Cat D ? Confused Help

[jaackla]

Im looking to buy a Vauxhall Astra 1.4i 16V SXi 3dr but in the info it says its CAT D? what does this mean, and is the car safe in the pics it looks all fine like nothings wrong and is it still able to go on the roads?

 

[Craig321]

Tax?

https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-tax-rate-tables

But then you do get cat D write offs as well

 

[~Divine~Wind~]

Previous insurance write off

Cat D is the least serious category. It usually means that the vehicle has suffered light damage but the insurance company's decision to repair it is dependent on the cost of the repairs and the value of the vehicle.

http://www.whatcar.com/car-advice/running/what-is-cat-d-/3487412

 

[Clarkey]

Means it's been damaged and written off. Cat D is the least severe category, typically just minor panel damage or even just vandalism.
For a car as ubiquitous as an Astra though, just find one that's clean it should be easy. Being Cat D will make it harder to sell, and some insurers can be funny about it.

 

[jaackla]

If i was to ask the people selling it if its been fixed and what the problem is would it then be road legal if i got it insured ?

 

[Clarkey]

They probably don't know, not that it would make any difference anyway. There is no reason it wouldn't be road legal, only Cat C and B need an identity check.

 

[jaackla]

How do you get a car out of cat d? or will it always stay in cat d now evan if its fixed

 

[rodenal]

It's always registered as a cat d, that will never change even when its fully roadworthy.

Cat C cars need an identity check to be put back on the road, can't remember if Cat D's get one too but I don't think its required

Cat B cannot be returned to the road, only used for parts etc

 

[Clarkey]

It's always registered as a cat d, that will never change even when its fully roadworthy.

Cat C cars need an identity / safety check to be put back on the road, can't remember if Cat D's get one too.

Cat B cannot be returned to the road, only used for parts etc

Cat B can be put back on the road. The VIC has nothing to do with safety either, it's just to check it's not been ringed.

 

[rodenal]

Cat b should not and in theory cannot be put back on the road per se. There are ways round it (requesting an inslection or exporting/importing for example) but it would be highly unlikely to be done legitinately on anything non exotic.

Your right about safety, I already removed that.

 

[Clarkey]

That's not true, I personally know of a Cat B NC MX5 that was put back on the road, no tricks.

 

[rodenal]

Absolutely certain? It shouldn't really have been, cat B is some pretty terrible damage, you're supposed to strip only usable parts and destroy the rest.

In saying that I don't think the categories actually come with a direct legal tie to the actions ( other than if you try to sell again and not declare), I cannot see why anyone would repair a cat b run of the mill car though, any I have ever seen are a real mess that you'd never fix. Even the most dodgy of dodgy places that would otherwise buy and repair write offs won't touch a refistered cat B as you can't even get the logbook transferred ( that I'm aware of)

 

[Tinders]

Cat B cannot be returned to the road, DVLA has to have the VIN number recorded as being destroyed.

Edit, I take it back, this thread here suggests otherwise, that's certainly news to me............http://www.moneysupermarket.com/community/forums/t/cat-b-writeoff-51799.aspx

 

[peterattheboro]

If the car is actually fine then use the Cat D as a bargaining tool to get a good deal. Otherwise just get a clean one. It's not like they are rare.

 

[spacedskunk]

Be cautious with even cat Ds, sometimes there can be chassis damage and you need to declare it to your insurer...some do not accept insuring cars that have been repaired following a previous insurance claim.