Yes, potentially. Especially if the damage is very minor, you might decide that you want to hang on to your car and either sell it on, or fix any repairs yourself. Neither insurers nor the law will have any problem with you doing so.<\/p>
In order to keep the car though, you\u2019ll need to buy it back from your insurer, which will have taken ownership of the car when it wrote the car off and offered you a cash payment.<\/p>
If you want to do this, you\u2019ll need to let your insurance company know as soon as possible. That\u2019s because it will have an arrangement with salvage companies, who will take your car and either sell it on themselves at an auction or use it for parts. So if you don\u2019t get on the case quickly, your car could have already vanished.<\/p>
The insurer is only likely to charge you the salvage value of the car, which will be much less than the market value. So you could end up in a position where you have both a payout of the market value, and (for a relatively small sum) get to keep your car too.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article>
Can I repair a cat N car?<\/h3> Yes. Whether you\u2019ve bought your own cat N car back from your insurer, or bought a cat N car at an auction, it\u2019s absolutely fine to arrange for repairs yourself.<\/p>
In some cases, the cost of doing so might be much lower than you\u2019d have imagined, given that the insurer deemed the cost of repairs uneconomical.<\/p>
That\u2019s because, when insurers arrange for repairs, they\u2019ll typically do so using an authorised repair centre (often an official dealer) and using official manufacturers\u2019 parts. This can an expensive way of getting repairs done.<\/p>
Depending on the nature of the damage, you might be able to get the work done at a trusted local garage for a much lower price. So just because the insurer felt that repairs would cost too much to be worth it, doesn\u2019t mean you\u2019ll necessarily be stung by costs that outweigh what you received in your cash payout.<\/p>
Do I need to tell anyone that my car is a cat N write-off?<\/h3> Indeed you do. Just because the repairs are non-structural doesn\u2019t mean that you can keep quiet about them.<\/p>
At a minimum, you\u2019ll need to notify the DVLA. Unlike cat S write-offs (where cars require repair following structural damage), there\u2019s no legal requirement to re-register a cat N car or have a new MOT. But the DVLA will mark it down as a \u201crepaired write-off\u201d on its official records.<\/p>
You\u2019ll also need to declare the car\u2019s cat N status if you decide to sell it later on. The declaration must be clear even if the car has been fully repaired to pre-accident condition. It could be helpful to keep a record of the insurer\u2019s list of damage, and evidence of repairs having been completed, to reassure any potential buyers that your car is safe.<\/p>
Does the cat N status stay with the car forever?<\/h3> Yes. The law requires that a car\u2019s cat N write-off status stays with the vehicle for life, so that any potential owners know about its history.<\/p>
Is it possible to insure a cat N car?<\/h3> Absolutely. You must declare your car as a cat N write-off when you get quotes, and some insurers may choose not to insure such write-offs, but there are plenty that will.<\/p>
You must, of course, ensure that your car is safe and roadworthy. Failure to fix safety-related repairs could land you with a fine for driving an unroadworthy car, and render any insurance invalid if you need to make a claim.<\/p>
Does a cat N write-off increase a car\u2019s insurance cost?<\/h3> Possibly. Some insurers may charge more to insure a cat N car. That\u2019s because their underwriting calculations may deem a previously written off car an increased accident risk. But others may treat it as any other vehicle, provided that repairs have been carried out.<\/p>
Surprisingly, you may even sometimes find that a cat N car is cheaper to insure than a non-written-off equivalent. That\u2019s because cat N cars typically have lower market values, and insurers will take this into account in relation to how much they\u2019d have to pay out following a subsequent write-off.<\/p>
Are cat N cars cheaper to buy?<\/h3> Yes, cat N cars are almost always cheaper to buy than equivalent cars that have not been written off. That\u2019s largely down to the fact that many buyers can be put off by the fact they\u2019ve been written off, so demand will be lower. Especially because they have to trust that the seller has carried out necessary repairs to a good standard; there\u2019s no legal obligation for cat N cars to be formally assessed as fit for the road.<\/p>
Should I buy a cat N write-off car?<\/h3> If you\u2019re thinking of buying a cat N write-off car from its previous owner, or at an auction if it\u2019s being sold by a salvage firm, then do your due diligence. If possible, ask to see the report from the insurer detailing the extent of the damage, plus any evidence that the damage has been repaired. An itemised bill from a reputable garage, for example.<\/p>
If this isn\u2019t available, or you\u2019re still cautious, consider getting the car professionally checked out before you buy it.<\/p>
If these steps reassure you that the car is in a good, roadworthy state, then buying a cat N write-off could prove to be a bargain. Though bear in mind it\u2019s value will likely be even lower if you later want to sell it on.<\/p>
Bottom line<\/h3> It can come as a shock if a car that\u2019s served you well for years is judged a write-off by an insurer following a minor scrape that\u2019s resulted in very little damage. But the good news is that there are ways to keep hold of a class N write-off car, and often to get it repaired cost-effectively. Just be aware that some insurers may charge you more to cover a class N car, and it may put future buyers off, though keeping hold of damage and repair records may help set minds at rest.<\/p>
Frequently asked questions<\/h3>\n \n
\n \n What does the N stand for in a cat N write-off?<\/span>\n \n <\/use>\n <\/use>\n <\/svg>\n <\/button>\n <\/h4>\n <\/div>\n \n
The N stands for \u201cnon-structural damage\u201d, so the kind of damage experienced in write-offs of this nature. If a car has structural damage, but isn\u2019t beyond repair, it will be classed as cat S.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/li>
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\n \n Does a cat N car need a new MOT?<\/span>\n \n <\/use>\n <\/use>\n <\/svg>\n <\/button>\n <\/h4>\n <\/div>\n \n
No. The DVLA is typically happy to wait until a cat N car\u2019s next MOT date.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/li>
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\n \n What is cat N damage?<\/span>\n \n <\/use>\n <\/use>\n <\/svg>\n <\/button>\n <\/h4>\n <\/div>\n \n
Cat N damage is non-structural damage, so damage that doesn\u2019t affect the vehicle\u2019s frame or chassis. For example, it might be cosmetic damage or an electrical fault that isn\u2019t economical to repair. Non-structural damage can also include damage to things like brakes or safety features, though, and it will be important to repair these before taking the car back on the road. If you don\u2019t, the car won\u2019t be roadworthy, you could be fined, and your insurance will almost certainly be rendered invalid.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/li>
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\n \n How do I know what category of write-off my car is?<\/span>\n \n <\/use>\n <\/use>\n <\/svg>\n <\/button>\n <\/h4>\n <\/div>\n \n
If you were the owner of the car when it was written off, the report from the insurance assessor should make the write-off category clear. If you\u2019re buying a second-hand car, the seller should make its previous write-off status clear. But be cautious. Not every seller is honest, and some may fail to disclose its cat N status. If in any doubt, get a professional to check it over before buying.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/li><\/ul>