Comments on: My 53 Plate Vauxhall Corsa Has A “cat D” On Its History, Does This Mean It Was Written Off….?

By: Sal*UK

Sal*UK — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 03:50:08 +0000

A damaged vehicle which the insurer has decided not to repair, but which could be repaired and returned to the road.
According to the MOT website.
A statutory lesson to you – NEVER buy a second hand car without having it HPI checked or using someone like the AA to check it out. This would have shown up before you bought it.
As to selling it, be honest -

By: Timbo is here

Timbo is here — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 23:41:24 +0000

1. You explanation of a Cat D is near enough spot on.
2. It would be possible for the two companies to have co directors but still be separate entities – conversely either one might own the other. Whatever, this has no bearing on the matter for you.
3. Unfortunately most insurers will not insure a Cat D vehicle and those that will will do so for a lot less than the none cat D value and charge more for the privilege!
4. Selling it to an online “webuyanycar” type company will get you auction price or less anyway – a private sale will still be better.

By: Bardic

Bardic — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 19:00:53 +0000

Cat D is the “mildest” form of write-off, invariably for financial reasons in that the insurance company felt that the cost of repair at full commercial rates was too high compared with its value. As you say it’s quite likely that the firm bought the remains and repaired it before selling it on, it could well have been repaired very well indeed.
I’m personally aware of one example where a car had brake fluid tipped over it and the paintwork ruined. The cost of a full body preparation and respray would have been far too high, so the insurance company wrote it off. The guy who bought it is a professional bodywork man so he was able to repair it cheaply at cost and now has a beautiful Mondeo which is probably in better condition than when it left the factory.
Unless they specifically denied it had been a write-off when you asked, they haven’t lied to you. Contrary to myth, most insurers don’t have trouble with covering a repaired Cat D.

By: anon

anon — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 17:07:41 +0000

cat d means “repairable write off”
also applies to stolen and recovered cars
usually if the cost of repair is between 60-100% of the cars value, it will be auctioned by the insurance company. the insurance company considers it a write off but it can be registered again after repair and inspection.
and as far as i’m concerned, playing dumb when selling to a company like that isn’t immoral. they wont tell the next buyer that it’s a cat d.