Cat N Declaration

[SAS Tom]

My neighbour has just had his car written off after an accident. He wants to keep the car as it’s Cat N and just needs a bumper repairing.

Everything we can find says that you don’t need to send the V5 off to the DVLA for a Cat N but it does mention you need to let them know. Does anyone know the process for letting them know if you don’t send the log book off?

[Cooperman]

Best to just do nothing. Fix the bumper and enjoy.

[SAS Tom]

That’s what I told him to do at first having done similar with a Cat D years ago however, it seems with the change in categories you must tell the DVLA now.

[rallycross]

SAS Tom said:

That’s what I told him to do at first having done similar with a Cat D years ago however, it seems with the change in categories you must tell the DVLA now.

Cat S Recorded on the new log book.

Not sure about cat N Would guess it’s not stated on the V5.

[4rephill]

Cooperman said:

Best to just do nothing. Fix the bumper and enjoy.

Great idea!

Failure to notify the DVLA of a Cat N write off can result in a £1000 fine.

Whilst the car won't be recorded on the V5 as a Cat N write off, the insurance and HPI records will have it recorded.

So should the car be sold on at a later date, there is a possibility that any non-disclosure could be discovered, and the previous owner hit with a £1000 fine.

As an alternative, writing a letter to the DVLA, notifying them of the Cat N, as required, will cost the grand total of a stamp!

There's no additional penalty or repercussion to notifying the DVLA of a Cat N, but there is for not notifying them, so I'd say it would be best to simply notify the DVLA as required!