Check if a car has
been written off.
See recorded write-off markers, Cat S and Cat N history and the key buying risks in one £15 report.
Included in your report:
- Write-off markers
- Cat S / N / C / D
- Outstanding finance
- Stolen status
- Mileage issues
- MOT history
Example write-off section
See the write-off history before you buy.
This is how a recorded write-off marker appears in your report: the category, when it was recorded, and what it means.
Write-off markers
Insurance total-loss records
Example data shown. Your report will show the recorded write-off history for the reg you check.
What a write-off check helps you spot.
A flagged car is not always a no. The detail is what matters: know the category, the type of damage, and whether an insurer recorded it before you commit.
Write-off category
See the recorded category — Cat S, N, C or D — so you know the severity.
Serious damage history
Spot cars repaired and put back on the road after structural damage.
Insurance total-loss marker
Confirm whether an insurer wrote the car off against this reg.
Recorded write-off history
How to tell if a car has been written off.
You usually cannot tell from photos or a quick look. Repairs can hide serious damage, and sellers do not always mention it. The reliable way is to check the registration against insurance records, run as part of a full car history check.
Cat S
Structural damage. The car may have returned to the road after repair, so understand what was done.
Cat N
Non-structural damage. Often cosmetic, but it can still be costly or significant depending on what was affected.
Cat C / Cat 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.
Cat A / Cat B
The most serious markers. Cat A is scrap only and Cat B has the body shell destroyed, so these should not be back on the road.
What do Cat S and Cat N mean for you?
The goal is not to avoid every flagged car, but to understand the type of damage and the level of risk before you buy. For a fuller buyer guide, read our Cat S and Cat N cars explained article.
Run a write-off check
Check the write-off history in seconds.
Enter the registration to see recorded write-off markers and the full vehicle history before you pay a deposit.
- Instant results
- All checks included
- £30,000 data guarantee
What a write-off check reveals.
A write-off 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.
Category information
Understand whether the car has a recorded category such as Cat S, Cat N, Cat C or Cat D where available.
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 around the write-off.
What actually matters
A write-off marker is only half the picture.
You need to know if the car has been written off, but you also need the surrounding risks. Carpeep brings recorded write-off history, finance, stolen, mileage, MOT, tax and ownership checks into one clear report.
A write-off marker will not appear on a free check, which is the difference between a free and paid car check. If you have used HPI before, see our HPI check alternative.
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. This matters most on premium models like Land Rovers, where high repair costs mean write-offs are 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.
Frequently asked questions
What is a write-off check?
Why is checking write-off history important?
How do I know if a car has been written off?
Does a write-off check show every accident?
Can I tell if a car has been in a crash just by looking at it?
Can a written-off car go back on the road?
What does Cat S mean?
What does Cat D mean?
Should I run a write-off check before paying a deposit?
Check a car before you buy
Don't buy a car you haven't checked.
Enter the reg to check recorded write-off history and the key risk markers before you commit.
- Full vehicle history
- No account required
- £30,000 data guarantee