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A car write off check helps you find out whether a vehicle has been declared a total loss by an insurance company. Thousands of vehicles across the UK are recorded as insurance write offs every year, with many later repaired and returned to the road. While some repairs are completed professionally, others may hide serious structural or safety issues.
Running a write off check before buying a used car gives you peace of mind and helps you avoid hidden risks. Our vehicle write off check searches trusted UK insurance and DVLA linked databases to reveal whether a vehicle has been recorded as Cat A, Cat B, Cat S or Cat N.
If you are buying privately, a seller may not always disclose previous damage or insurance history. A write off check helps you understand exactly what you are buying before making payment.
An insurance write off is a vehicle that an insurer has declared uneconomical or unsafe to repair after damage caused by an accident, flood, fire or theft recovery.
When repair costs exceed a percentage of the vehicle's market value, insurers may classify the vehicle as a total loss and assign a salvage category.
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) introduced the current write off categories to help buyers understand the severity of vehicle damage.
Our comprehensive vehicle check includes:
A Cat S or Cat N vehicle can sometimes offer good value if repaired professionally, but buyers should always proceed carefully.
Before buying:
Category A and Category B vehicles should never return to the road and are not suitable for purchase as road vehicles.
Yes. Once a vehicle has been recorded as written off, the marker usually remains on the vehicle history permanently, even after repairs are completed.
This can impact vehicle value, insurance costs, future resale, and buyer confidence. That is why checking write off history before buying a used car is essential.
When your car is declared a write-off, your insurance policy will be terminated. Depending on the terms and conditions of your contract, you may retain specific claim rights. However, you must continue paying monthly premiums until the contract's end. This holds true for Cat A vehicles.
For Cat B, Cat S, and Cat N vehicles, you can negotiate with your insurance company to repurchase the car. In the cases of S and N, you are responsible for all necessary repairs. After completing the repairs, you must apply for a new insurance policy. Be prepared for a potentially higher premium this time, as various factors will influence it.
Cat S (Structural):
Cat N (Non-Structural):
A write-off can be indicated on the V5 registration document, commonly known as the logbook. When an insurance company declares a car as a write-off, they must notify the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency).