CAT D Mythbusters
Discussion
Lets do this s
t.
There is masses of confusion around what CAT D means, what classifies a car as a CAT D.
Some people assume that a CAT D car has had a massive accident and been written off. Others know that it doesn't necessarily mean its had a massive accident and some people have no clue what it means at all?
What classifies a car as CAT D?
Is it true that brand new cars can be CAT D'ed even in the lightest accidents by insurance companies if it happens in the first year of ownership?
What do insurance companies take into consideration when they decide to CAT D a car?
I don't know the answer to any of these questions, Although I have a bit of knowledge. Maybe some of you fine Pistonians do?
Regards,
Matt
t.There is masses of confusion around what CAT D means, what classifies a car as a CAT D.
Some people assume that a CAT D car has had a massive accident and been written off. Others know that it doesn't necessarily mean its had a massive accident and some people have no clue what it means at all?
What classifies a car as CAT D?
Is it true that brand new cars can be CAT D'ed even in the lightest accidents by insurance companies if it happens in the first year of ownership?
What do insurance companies take into consideration when they decide to CAT D a car?
I don't know the answer to any of these questions, Although I have a bit of knowledge. Maybe some of you fine Pistonians do?
Regards,
Matt
AFAIK,
Cat 'D' is minor cosmetic damage that due to cost/value differential renders the car a write off, however there's nothing structurally wrong or unroadworthy about the car.
Cat 'C' is where there's more substantial damage, is reapairable but for the same reasons is written off and will be subject to IVA if it's repaired.
Cat 'B' is for spares/salvage only.
Cat 'A' have to be crushed more often than not due to it having been involved in a fatal RTA.
But I'm happy to be proved wrong.
Cat 'D' is minor cosmetic damage that due to cost/value differential renders the car a write off, however there's nothing structurally wrong or unroadworthy about the car.
Cat 'C' is where there's more substantial damage, is reapairable but for the same reasons is written off and will be subject to IVA if it's repaired.
Cat 'B' is for spares/salvage only.
Cat 'A' have to be crushed more often than not due to it having been involved in a fatal RTA.
But I'm happy to be proved wrong.
I was alays under the impression that a category D write-off was one which had suffered damage rendering it beyond economical repair.
There is nothing to say that the car cannot be safely repaired; just that it would exceed its value to do so. Peversely: the cheaper the car - the less serious this becomes.
For example a 300 quid Nissan Primera could become a Cat D after a minor shunt necessitating the replacement of a headlight. I would have no qualms about buying such a car as it had suffered no structural damage and can be restored to its original condition very easily.
On the other hand an expensive car rated Cat D repaired could have, at one time, been the vicitm of major body or subframe damage that has been "straightened out". Such cars are probably best avoided as no-one knows how well the work was done. Sometimes it's fine but there are horrendous tales of bodies not quite being re-aligned properly.
Thus at the very cheap end of the market it's meaningless. At the top it's a serious matter.
There is nothing to say that the car cannot be safely repaired; just that it would exceed its value to do so. Peversely: the cheaper the car - the less serious this becomes.
For example a 300 quid Nissan Primera could become a Cat D after a minor shunt necessitating the replacement of a headlight. I would have no qualms about buying such a car as it had suffered no structural damage and can be restored to its original condition very easily.
On the other hand an expensive car rated Cat D repaired could have, at one time, been the vicitm of major body or subframe damage that has been "straightened out". Such cars are probably best avoided as no-one knows how well the work was done. Sometimes it's fine but there are horrendous tales of bodies not quite being re-aligned properly.
Thus at the very cheap end of the market it's meaningless. At the top it's a serious matter.
"Category 'D'
All other repairable vehicles. The estimated repair costs do not exceed the pre-accident value of the vehicle, but it remains more cost-effective for the insurance company to dispose of it. For example, the cost of providing a hire car to the policy holder for a long period would, when added to the repair costs, total more than the pre-accident value of the vehicle. Alternatively, a vehicle may be recorded as category 'D' because it was stolen and only recovered after the policy holder had been paid out.
The log book (V5) for Cat 'D' vehicles will be issued upon application. They do not require a VIC check
"
from
http://www.salvageandspares.co.uk/salvage_categori...
