What does Cat B mean on a car?
Cat B (Category B) means a car was written off by an insurance company and must be scrapped, but some parts may be salvaged and reused in other vehicles. The vehicle itself cannot be returned to the road under any circumstances, but certain components can be legally removed and sold.
Why Cat B matters to buyers
Illegal to drive
Cat B vehicles cannot legally be driven on UK roads. If you encounter a vehicle with a Cat B write-off status being sold as a complete car, it should not be on the road and may indicate fraud or vehicle cloning.
Safety risk
Cat B vehicles have been written off due to severe damage that makes them unsafe to drive. Attempting to drive or repair such a vehicle poses significant safety risks to occupants and other road users.
Legal implications
Buying or selling a Cat B vehicle as a complete car is illegal. The vehicle must be scrapped, and only individual parts may be legally sold. If a Cat B vehicle appears for sale as a complete car, it may indicate fraud or vehicle cloning.
No insurance or finance
No insurer will provide cover for a Cat B vehicle, and no lender will provide finance. If you encounter a Cat B vehicle being sold as a complete car, it is a clear warning sign of potential fraud.
What Cat B indicates
Cat B write-offs are vehicles that have suffered severe damage making them unsafe to repair and return to the road. However, unlike Cat A vehicles, Cat B vehicles may have some salvageable parts that can be legally removed and reused in other vehicles before the shell is destroyed. Both must be scrapped, unlike Cat S or Cat N vehicles which can be repaired.
When an insurance company writes off a vehicle as Cat B, they have determined that the vehicle must be scrapped, but certain components such as engines, transmissions, or body panels may be in good condition and can be salvaged. The vehicle shell must be destroyed at an Authorised Treatment Facility.
Cat B status is permanent and cannot be removed. If a vehicle has been written off as Cat B, it should not appear on the road or be available for sale as a complete vehicle. Any Cat B vehicle that appears for sale as a complete car may be a cloned vehicle using the identity of a scrapped car.
What to check if you encounter a Cat B vehicle
- Do not purchase a vehicle with a Cat B write-off status
- Run a vehicle history check before purchasing any used car
- Verify the vehicle's identity matches the registration documents
- Check for signs of vehicle cloning or identity theft
- Report any Cat B vehicle being sold as a complete car to the authorities
- Verify the seller's identity and the vehicle's provenance
- Check the vehicle's MOT history for inconsistencies
- Ensure the vehicle history check shows no write-off status
How a vehicle history check helps
A vehicle history check provides official records from UK databases, including insurance write-off information. This helps buyers identify if a vehicle has been written off as Cat B and should not be on the road.
If a vehicle history check shows a Cat B write-off status, it means the vehicle should have been scrapped. Any such vehicle appearing for sale may be a cloned vehicle or the result of fraud. A vehicle history check provides essential protection against purchasing illegal or unsafe vehicles.
What a Carpeep vehicle history check can show
- Write-off category (Cat S, Cat N, Cat A, Cat B, Cat C, Cat D) and date of write-off
- Theft and recovery status, including whether the vehicle has been reported stolen
- Outstanding finance agreements, including provider name, agreement type, and start date
- Mileage inconsistencies and potential odometer rollbacks, automatically flagged
- Keeper changes and number of previous owners
- MOT history timeline, including all test dates, pass/fail results, advisories, and recorded mileage at each test
- Registration plate changes and vehicle identity verification
Frequently asked questions
Can a Cat B car be legally driven?
No. Cat B vehicles cannot legally be driven on UK roads. They must be scrapped and destroyed. If a vehicle with a Cat B status appears for sale or on the road, it may indicate vehicle cloning or fraud.
What is the difference between Cat A and Cat B?
Cat A vehicles must be completely destroyed and cannot have any parts reused. Cat B vehicles must also be destroyed, but some parts may be salvaged and reused in other vehicles. Both categories mean the vehicle cannot be returned to the road, unlike Cat S or Cat N vehicles which can be repaired.
Can parts from a Cat B vehicle be used?
Yes, certain parts from Cat B vehicles can be legally removed and reused in other vehicles before the shell is destroyed. However, the vehicle itself cannot be repaired and returned to the road.
What should I do if I see a Cat B vehicle for sale?
If you encounter a Cat B vehicle being sold as a complete car, do not purchase it. This may indicate vehicle cloning, where a stolen vehicle is using the identity of a scrapped car. Report the incident to the police and the DVLA.
How can I confirm a car is Cat B?
You can confirm a car is Cat B by running a vehicle history check using the vehicle's registration number. The check will show if the vehicle has been written off, the category of write-off (Cat B, Cat A, etc.), and the date of the write-off. This information comes from official UK insurance and vehicle databases.
Can I get insurance or finance on a Cat B vehicle?
No. No insurer will provide cover for a Cat B vehicle, and no lender will provide finance. Cat B vehicles cannot legally be on the road, so there is no legitimate reason to insure or finance them.