Cat D questions

[Apollo Zensen]

Hi all, my focus has been written off as a category D as uneconomical to repair...however I can buy it back off the insurance company and get it fixed up using 2nd hand parts (mostly panel / bumper damage) for much less but wondered about 'hidden' costs making it uneconomical, hence the following questions...

Do cat D cars require an engineer's report after being fixed?

Do cat D cars require a new / 'tougher' MOT after being fixed? Has 10 months left otherwise!

Do cat D repaired cars cost more to insure?

Thanks for any answers!!

[S1mon.]

Answer is No to all 3.
insurance will be quoting for new parts/panels only so uneconomical.
Will always be cheaper with used parts.
Car will be worth less as a cat D. when you come to sell it

[calibrax]

S1mon. said:

Answer is No to all 3.

Not correct - quite a few insurers will simply NOT insure a Cat D vehicle, and some of them require an independent engineer's report on it. So it does limit your insurance choices, so it could well cost you more to insure.

[steve singh]

I always believed that once a car is an insurance write-off it has to pass a DVLA inspection before it is allowed back on the road???

[alangla]

Some insurers may ask for a fresh MOT before insuring a cat C/D car - it's their choice though, the original cert is still valid AFAIK.

[ally_f]

It's a Focus...the most common car on the road, why would you not want to just take the money and buy another one that hadn't had a smash?

I can understand it if you've made it unique in some way but otherwise...

[cheesesliceking]

calibrax said:

Not correct - quite a few insurers will simply NOT insure a Cat D vehicle, and some of them require an independent engineer's report on it. So it does limit your insurance choices, so it could well cost you more to insure.

Quite a few being who? just curious as ive never come across this problem and have insured 3 with 3 different insurers.

[cheesesliceking]

steve singh said:

I always believed that once a car is an insurance write-off it has to pass a DVLA inspection before it is allowed back on the road???

Just Cat C needs a VIC check..

[EDLT]

ally_f said:

It's a Focus...the most common car on the road, why would you not want to just take the money and buy another one that hadn't had a smash?

I can understand it if you've made it unique in some way but otherwise...

If its a good car in every way, except for the damaged panels/bumper then I'd keep it. You might buy another Focus that turns out to be knackered.

[steve singh]

cheesesliceking said:

steve singh said:

I always believed that once a car is an insurance write-off it has to pass a DVLA inspection before it is allowed back on the road???

Just Cat C needs a VIC check..

Thanks for clarifying.

[AdrianR]

The reason the categories were introduced is to distinguish between types of write-offs. Cat A/B aren't allowed back on the road, C/D can be.

Some descriptions here: http://www.asm-autos.co.uk/salvage-sales.htm although this states that 'C' is uneconomic. 'D' could just mean they don't want to pay for a hire car while they wait for parts.

Is it insurable? Ask the insurer!
Is it cost effective - probably not if you plan to sell it as it will always be worth less, but if you plan to drive it around forever then as said above maybe better the devil you know.

I had a cat D polo once, had to get a 'Motor Engineer's report done for insurance then, but that was some time ago so get up to date advice.

AdrianR

[Stuart J]

Check the insurance implications before you buy. Some insurance cos dont want to know, some charge a bit more, (I had this trying to reinsure a cat D Impreza STi) some charge the same.

Worth initially approaching your present company as thats your best bet, I had a car shortened that I bought back & reinsured with the same company & all they wanted was a new MOT as proof it was repaired well & didnt hike the premium.

Value when fixed can be up to 40% less than a non cat D car so do the numbers & think more with your head than your heart

Ive had 3 cat D cars over the years & never had any problems & sold them cheap & openly at the end

If you do go ahead take a good set of photos before repair, its very useful when you come to sell as you can clearly show what the damage was

Categories are a bit of a farce really as only cars totalled by insurance cos are listed.
If a cars only on 3rd party as many are on large company fleets & rental companies, should it be wrirtten off its sold on with no listing, these cars are grabbed by the back street boys as they can be repaired & have no record. Thats why when buying treat all cars the same, just because its not cat C or D it dosent mean to say it hasnt had a huge impact

For anyone considering cat C thats a whole different can o worms & needs a bit more thought before embarking on it

One last thing to try, I know one person who negotiated an agreed settlement figure with the insurance co in conjunction with a repairer who was using salvage bits & the car wasnt totalled. basically the repairer agreed a figure to fix the car the insurance co were happy with & payment went to the repairer, just take care as you will have no comeback with the insurance co if he does a less than perfect job. The thing to ask is "what do I need to get the quote down to not to have it totalled to see if they will entertain anything else

Edited by Stuart J on Wednesday 13th April 13:45

[Apollo Zensen]

Thanks for replies, would be buying back & fixing up to drive myself for another year or 2 rather than selling on.

Its borderline economical to repair assuming no 'hidden' costs so will ring up insurance company and find out.

Currently would cost £400 scrap value to buy back from insurance plus £900 to £1000 to fix.

Autotrader suggests car worth about £2000 but that ignores the fact it had very recently had over £500 of work done (all brakes, new exhaust & cambelt) plus a service & mot. Obviously repaired there would be very little resale value but would expect to drive it for a year or 2 myself.