Advice cat c write off.

[larigos]

Not bike related but since my off I want a cheap car for winter. Have seen an old mk3 golf for £400 but it's been a cat c write off in 2007 back on the road in 2008. Apart from resale value which I'm not worried about should I be about anything else. It's been serviced regular passed every MOT it's had. The current owner is very up front.

[barwel1992]

mums RX8 is cat c just have it checked over by some one competent and knows what they are looking for or the RAC

[WeegieBlue]

Cat C is cosmetic damage, nothing "structural". Should be fine.

[larigos]

Will be going to look at it hopefully this week befoe it sells. Will get 6 mnth tax thrown in to compensate for c cat as there's another for £50 more that's not c cat but not as tidy inside and little history.

[petevtwin650]

Cat C is cosmetic damage, nothing "structural". Should be fine.

I disagree. Cat D is usually cosmetic. Cat C could well be structural or important components, that's why they have to have a VIC inspection prior to being put back on the road.

http://www.carsalvagefinder.co.uk/car_salvage_categories.php

May be nothing wrong with the car if repaired correctly as there is the VIC inspection for some peace of mind, but I personally would stay away from one. Also check with your insurance company to make sure there is not an increased premium to pay.

[speedplay]

I disagree. Cat D is usually cosmetic. Cat C could well be structural or important components, that's why they have to have a VIC inspection prior to being put back on the road.

http://www.carsalvagefinder.co.uk/car_salvage_categories.php

May be nothing wrong with the car if repaired correctly as there is the VIC inspection for some peace of mind, but I personally would stay away from one. Also check with your insurance company to make sure there is not an increased premium to pay.


Sound advice right there.

Insurance will most likely be more than £50 quid difference between a cat c and non cat c.

Insurance companys can be an ass about things lime that and usually use any excuse to load a premium just that little bit further.

[barwel1992]

my mums car was a rear end job, the whole rear end and one wheel, so defo does not mean just cosmetic

[WeegieBlue]

I disagree. Cat D is usually cosmetic. Cat C could well be structural or important components, that's why they have to have a VIC inspection prior to being put back on the road.

http://www.carsalvagefinder.co.uk/car_salvage_categories.php

May be nothing wrong with the car if repaired correctly as there is the VIC inspection for some peace of mind, but I personally would stay away from one. Also check with your insurance company to make sure there is not an increased premium to pay.

Cat c is an uneconomical repair - generally the cost to put right is more than the value of the car. My cosmetic comment maybe wasn't quite right but the majority of cat c write offs I see are older cars with lower values. I work for the biggest insurer in the UK I wrote off a perfect Mondeo because it had a cracked bumper and a scratch on the boot lid. Older cars can cat c for literally nothing. I agree that a newer car that gets cat c'd can have more substantial damage.

We don't cat d cars at all. That's generally seen more on bikes.

And a VIC check is actually nothing to do with checking the structure of the vehicle. All the DVLA do is make sure the VIN numbers are correct and it's not a cut and shut. I had a guy buy back his cat b vehicle - which was supposed to be broken for salvage only - and he repaired it, got a VIC check done, MOT'd it and then illegally put it back on the road!

Easiest thing to do is ask for the repair info. If the seller is up front you should be able to see what wad done. If it was done at a garage go down and ask for the job sheet.

Insurers will insure a cat c no problem and it is not asked at point of sale whether the vehicle was a previous write off. There should be no increased premium as they do not ask or check and there is no obligation to declare. This is why you could buy a cat b unawares and insure it. Have a bump though and you could find yourself with invalid insurance.

[petevtwin650]

And a VIC check is actually nothing to do with checking the structure of the vehicle. All the DVLA do is make sure the VIN numbers are correct and it's not a cut and shut. I had a guy buy back his cat b vehicle - which was supposed to be broken for salvage only - and he repaired it, got a VIC check done, MOT'd it and then illegally put it back on the road!


I stand corrected on the VIC check. Good to know actually. No peace of mind whatsoever as to the integrity of the car:cool:

[WeegieBlue]

I stand corrected on the VIC check. Good to know actually. No peace of mind whatsoever as to the integrity of the car:cool:

Sv.org - better than wikipedia for combining knowledge! ;)

[speedplay]

I insured a cat c xr3i cabrio (way back in the day) and it was £300 more than the non cat c one I had.
When I asked about why this was, it was exained that because the car had had previously been in an accident, it was classed as a higher risk.
Sounds like crap to me but then they also do the same thing with Q plates too.

[WeegieBlue]

I insured a cat c xr3i cabrio (way back in the day) and it was £300 more than the non cat c one I had.
When I asked about why this was, it was exained that because the car had had previously been in an accident, it was classed as a higher risk.
Sounds like crap to me but then they also do the same thing with Q plates too.

I know for certain that the the main insurers no longer ask about the vehicle history and don't carry out any checks. If it's legally on the road (taxed and tested) then they can't penalise you and let the boy driving his 20 year old Fiesta that he's never serviced and just scrapes by the MOT pay a lower premium. I think the Financial Services Authority may have captured this under the 'Treating Customers Fairly' umbrella.

[larigos]

Cheers for all the advice. Will see if it sells before next Saturday- then go and offer £200. Plus I have another on eBay that's local which I can go and see before hand.

[kwak zzr]

Cat C bikes are good buys if you know the history, as a few of you know ive done up 2 of them and the owners are still more than happy or atleest they was lol.

if i knew the owner and the accident id buy one :)