[Closed] Cat N Repaired - Talk to Me

I've got a Cat N... Though it wasn't at the time I bought it!

A neighbour didn't leave his car in gear on a hill.😒

Didn't effect my insurance but it potentially can.

I've heard that some insurers want an engineers report but mine didn't.

Mine was written off due to "needing" a new bumper and a small crack in the headlamp.😐

It's just sailed through an MOT no problem.

Cat N is the lightest damage, basically beyond economic repair but still safe/easy to fix. Your personal risk and location carry much more emphasis for insurance. Resale will be harder/lower value than an equivalent. It's more for insurance admin purposes and keeping track of damaged vehicles than anything. Basically, just so you 'know' it's been bumped when buying/selling.
https://www.theaa.com/car-insurance/advice/damage-categories

CAT N basically covers anything that isn't structural damage. A car that can be put back on the road but isn't economical for the insurers approved repairer to do so basically. Could be as minor as a scuffed bumper, as major as flood damage and seized engine and gearbox.

I'm looking at a CAT N car myself for my next car, main reason being it will be a weekend toy anyway, and I want to put a Limited Slip Diff, uprated suspension on it etc. and the car I'm looking at is about 30% cheaper than equivalent non CAT cars... The key really lies in getting hold of the information and possibly a full report detailing the damage and how it was repaired if possible. My GF's old Toyota Avensis was written off as a CAT N, someone bumped into the passenger side doors at walking pace in a car park, put small dents in both. Insurance company wrote it off immediately... Offered her £1500 for the car, or £1300 and she could keep it! She kept it, drove it for a few more months, then sold it for £800... The guy who bought it had found 2 immaculate matching doors in a breakers for £100!

Insurance company MUST be told... Very rarely affects the premium, but if they don't know it's already been written off, the policy will be null and void.

It doesn't effect your premium with the vast majority of insurers as the risk is still the same. The car has to be MOT worthy just as any other car.

Insurers don't tend to ask if its a Cat car (I've never seen the question and didn't ask it when I was an underwriter at Aviva) but when it comes to pay out don't expect a non Cat car payout but you're still paying the same insurance premium as a non Cat car.

I've had a Cat N and it was fine, pretty easy to sell on the private market. Most dealers wouldn't touch it.

All cat n cars are mysteriously just paint damage. Almost as if the sellers might be lying!

Ask for photos before, or have a very good look round the car. Cat cars are often repaired on the cheap (as doing it properly is too expensive, hense the writeoff), so check for someone cutting cornerstone

Cat N means non-structural damage. That can include damaged steering, braking, suspension and other safety-critical components.

If a car is a Cat N due to very minor things like being keyed, bumpers, lights etc then fine, but caveat emptor - you should always ask for photos of the damage, photos of the repair and copies of the receipts/work done as well as who repaired it.

Just be very, very cautious.

Personally, having owned a couple of Cat N cars I now avoid them completely. Although both were repaired properly by professionals they each had lots of minor continual, niggling issues that just got on my t**s after a while and in I got rid of them in less than 2 yrs (I’m someone who typically keeps cars for 5-8 years).

Also with cat C and D (I'm old)

Think when it was written off.... if it's a 10yo car itll be written off for nothing but if it's a 1yo car that value is much much higher and you may have a bigger repair than just a wing....

I'd only buy one with some evidence - pics of damage and receipts for repair. As all sellers claim panels and paint and it makes it easier to sell on.

Needs to be 20% cheaper though.

I've had 3 recorded cars, all had good repairs and never a problem. Never had a problem selling on privately for 20% less too.

Never been asked about it on insurance nor refused insurance - its a myth. Insurance doesn't care so long as it has MOT as proof of roadworthiness. As noted above they will pay out less, but that doesn't matter as long as you paid less.

Any car can be repaired and go unrecorded, check any used purchase thoroughly.

I will buy written off cars, if the price is right and I can see what was done.

Some are silly, a bumper and headlight can be a £5k repair, or £300 for a second hand fix.

Structural repairs I have only bought in the damaged condition and fixed myself. Need to watch yards that jig the car before auction to make the damage look less.

Also worth bearing in mind there are structural non cat repairs carried out on newer cars (when their value is high) all the time future buyers are never aware of (until you strip the car down).

Be careful and as above get the information about what damage the car had sustained and how it was put back together.

A lot of 'damaged repairables' are sold at auction and then put back together. Most are then described as very light damage.

There was a post on Pistonheads where some guy had a link to an auction house that sold such cars and showed the damage prior to repair. Most look horrific but were later advertised as 'very light damage' after the repair.

Worth checking out, so buyer beware.