Buying Category D Listed Cars

linktoinsanity

linktoinsanity

linktoinsanity

Man of Honour
Joined
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Hi guys,

I've been looking at getting a new car, and these category D cars keep coming up. I have read they are low-level insurance write-offs and from what I have found they are apparently fine as long as you do your homework.

Source: http://www.whatcar.com/news/cat-d-need-know/

However I am interested in what some of the seasoned car veterans on OcUK reckon? Should I keep well clear or is there a potential bargain that can be had?

Thanks,
Link.
 
Some insurance companies can be a bit funny with any write offs so it's worth calling and confirming any quotes and the resale value will be a lot lower than a non write off, but saying that if you can get a good deal and you don't plan on selling it on in the nearish future then they're fine just make sure you give it a thorough look over before parting with any cash.
 
If the car has the repair work documented and it appears to be sound, then I wouldn't let it put you off. Lots of cars will have been crashed or crashed into in the past, and may have been CAT D or even CAT C, but were repaired without the damage being declared, meaning that they don't have the markers, but are in exactly the same condition/position as an ex write-off.

I also have not yet encountered an insurance company who has an issue insuring ex-write offs, or who even bump up quotes for them. I'm not entirely sure what people base that on, but it seems to be something that comes up a lot!
 
I steer clear myself –*but what's most important is that you find out when it was written off. That will give you more of a guide as to how badly it was damaged.
 
If cat Ds keep coming up it's a good indication your budget probably isn't big enough for what you are trying to buy. They tend to form the sediment at the bottom of the pond.
 
To me it depends on what it was written off for, and what you are buying it for.

I'd have no qualms in buying a previously cosmetcially written off M3 as a track car.

On the flip side, I'd not want to be buying a previously water-logged new-ish (and therefore highly electronically complex) luxury saloon to drive as a daily.
 
[TW]Fox;29453167 said:
If cat Ds keep coming up it's a good indication your budget probably isn't big enough for what you are trying to buy. They tend to form the sediment at the bottom of the pond.
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On the flipside, the stigma associated with CAT D's means that the value is reduced dramatically, and if you buy one, you are likely to be getting a much better car than if you buy a non CAT D for the same price... So long as any repair work was done properly. :)
 
I have very little experience, but I looked at a cat D Golf. I drove it, it was lovely, had a look, couldn't spot anything and got a few insurance quotes, nothing came back as any higher than equivalent cars so there are good deals to be had. in my case though the car had no service history and I only discovered it was a cat D when I ran a check myself on the car.

That put me right off the dealership, so I walked away, but that was down to them, not the car itself.

I'd pay someone to give the car a good examination before agreeing to buy it. It might cost money on something you might not end up with but at least it'll give you peace of mind.
 
Acme said:
On the flipside, the stigma associated with CAT D's means that the value is reduced dramatically, and if you buy one, you are likely to be getting a much better car than if you buy a non CAT D for the same price... So long as any repair work was done properly. :)
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AA inspection is essential.
 
Thanks for the replies so far.

Basically I have found a fiesta which is a Black Eco 100PS, 5drs - pretty much exactly what I am after to replace my Silver 1.25 82PS 3drs Fiesta, but I am going to call my insurance company and see what they say regarding insuring it. I would also test drive the car and have it checked too. I would be looking to run it into the ground as well so would not be likely to sell it any time soon.

Also depends how easily I can sell mine, so by no means a definite. It's more the car fitting the bill for exactly what I want, rather than anything else (less the Cat D part ideally of course).
 
SoliD said:
ask mrk for more information.
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loll

The main problem with Cat D's for me, is getting rid of it. If you plan on running it in to the ground and eventually scrapping it then go for it. If you want to keep it, look after it and minimise depreciation, spend a little more and avoid the hideous cat D label.

edit: hi Nick.
 
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Our Civic is a Cat D(I think) as its stolen/recovered. The extent of the damage was a small scratch and some beer cans in the footwell.
 
I'm a fickle individual, just found a 125bhp non cat D (edit: turns out it is on more reading :( ) that I like and mine is worth 1k more than I thought it was...
 
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Cheap runaround car i would but i wouldnt spend good money on a cat d.

Could be anything. A old corsa will get written off because a new bumper is worth more than the car, if a new/newish car gets written off, it will of had a decent whack to have been written off.
 
I think you will find that a high number of these cat c/d cars have been repaired on a budget by dealers. I would spend more time looking for a clean one tbh
 
My cars/motorbikes are normally cat C so worse, but no issues with payouts etc.

It's a letter that only means anything to look at other than checking numbers as normal. Obviously you have to make sure the repairs correct and gaps are right, paint iss OK etc.

I know someone who bought a car not advertised as dodgy and it turned out to be a cat C... After I questioned the paint on the bumper... Dealer didn't pick up on it either when she part-exed it...
 
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