A good one is your car is such low value that a windscreen claim can cause it to be written off thus Cat D'ed, no damage to the car really just the cost of repair or costs involved make un-economical to repair.
All other repairable vehicles. The estimated repair costs do not exceed the pre-accident value of the vehicle, but it remains more cost-effective for the insurance company to dispose of it. For example, the cost of providing a hire car to the policy holder for a long period would, when added to the repair costs, total more than the pre-accident value of the vehicle. Alternatively, a vehicle may be recorded as category 'D' because it was stolen and only recovered after the policy holder had been paid out.
The log book (V5) for Cat 'D' vehicles will be issued upon application. They do not require a VIC check
"
from
http://www.salvageandspares.co.uk/salvage_categori...
A good one is your car is such low value that a windscreen claim can cause it to be written off thus Cat D'ed, no damage to the car really just the cost of repair or costs involved make un-economical to repair.
Big Rod said:
AFAIK,
Cat 'D' is minor cosmetic damage that due to cost/value differential renders the car a write off, however there's nothing structurally wrong or unroadworthy about the car.
Cat 'C' is where there's more substantial damage, is reapairable but for the same reasons is written off and will be subject to IVA if it's repaired.
Cat 'B' is for spares/salvage only.
Cat 'A' have to be crushed more often than not due to it having been involved in a fatal RTA.
But I'm happy to be proved wrong.
Almost. Cat C requires a VIC check, not an IVA. Catagory B would require an IVA as the car loses its identity (therefore parts only, becomes a kit car...).Cat 'D' is minor cosmetic damage that due to cost/value differential renders the car a write off, however there's nothing structurally wrong or unroadworthy about the car.
Cat 'C' is where there's more substantial damage, is reapairable but for the same reasons is written off and will be subject to IVA if it's repaired.
Cat 'B' is for spares/salvage only.
Cat 'A' have to be crushed more often than not due to it having been involved in a fatal RTA.
But I'm happy to be proved wrong.
I have read on a number of forums that in some insurance policies companies will replace a new car if it is very new (like 6 months old or something) even if it is only a minor accident.
Don't know how true that is.
This is why I made the thread as there seems to be nowhere that has all the info its just scattered across the internet and this forum with alot of information contradicting other information etc and as the few posts that have been made already, noone has a clear understanding different people interpret the meaning in different ways.
Don't know how true that is.
This is why I made the thread as there seems to be nowhere that has all the info its just scattered across the internet and this forum with alot of information contradicting other information etc and as the few posts that have been made already, noone has a clear understanding different people interpret the meaning in different ways.
Big Rod said:
AFAIK,
Cat 'A' have to be crushed more often than not due to it having been involved in a fatal RTA.
But I'm happy to be proved wrong.
This is a new one on me. So if a car is involved in a death it is automatically destroyed with no parts salvaged from it?. Seems unreasonable when you consider a car can kill a pedestrian with no structural or cosmetic damage (to the car of course) whatsoever.Cat 'A' have to be crushed more often than not due to it having been involved in a fatal RTA.
But I'm happy to be proved wrong.
Big Rod said:
AFAIK,
Cat 'D' is minor cosmetic damage that due to cost/value differential renders the car a write off, however there's nothing structurally wrong or unroadworthy about the car.
Cat 'C' is where there's more substantial damage, is reapairable but for the same reasons is written off and will be subject to IVA if it's repaired.
Cat 'B' is for spares/salvage only.
Cat 'A' have to be crushed more often than not due to it having been involved in a fatal RTA.
But I'm happy to be proved wrong.
Cat C needs a VIC, not an IVA - VIC just confirms the identity (i.e. make sure it's not a ringer - a stolen car on new plates), not the mechanical condition.Cat 'D' is minor cosmetic damage that due to cost/value differential renders the car a write off, however there's nothing structurally wrong or unroadworthy about the car.
Cat 'C' is where there's more substantial damage, is reapairable but for the same reasons is written off and will be subject to IVA if it's repaired.
Cat 'B' is for spares/salvage only.
Cat 'A' have to be crushed more often than not due to it having been involved in a fatal RTA.
