Write-Off Check
Buying a car that has been written off without knowing it can lead to serious problems later, from lower resale value to hidden damage concerns.
A write-off check helps you see whether the vehicle has been recorded as an insurance loss before you commit to buying it.
Check a car before you buy
Check for write-off history and other key risks before you pay a deposit or transfer money.
No signup • £30k data guarantee
Why you should run a write-off check
Some written-off vehicles return to the road and are sold on, which means buyers can end up looking at a car with serious history without realising it.
Running a write-off check helps you spot this early so you can ask better questions, negotiate properly, or walk away.
What a write-off check can reveal
Insurance write-off history
See whether the vehicle has been recorded as a write-off.
Category information
Understand whether the car has been marked with categories such as Cat S or Cat N.
Other key buying risks
Check finance, theft markers and mileage concerns alongside write-off history.
MOT and mileage context
Review MOT and mileage records for extra warning signs.
What actually matters in a write-off check
A write-off check is only useful if it helps you understand the risk before you buy. You need to know whether the car has been written off, but you also need the surrounding checks that help you judge the full picture. Carpeep brings those checks together in one easy-to-read report. You can view a sample report or compare this page with our HPI check alternative page.
Carpeep vs traditional write-off checks
Use this table to compare what buyers usually need before committing to a vehicle.
| What buyers need | Carpeep | Traditional write-off checks |
|---|---|---|
| Write-off history | Included. Helps you see whether the vehicle has been recorded as an insurance write-off. | Often focused on write-off data alone, so check how clearly the result is shown and explained. |
| Category information | Included. Helps you understand the write-off category and why it matters. | Category detail may be limited or not explained clearly. |
| Outstanding finance check | Included. Lets you check finance risk alongside write-off history. | May require a separate vehicle history product if the check is write-off-only. |
| Stolen vehicle check | Included. Theft markers are shown clearly in the report. | Not always bundled into a basic write-off-focused check. |
| Mileage history | Included. MOT mileage history helps you spot inconsistencies and warning signs. | Often limited or left to separate checks depending on the provider. |
| Report usability | Built to be easy to scan, understand and act on quickly. | Worth comparing if you want a result that is easy to interpret before money changes hands. |
Built for modern buyers
- • No account needed
- • Apple Pay accepted
- • Clear report summary first
- • Deep data without the clutter
- • Faster from reg search to result
Ready to check a car?
Enter the registration and check for write-off history before you buy.
No account needed • Apple Pay accepted
When to run a write-off 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 vehicle with serious history you did not account for.
Final verdict
Check the write-off history before you commit
A write-off check helps you see whether the vehicle has serious insurance history before money changes hands. Carpeep brings the key risks into one clear report so you can make a more confident buying decision.
Check a car before you buy
Enter the registration and get the key facts before you commit to the car.
No account needed • Apple Pay accepted • £30,000 data guarantee