Category S econonimcal write off

Additional Information

Car has been collected from independant garage, they have confirmed zero structural damage to the vehicle and have also stated it shouldn't even be a category N......

I have since asked the original assessors of the damage for a structural report and photgarphic evidence of the structural damage to which they claim and they have since removed my car from their repairs app and advised me to speak to the 3rd parties insurers....

to be continued.
 
Car has been collected from independant garage, they have confirmed zero structural damage to the vehicle and have also stated it shouldn't even be a category N......

If someone has written it off, it'll be a category of some sort - they're suggesting to you they think it would be economical to repair, which it probably would be if the entire car insurance industry didn't amount to one massive exercise in legalised fraud
 
If someone has written it off, it'll be a category of some sort - they're suggesting to you they think it would be economical to repair, which it probably would be if the entire car insurance industry didn't amount to one massive exercise in legalised fraud
totally agree, but a cat N the car doesnt need to be re-registered with dvla and undertake new MOT etc etc ..... were as a Cat S needs to be if the insurers report it to dvla and some other car industry body starting with M ( cant think of the name right now)
 
totally agree, but a cat N the car doesnt need to be re-registered with dvla and undertake new MOT etc etc ..... were as a Cat S needs to be if the insurers report it to dvla and some other car industry body starting with M ( cant think of the name right now)
Cat S doesn't need a new MOT either after it is repaired.
 
conflicting information, it does state that a car categroised as Cat S with the dvla needs to be repaired, re-registered and an new mot issued to ensure the car is structurally sound.
Can you point me to the government page that says a cat S needs a new MOT as I couldn't find that? Some insurance companies may want a new MOT but I'm not sure it's a legal requirement.
 
Can you point me to the government page that says a cat S needs a new MOT as I couldn't find that? Some insurance companies may want a new MOT but I'm not sure it's a legal requirement.
i cant, thats why i said conflicting information. My insurance company didnt require anything they just noted it as cat s and said im covered. nothing else.
 
Last edited:
According to this article:


A category S car that has been repaired does need a new MOT.
It literally says in the article:

Why does a Cat S car require a new MOT?
While there isn't a specific legal requirement (so long as its current MOT certificate hasn't expired), Category S write-offs are classified as such because they pose certain risks to road safety — beyond the value of the vehicle itself, might we add.
 
also read that dvla no longer get involved with write offs, its upto the insurers to register the cat S and some insurers MAY require a post repair MOT. But as no repair is required, my garage will just put it through a new MOT for me, in case my insurers ask for it.
 
ive also read on pistonheads ( but will clarify when the insurers finally contact me), that i can withdraw the insurance claim and therefore they then have no right to write the car off as there is no claim to pay out.
 
One thing to be careful of with not re MOTing a write off car is how do you prove it's road worthy or not. Your insurance most likely states your car should be road legal and fit to drive, or your insurance is invalid.

If you're driving a car that's "repaired" but then have another accident, I'd bet the insurance company will 100% use this as a reason for not paying. "Yeah my mate down the road fixed it for me, sure it's road legal. "

On the subject of write off cars and insurance, you always need to check they cover wrote off cars. Weirdly, they will quote you on comparison sites and take your money, but question them on it or go through the T&Cs at it sometimes says that category cars won't be covered.
 
Last edited:
One thing to be careful of with not re MOTing a write off car is how do you prove it's road worthy or not. Your insurance most likely states your car should be road legal and fit to drive, or your insurance is invalid.

If you're driving a car that's "repaired" but then have another accident, I'd bet the insurance company will 100% use this as a reason for not paying. "Yeah my mate down the road fixed it for me, sure it's road legal. "

On the subject of write off cars and insurance, you always need to check they cover wrote off cars. Weirdly, they will quote you on comparison sites and take your money, but question them on it or go through the T&Cs at it sometimes says that category cars won't be covered.

If it has been legally allowed back on the road I don't think they can argue that.
 
Last edited:
One thing to be careful of with not re MOTing a write off car is how do you prove it's road worthy or not. Your insurance most likely states your car should be road legal and fit to drive, or your insurance is invalid.

If you're driving a car that's "repaired" but then have another accident, I'd bet the insurance company will 100% use this as a reason for not paying. "Yeah my mate down the road fixed it for me, sure it's road legal. "

On the subject of write off cars and insurance, you always need to check they cover wrote off cars. Weirdly, they will quote you on comparison sites and take your money, but question them on it or go through the T&Cs at it sometimes says that category cars won't be covered.
what if the car has been inspected and the mechanic states no repair required as no structural damage exists??
 
It literally says in the article:

Why does a Cat S car require a new MOT?
While there isn't a specific legal requirement (so long as its current MOT certificate hasn't expired), Category S write-offs are classified as such because they pose certain risks to road safety — beyond the value of the vehicle itself, might we add.

I was briefly researching this because I wanted to know what the mandatory procedure was, but I didn't get to the bottom of it.

The whole gist of that article is that you should, (but it may not be legally required). For instance, the article also says:

"To answer the question: Yes, a Category S car, which has sustained structural damage, does require a new MOT test after it has been repaired and before it can be driven again. This is to ensure that the vehicle is roadworthy and safe to operate on public roads following the structural repairs."

There was also something called the Vehicle Identity Check by the DVLA, which applied to category S cars, but ended in 2015.


So, I remain unsure what the mandatory requirements regarding vehicle inspection after a Category S write off are. I would have thought there needed to be a proper engineering inspection by some sort of government approved scheme, but I couldn't find anything.
 
I was briefly researching this because I wanted to know what the mandatory procedure was, but I didn't get to the bottom of it.

The whole gist of that article is that you should, (but it may not be legally required). For instance, the article also says:

"To answer the question: Yes, a Category S car, which has sustained structural damage, does require a new MOT test after it has been repaired and before it can be driven again. This is to ensure that the vehicle is roadworthy and safe to operate on public roads following the structural repairs."

There was also something called the Vehicle Identity Check by the DVLA, which applied to category S cars, but ended in 2015.


So, I remain unsure what the mandatory requirements regarding vehicle inspection after a Category S write off are. I would have thought there needed to be a proper engineering inspection by some sort of government approved scheme, but I couldn't find anything.
ive also read that if you withdraw the claim, which you have a legal right to do, then the car cant be written off as no settlement has been made.
 
From a legal perspective that sounds logical. The question is whether the insurance company, having written it off, can/will reverse it. I guess you're going to find out.
its not written off until it has been settled for payment.... at the moment they have only been advised by the garage to write it off on economical grounds due to the supposed structural damage, that i now know doesnt exist. im sure the insurance ombudsman wiould like to here from me, if they try to force the claim through.
 
Back
Top Bottom