How severe is a Category C write off?

Car im looking at was damaged in 1998, but has had full MOT's ever since and has also got a 12 month ticket on it now...

I'm meant to be looking at it tomorrow morning but a little unsure now!

 

i think it is where you can only use it for parts?

 

What do you mean 'only use it for parts' ?

The vehicle is still on the road in a road worthy condition and has been for the past 8 years...

 

I think cat A can only be used as parts.

cat C is usually damage from fire?

If you can wait, Ive got the info somewhere, just need to look it up

 

No, a Cat C car is simply 'uneconomical to repair' (That's using all new parts and top rates for the labour !). Usually,cat c cars are not too bad. In fact,I have a Cat C rover 418,stood round the back !! What's wrong with it ?? Just one door skin damaged !! Cat B's are 'break only' . Cat D are very minor damage or 'stolen recovered'... Does that help??

 

Category A:-
Scrap only-this vehicle should be crushed.It should never reappear on the road and there are no economically salvageable parts.
Its only vslue is a scrap metal e.g. a burnt out car.
Category B:-
The bodywhellshould have been crushed.The vehicle should never reappear on the road,but it can be broken for spare parts plus any residual scrap metal.
Category C:-
Vehicle extensively damaged and insurer has decided not to repair.May be repaired and put back on the road but has to pass an inspection to be re-registered as damaged repaired.
Category D:-
Vehicle is damaged and insurer has decided not to repair.When repaired can be re-registered as damaged repaired.
Category F:-
Vehicle damaged by fire and insurer has decided not to repair.When repaired can be re-registered as damaged repaired.

 

RichardC I can wait mate, thanks!

Jayen4 Yes it does help mate thank you, I didn't think that Cat C was too severe!

 

Hhmm not to sure on that one then!

 

info is above, basically as Jayen says, yeah fire is cat F not C, shows how shonky my memory is

 

no i no cat f is fire becuz ma nan set her own escort on fire!!

 

ask for before/during/sfter pictures

if its a quality repair, should be fine, need to ensure its had all the correct docs sorted and HPI it, need to make sure insurance comapnies are aware its back on the road and have downgraded its status


never pay more than 70% market value for a cat.... repaired car

 

I found out by hpi a moment ago, the seller hasn't told me but I couldnt remember if he mentioned hpi checking it when we spoke on the phone!

Theoretically it should be ok as it was 8 years ago and has got an MOT now..

 

Dan, Look at this,on e-bay....this is one that I'm watching......THIS is a Cat C car. Item number 4623883612. O.K??

 

get an insurance quote on it and ask the insurance company whether it has had all the correct documents and checks done on it

 

Not too major is it!

 

Had an insurance quote last week for it mate, and that went straight through ok!

 

No,not really !! That's a typical Cat C. Strangely,some Cat B stuff,is less damaged than that,but the insurance companies insist on them being 'broken'.......sometimes there's no logic to 'em !!

 

Weird, thanks for your help anyway mate!

 

When I used to do car body repairs and spraying I saw loads of Cat C's that were far better than Cat D's (system was slightly different back then but not that different) ..... all depends on the mood of who-ever inspected.

As with all second hand cars you just need to take them on the individual merit. The one in that eBay auction don't look bad at all, doubt the inner wing has even been bent or if it has nothing major

 

The engineer told me there was another category that min would fall into, basically where the car is uneconomical to repair but it would go in the list?

 

Andy, thats category C mate, same as this Series 1 I was gonna have, not bothered with it now, can't be too sure!

 

if its been on the road that long after being recorded wouldnt bother me one bit. my mate just bought a cat c veccy sri and repaired it . had just been smacked in the front . looks mint now!!

 

if he hasnt been upfront telling you mate id walk away

 

Apparently the seller wasn't aware of it being registered as a cat c write off. Needless to say Dan did walk away (or rather didn't even go and see it)and I'm glad I told him to HPI it first....

Don't worry mate, something else will come along

 

Good to hear, i'd of done exactly the same

 

Category X, not recorded

 

Thought so as it was minor damage but the damage still exceeded the value of the car (according to the engineer )

Put it this way, if i knew the car was badly damaged i wouldnt entertain repairing it and driving my family round in it.

 

Yup, thanks Ad, really appreciate your help and advice mate! We'll find one soon bud!

woodz77 Sorry mate but I couldn't care less how it 'looks', it's if it's done right and not knowing who repaired it, I for one am not prepared to take that chance!

pjv7771 Agree mate, didn't even bother with it, don't think the bloke knew himself (so he said)

Mr.Manchester Think you mean 'wouldn't entertain...' chap! lol



BTW, for anyone's info, the reg of this vehicle is C744 UWP, guy has since lowered the price by £250 on autotrader since I told him this morning! Shows he clearly has no intention of telling anyone about it!

 

ive recently had a 2001 impreza that was cat c where the electrics had caught fire under bonnet,it was all properly repaired and you couldnt tell,but it was some £3000 cheaper than the equivalent car and had been inspected by the dvla.

sometimes a good way to get a car cheap if its been repaired correctly.....
but you should expect it to be cheaper,if not leave it and buy another imop

 

 

Edited

 

pmsl