Definitions of cat c and cat d cars?
Discussion
The enormous factor people often forget, is that the write-off is determined by how much the car was worth when the accident occurred. A ten year-old car can be written off by a trolley-dent whereas a brand new one might take tens of thousands of pounds worth of damage in a major crash and not end up on the register at all. So with older cars, the fact that it's on the register is largely meaningless without knowing when it was put on it.
I always take a write-off as an indication that the car's history needs a thorough check, but wouldn't usually reject a car simply because it's on the register.
I always take a write-off as an indication that the car's history needs a thorough check, but wouldn't usually reject a car simply because it's on the register.
Edited by kambites on Thursday 10th July 08:28
Both are financial write offs.
Traditionally it's 'supposed' to be;
Cat D is mild damage.
Cat C is major damage.
It doesn't always work like that though now.
Especially with flood damage, popped airbags, smoke damage, frazzled electronics and incredibly expensive parts and repairs cost for some cars.
Traditionally it's 'supposed' to be;
Cat D is mild damage.
Cat C is major damage.
It doesn't always work like that though now.
Especially with flood damage, popped airbags, smoke damage, frazzled electronics and incredibly expensive parts and repairs cost for some cars.
I've bought a few Cat D cars in the past from this place;
http://www.car-transplants.co.uk/
My current car for business use is a cat D a 53 registered Mondeo just needed a bumper repair, one headlight and attention to the n/s front wing edge and corner of bonnet, cost of car 18 months ago was £270.00 repair cost were under £200.00.
http://www.car-transplants.co.uk/
My current car for business use is a cat D a 53 registered Mondeo just needed a bumper repair, one headlight and attention to the n/s front wing edge and corner of bonnet, cost of car 18 months ago was £270.00 repair cost were under £200.00.
BritishRacinGrin said:
Cat 'C'- uneconomical to repair. More serious damage than Cat 'D'.
Snowboy said:
Cat D is mild damage.
Cat C is major damage.
Not quite right.Cat C is major damage.
Snowboy said:
Both are financial write offs.
This is correct - the decision is purely financial, not assessed on the degree or type of damage. See ABI link posted earlier: Agrilla said:
When they say "repair costs" they not only include the panels, paint, parts & labour but also include the associated costs - hire car charges and the administration costs. Brand new genuine parts will be used and hire cars likely be of a similar car. So you can see the cost to repair can be massive to the insurance company.Cat D: Expected cost of this repair exceeds a certain % of pre accident value (Usually 70% AFAIK but will vary)
Cat C: Expected cost of the repair exceeds the pre accident value of the car.
With used parts and back street labour a car can be put back on the road much more cheaply than the insurance company can.
So you see a cheap to repair car (ford focus) might have to suffer much more damage than an expensive car to repair (Porsche Boxster) to be "written off". So you may be driving round unaware in a used focus that has no marker against it but has had a rear wheel ripped off previously, whereas a Boxster could have a dented wing and be Cat D (since parts, labour, paint and like for like hire charges are much more).
Any car could have been in an accident and repaired by the insurance or even just the owner footing the bill. So inspect any used car purchase well - recorded or not.
Snowboy said:
Both are financial write offs.
Traditionally it's 'supposed' to be;
Cat D is mild damage.
Cat C is major damage.
It doesn't always work like that though now.
Especially with flood damage, popped airbags, smoke damage, frazzled electronics and incredibly expensive parts and repairs cost for some cars.
Flood damage comes under Cat B or A doesn't it? Traditionally it's 'supposed' to be;
Cat D is mild damage.
Cat C is major damage.
It doesn't always work like that though now.
Especially with flood damage, popped airbags, smoke damage, frazzled electronics and incredibly expensive parts and repairs cost for some cars.
blueacid said:
Roundozo said:
Flood damage comes under Cat B or A doesn't it?
Most likely yes, but it's not guaranteed; could be a Cat C if the damage isn't bad?kambites said:
I thought it was usually cat-A because of the risk of chemical contamination (by sewage, etc), rather than because of the damage done by the water?
^ thisThink you're right on this one here.
My car was a Cat B at Christmas because the roof and C & B pillars were damaged making the car unsafe to repair, nothing to do with cost at all for A & B's but sorry OP, you're asking about C & D and the answers that have already been posted are correct.
I've had a couple of CAT D cars whilst shedding
Last one was a W reg 306, bought for a grand. Was written off because somebody had scraped down the passenger side - it needed a door and some paint and was otherwise in great nick with half leather/alloys etc
Ran it for 3 years and only cost consumables. 3rd MOT it failed on emissions and brakes and I decided not to spend on investigating why (plus clutch was slipping)
Throw away culture
However, I seem to recall that the V5 showed it so not sure how you could conceal it
Last one was a W reg 306, bought for a grand. Was written off because somebody had scraped down the passenger side - it needed a door and some paint and was otherwise in great nick with half leather/alloys etc
Ran it for 3 years and only cost consumables. 3rd MOT it failed on emissions and brakes and I decided not to spend on investigating why (plus clutch was slipping)
Throw away culture
However, I seem to recall that the V5 showed it so not sure how you could conceal it
I once bought a 1995 corrado VR6 that was a Cat D as I recall (though may have been C, it was a fair while ago). It had a beige leather interior, which originally sported factory option Recaro leather electric front seats. These were mega rare and somebody broke into the car purely to nick them. The car was 7 years old at the time and was considered uneconomical to repair due to one damaged front door lock and 2 missing seats!
All the paperwork was present. VAG wanted around £3k per seat as I recall! This combined with the order time (and associated hire car costs etc) led to a car worth £10k being written off! The then owner bought it back and replaced the seats with near identical standard beige leather seats. Cost less than £500. The car was brilliant and one of the best VR6s out there. I was happy to purchase because all the paperwork was there and I reasoned it was a terrific car.
I still had trouble when selling though. A lot of people are just prejudiced against them without looking at the facts.
All the paperwork was present. VAG wanted around £3k per seat as I recall! This combined with the order time (and associated hire car costs etc) led to a car worth £10k being written off! The then owner bought it back and replaced the seats with near identical standard beige leather seats. Cost less than £500. The car was brilliant and one of the best VR6s out there. I was happy to purchase because all the paperwork was there and I reasoned it was a terrific car.
I still had trouble when selling though. A lot of people are just prejudiced against them without looking at the facts.
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