. If the seller said it had never been written off, you may have a claim for misrepresentation.
Either way: have the structure inspected so you know whether the repair is sound, and tell your insurer. Most ask about write-offs, and a wrong answer can affect a claim.

Where our data comes from.

Always from official records. We do not create, edit or estimate any data.

DVLA

Registration, keeper history, import and export status and recorded vehicle details.

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 records, checked against the registration.

Vehicle identity

Plate and colour changes, the recorded specification and the last five characters of the VIN, to match against the car.

Cat S check FAQs

How do I check if a car is Cat S?

Run a history check on the registration. Write-off categories are held on the insurance industry's records against the vehicle, and the report shows the category, the date of the loss and the insurer where one is recorded.

Does a Cat S check show other write-off categories?

Yes. The report shows every recorded write-off category, including Cat N and the older Cat C and D, with each write-off listed separately.

Can I check if a car is Cat S for free?

No. Write-off categories sit on insurance industry records, which are not public. A free MOT history check shows test results, advisories and mileage, but it does not show whether a car has an insurance write-off marker. The category, date of loss and insurer are in the £15 report.

What is the difference between Cat S and Cat N?

Cat S means the structure of the car was damaged. Cat N means the damage was non-structural, such as panels, electrics or interior, with the frame intact. Both can be repaired and driven again. The Cat N check covers the other category.

Is Cat S the same as Cat C?

Not exactly. Category S replaced Category C on 1 October 2017, but the rules changed: Cat C was based on repair cost, while Cat S is about structural damage. A car written off before October 2017 may carry Cat C, and the check shows it.

Is it worth buying a Cat S car?

It can be, if the price reflects the category, the repair is documented and an independent inspection confirms the structure is sound. Without those, you are paying for a car you cannot properly assess.

How much cheaper should a Cat S car be?

There is no set percentage. Compare it with the same model, age and mileage without a record. The discount should reflect how many buyers would walk away from a Cat S car, because you will meet the same buyers when you sell.

Does Cat S affect resale value?

Yes. The marker stays on the record for life, so any buyer who runs a history check will see it and expect to pay less. It can also take longer to sell.

Can a Cat S marker be removed?

No. It stays on the vehicle record permanently. A good repair, a new MOT or a change of keeper does not change it.

Can I insure a Cat S car?

Usually, but not with every insurer, and you must declare it. Get a quote before you buy. Our guide to insuring a Cat S car explains what to expect.

Does a Cat S car pass an MOT?

It can. An MOT checks roadworthiness on the day and is not an inspection of the structural repair, so a pass tells you nothing about the quality of that work.

Know if it is Cat S before you buy.

Enter the registration to see any recorded structural write-off and its date.

Full vehicle history
No account required
£30,000 data guarantee