But I'm happy to be proved wrong.
A Cat B can be returned to the road legally, but it's unlikely to do so.
tyranical said:
I have read on a number of forums that in some insurance policies companies will replace a new car if it is very new (like 6 months old or something) even if it is only a minor accident.
Don't know how true that is.
This is why I made the thread as there seems to be nowhere that has all the info its just scattered across the internet and this forum with alot of information contradicting other information etc and as the few posts that have been made already, noone has a clear understanding different people interpret the meaning in different ways.
Depends on what the policy documents say or what you have agreed on with your insurer.Don't know how true that is.
This is why I made the thread as there seems to be nowhere that has all the info its just scattered across the internet and this forum with alot of information contradicting other information etc and as the few posts that have been made already, noone has a clear understanding different people interpret the meaning in different ways.
Futuramic said:
I was alays under the impression that a category D write-off was one which had suffered damage rendering it beyond economical repair.
There is nothing to say that the car cannot be safely repaired; just that it would exceed its value to do so. Peversely: the cheaper the car - the less serious this becomes.
For example a 300 quid Nissan Primera could become a Cat D after a minor shunt necessitating the replacement of a headlight. I would have no qualms about buying such a car as it had suffered no structural damage and can be restored to its original condition very easily.
There is nothing to say that the car cannot be safely repaired; just that it would exceed its value to do so. Peversely: the cheaper the car - the less serious this becomes.
For example a 300 quid Nissan Primera could become a Cat D after a minor shunt necessitating the replacement of a headlight. I would have no qualms about buying such a car as it had suffered no structural damage and can be restored to its original condition very easily.
I once bought a Cat D 1998 Laguna 1.8, which cost me about £40 to repair. All I needed was one headlight, grille and wing from the scrap yard, and to straighten/fill/paint one corner of the bonnet. The insurance probably saw the cost as:Brand new headlight
Brand new wing
Brand new grille
Brand new bonnet
Full front end respray
Labour to get all that replaced.
Easy to see why cars with so little damage are written off!
Cat C is for more serious damage (but repairable), where the repair will need to be checked before the car is allowed back on the road.
redtwin said:
This is a new one on me. So if a car is involved in a death it is automatically destroyed with no parts salvaged from it?. Seems unreasonable when you consider a car can kill a pedestrian with no structural or cosmetic damage (to the car of course) whatsoever.
That's what I thought but as I say, I'm happy to be corrected.Big Rod said:
AFAIK,
Cat 'D' is minor cosmetic damage that due to cost/value differential renders the car a write off, however there's nothing structurally wrong or unroadworthy about the car.
Cat 'C' is where there's more substantial damage, is reapairable but for the same reasons is written off and will be subject to IVA if it's repaired.
Cat 'B' is for spares/salvage only.
Cat 'A' have to be crushed more often than not due to it having been involved in a fatal RTA.
But I'm happy to be proved wrong.
You can get cat B's back on the road but tricky unless there's a space frame. Seen it done with Noble. Cat 'D' is minor cosmetic damage that due to cost/value differential renders the car a write off, however there's nothing structurally wrong or unroadworthy about the car.
Cat 'C' is where there's more substantial damage, is reapairable but for the same reasons is written off and will be subject to IVA if it's repaired.
Cat 'B' is for spares/salvage only.
Cat 'A' have to be crushed more often than not due to it having been involved in a fatal RTA.
But I'm happy to be proved wrong.
Alex@POD said:
Cat C is for more serious damage (but repairable), where the repair will need to be checked before the car is allowed back on the road.
Now I was under the impression that a repaired Cat C only needed a VIC check to be allowed back on the road, and that a VIC check doesn't concern itself with the repair, only verifies the car's identity (hence the name).tyranical said:
I have read on a number of forums that in some insurance policies companies will replace a new car if it is very new (like 6 months old or something) even if it is only a minor accident.
I don't know of any insurance company that will do that: sounds like an urban myth. However I do know of two companies (NFU and SAGA) who will replace your car with a new one if it is written off in its first two years.
The words from NFU are:
We do give you a new car for your UK car or one bought under a HP agreement if less than 2 years old and damaged beyond economical repair.
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