Write-Off Check: Has This Car Been Written Off?
Before you buy a used car, check whether it has been written off, been in an accident, or recorded with insurance damage.
Carpeep checks write-off history, crash damage records, finance, theft and mileage risks in one clear £15 report.
Check write-off and accident history by reg
Enter the registration to see if the car has been written off, involved in a crash, or recorded with insurance damage before you pay a deposit or travel to view it.
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Has this car been written off?
A write-off check by registration is the quickest way to see if a car has been recorded as an insurance write-off. Insurers record write-offs by category:
- Cat A: scrap only. Must be crushed, including parts.
- Cat B: body shell destroyed. Salvageable parts only.
- Cat S: structural damage. May return to the road after repair.
- Cat N: non-structural damage. May still be significant.
- Cat C and Cat D are older markers you may still see on pre-2017 records.
If a write-off marker shows on the report, you can ask the seller for repair documentation, negotiate the price, or walk away. Enter the reg above to check.
How do I know if a car has been written off or in an accident?
You usually cannot confirm if a car has been written off or had serious accident damage just by looking at it. Sellers may not mention it, and repairs can hide the history.
- The price seems unusually low
- The seller avoids questions about past damage
- Paintwork or panels look inconsistent
- MOT or mileage history does not feel right
- The car may have been described as Cat S, Cat N, Cat C or Cat D
These signs are not proof. Many cars with previous crash damage look normal after repair.
The reliable way to check is to look at official insurance records linked to the registration.
Enter the reg above to check write-off and accident history with Carpeep.
Why you should run a write-off check
Some written-off cars return to the road and get sold on, so buyers end up with serious accident history without realising. A write-off check, run as part of a full car history check, helps you spot this early so you can negotiate 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 do Cat S and Cat N mean?
These categories usually relate to accident or crash damage recorded by insurers. Knowing the category helps you understand the type of damage and the level of risk before you buy.
- Cat S means the car had structural damage and may have returned to the road after repair.
- Cat N means non-structural damage, but it can still be costly or significant.
- Older records may show Cat C or Cat D.
- If a report shows Cat D, treat it as Cat D history. Do not assume it is the same as Cat N.
- The goal is not to avoid every flagged car, but to understand the risk before buying.
What actually matters in a write-off check
You need to know if the car has been written off, plus the surrounding checks that show the full picture. Carpeep brings them into one clear report. View a sample report or see our HPI check alternative.
Ready to check a car?
Enter the registration and check write-off and accident history before you buy.
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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
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 is especially relevant for premium models like Land Rovers, where high repair costs mean write-offs are more common than many buyers expect.
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.
Where our data comes from
Every Carpeep report draws from official UK data sources. We do not create, edit or estimate any data. We present the records as they are held.
DVLA
Vehicle registration, keeper history, import/export status and vehicle specifications.
DVSA
Full MOT test history including results, advisories, mileage readings at each test and expiry dates.
Insurance industry records
Write-off markers (Cat A, B, S and N) recorded by insurers following total loss assessments.
UK finance lenders
Outstanding finance agreements including HP, PCP and conditional sale records.
Police stolen vehicle records
Stolen vehicle markers originating 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.
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