Cat D write off

[bj1aut]

After some advice.

Just been to look at a cat I'm interested in buying. It looked to be in very good condition for its age, described as exactly as it was in the advert. Decided to buy it, did an online AA check and the car is a Cat D write off. How does this affect the value of the car? What should I look out for now?

[Herbs]

On average about 25% less.

[daemon]

bj1aut said:

After some advice.

Just been to look at a cat I'm interested in buying. It looked to be in very good condition for its age, described as exactly as it was in the advert. Decided to buy it, did an online AA check and the car is a Cat D write off. How does this affect the value of the car? What should I look out for now?

Except they failed to mention it had been a write off?

[Eidolon]

Run away !

[james280779]

I have two cat D cars, never had an issue with either and as previously stated both were in better condition than non accident damaged vehicles. I paid cheaper on one and going rate for other due to quality of work done.

Both are fibreglass and both have replaced front ends and no structural damage. One has a completely rebuilt engine since the accident, the other the engine is mid mounted so not an issue.

[corozin]

daemon said:

bj1aut said:

After some advice.

Just been to look at a cat I'm interested in buying. It looked to be in very good condition for its age, described as exactly as it was in the advert. Decided to buy it, did an online AA check and the car is a Cat D write off. How does this affect the value of the car? What should I look out for now?

Except they failed to mention it had been a write off?

I believe the seller is legally obliged to declare that the car is a Cat-D to you. If they failed to do that you are entitled to cancel the deal and have your money back I believe.

[Gallen]

corozin said:

I believe the seller is legally obliged to declare that the car is a Cat-D to you. If they failed to do that you are entitled to cancel the deal and have your money back I believe.

You believe incorrectly in case of private sale.

...lots of rubbish and typical misconception opinions above (probably without experience).

What car/price is it? Is it "worth" worrying about? (Is it likely the seller knew?).

I once had someone HPi a car I was selling for £700 using a check that cost £30!

A car can be Cat D, Cat C and Cat B with relatively little damage or just cosmetic damage: This is a fact.
G.

[s3fella]

Post some more details op, eg what car, type of sale, when damaged, etc.

For example, if it is a rare car and was damaged and repaired 20 years ago and has been on the road since, and is a minter, what's the issue? If there was anything wrong, would it have been on the road 20 years?

I'd say it depends on the circumstances. Also the standard of repair, age of car etc. many modern cars use expensive bolt on bolt off panels even structural bits. There are simple but costly repairs compared to more traditional weld in parts etc.

[mdavids]

Gallen said:

A car can be Cat D, Cat C and Cat B with relatively little damage or just cosmetic damage: This is a fact.
G.

Thats true for C and D. I dont think you can return cat B to the road but you can use parts. Cat A you cant even use the parts

[SMcP114]

mdavids said:

Gallen said:

A car can be Cat D, Cat C and Cat B with relatively little damage or just cosmetic damage: This is a fact.
G.

Thats true for C and D. I dont think you can return cat B to the road but you can use parts. Cat A you cant even use the parts

A cat B car can be put back on the road no problem. It's a massive misconception that it is a breaker only.

[nsa]

Naughty seller. Walk away.

[Fat Albert]

My Car became a Cat B one Rainy November day last year and 2 Friends wanted it for spares but the Insurance company had to pass it to a Licenced Breaker

[Gallen]

Fat Albert said:

My Car became a Cat B one Rainy November day last year and 2 Friends wanted it for spares but the Insurance company had to pass it to a Licenced Breaker

RE: CAT B.... here we go again!

...Thats because the ABI code of practice (of which said insurer operates within) is obliged to dispose of Cat B this way.

Once that's sold, there is nothing to stop this vehicle undergoing a VIC check and being returned to the road. VIC only confirms vehicle ID - not road-worthiness. If ID or age can not be ascertained then DVLA may wish to decline a log book. However in certain cases a Q plate would likely be issued.

So long as it's taxed, MOT'd and insured ANY vehicle regardless of HPi status can be driven legally and in the same way as any other vehicle on the road.

G,

[Fat Albert]

Fair Enough, thanks for the clarification

[Prizam]

nsa said:

Naughty seller. Walk away.

Slightly dishonest yes. Any write off car has it printed in big feck off letters across the front of the log book. Any one who misses that is a fool.

[Mr2Mike]

Gallen said:

A car can be Cat D, Cat C and Cat B with relatively little damage or just cosmetic damage: This is a fact.
G.

What possible reason would an insurance company have to award a Cat B to a car with only cosmetic damage?

[SMcP114]

Mr2Mike said:

What possible reason would an insurance company have to award a Cat B to a car with only cosmetic damage?

The value of the car plus the price of parts required to fix it.

Rare cars or special editions can be recorded cat b with little damage. You see certain cars listed on ebay from time to time. Escort Cosworth Monte Carlo, Lancer fq400 etc

[scrubchub]

Mr2Mike said:

What possible reason would an insurance company have to award a Cat B to a car with only cosmetic damage?

My CL500 is a cat C (no, i didn't HPI it before purchase, and no, the seller didn't disclose! A mistake I'll only make once!). It was recorded as such in 2010, when the car would have been worth about 5k. Very easy for a car like that to have cosmetic damage done to it that would be there or there abouts it's value. It goes on how much it would be to repair to it compared to its value.

My fathers E-class, brought new in 1999, is now worth about £600. If someone yob decided to smack a wing mirror off it and my father went through the insurance, then that would probably be enough to get it labelled an insurance write off as a new wing mirror is around the same price! Might be wrong on how that works though.

Edited by scrubchub on Friday 13th September 16:59

[Gruber]

nsa said:

Naughty seller. Walk away.

That assumes the seller knows it's Cat D.

[bj1aut]

A bit more info:

Its a 2002 106 GTI. The car is immaculate and has only done 53,000 miles. I could see nothing wrong with it when I saw it.