Sell My Written Off Vehicle

It’s always a stressful time when your insurance company lets you know that your vehicle is being written off after an incident, especially if you feel there may be a chance you could get it back on the road after a bit of work. Below we’ll answer any questions you may have around car or van write-offs. If there’s something we haven’t covered, get in touch and one of the team will be happy to help.

FAQs IconWhat Is a Vehicle Write-Off?

Put simply, the term ‘written off’ or ‘write-off’ means that a vehicle has either sustained so much damage it’s deemed not fit for the road, or the damage it’s sustained is going to cost more money to repair than the vehicle is actually worth.

FAQs IconHow Does a Car or Van Become a Write Off?

Selling a car can be a trying process at the best of times, but selling a car that has recently failed it’s MOT test or has no MOT? That can be even harder. Especially as the majority of people who seek to purchase a car, are typically looking to buy a vehicle that they can drive home that same day, and without an MOT that isn’t possible.

MOT tester checking a vehicle

FAQs IconWhat Happens if My Vehicle is Written Off?

Whenever a vehicle is written off it is put into one of four different damage categories – A, B, S or N – depending on the severity of the damage. If the vehicle falls into category A or B then it will never see the road again. If the insurance company decides it is Category S or N, however, you are faced with a few more decisions, including the ability to buy it back and repair it, or scrapping it yourself at a better price than offered by your insurer.

The categories are defined as follows:

Category A IconCategory A – Scrap

Any vehicle given a Category A rating must be scrapped and no parts are allowed to be reused for salvage.

Category B IconCategory B – Break

A Category B vehicle must be scrapped, but some of the parts may be taken off it and used elsewhere.

Category C IconCategory S – Structural

If a vehicle is written off as Category S, it will be due to damage to the structural frame or chassis. Category S is for cars or vans where the owner or insurer has decided not to repair, but they can be used as salvage.

Category D IconCategory N – Non-Structural

A Category N van has no structural damage and is repairable, but the owner or insurer has decided not to repair it.

FAQsCan I Keep My Vehicle if the Insurance Company Writes It Off?

You can choose to buy back your car from your insurer, but you will need to let them know of your intention to do this as soon as possible. You will be able to keep the car after an agreed settlement figure is paid to the insurers.

If your car or van has been written-off into Category A or B then you have no choice but to scrap the car. You can keep and repair Category S or N write-offs back to the point of being back on the road, although you must re-register a Cat S car with the DVLA, and you must also inform them that a Cat N car has been written-off.

FAQs IconCan Written Off Cars Be Resold?

If your car or van has been titled either Category S or N, then you will be able to sell the written off car. When advertising or speaking to potential buyers you should be honest about your car’s write-off history. If the car has been written off as either Category A or B then to sell would be illegal and they must be crushed. Watch our video explainer for more information.

FAQs IconCan a Write Off Affect Your Finance?

When a car or van is determined a write off, you will most likely receive a settlement price from your insurance company, depending on how it was damaged. This price is how much they are prepared to pay you for the vehicle.

If the amount they offer you is the same amount as you borrowed on finance to pay for it, then you can simply pay off your finance plan with the money you receive. However, sometimes the amount offered isn’t quite enough to cover the finance borrowed, putting you in a shortfall situation.

Say you bought a car for £4,000 on finance and have already paid back £1,000 of that finance plan. When your car is written off, the insurance company offers you £2,000 as payment for the car, meaning that you still need to find £1,000 to pay your finance company after giving them the £2,000.

Additionally, until the vehicle is officially written off, you will need to continue to make your monthly finance payments on the payment plan. If you don’t continue to make these payments, as per your contract, you could seriously damage your credit score, meaning that you may find it more of a struggle to get finance in the future.

Paying for MOT FailuresHow Much is My Vehicle Worth?

A vehicle’s worth is constantly changing, which means that the value fluctuates and is never fixed for very long. If you are selling your car or van for scrap or salvage, the main factors which will affect the price given are:

  • Vehicle’s overall weight
  • Valuable parts – engines, catalytic converters, alloy wheels.

MOT Failure Being Recorded

FAQs IconHow Do I Scrap a Category A or B Write-Off?

The easiest way, and the only way to guarantee you’ll get the very best deal for your car or van, is to sell it through Scrap Car Comparison. With our dedicated and experienced team, and a network of trusted buyers in all four corners of the country, Scrap Car Comparison guarantees not only guarantees the best scrap prices, but the best service no matter where in the UK you call home.

FAQs IconHow Do You Sell a Category S or N Car or Van?

Selling a written-off vehicle, providing it is either Category S or N, is no more difficult than it is to sell a Category A or B write-off. Simply provide all of the vehicle details to one of Scrap Car Comparison’s knowledgeable and friendly advisors, and they will be able to secure you the best price available from our nationwide network of buyers. Remember, the more information you provide at the first step, the more accurate your initial quote will be.

Write-Off FAQs

How Do You Write-Off a Car?

Writing off a car is how the motoring industry describes a car that has sustained damage to the extent that the repair bill will outweigh the value of the car itself. This isn’t something that you will be able to do yourself, however, and it is the decision of your insurer. The only part you’ll play (apart from the physical damaging of the car) is calling your insurer to inform them of the damage, and they will make the call as to whether or not your car is a write-off or not.

Is My Car a Write-Off?

If your car has been involved in an accident and has sustained significant amounts of damage then your insurers will be able to inform you as to whether it has been written-off or not. The decision will be made based on the value of your car against the cost of repairs. For example, if your car is worth £1,500 but you’ve sustained £2,000 worth of damages then repairing it simply doesn’t make economic sense. In some cases, the cost of repairs doesn’t even need to be higher than the value, and it could be that it’s just simply not worth repairing – for example, £3,000 worth of repairs to a £4,000 car makes little sense in the long run.

What Do I Do With a Written Off Car?

When your vehicle is written off, you’ll have a couple of options. You can allow your insurance company to pay out for it and take it off your hands. They’ll give you a settlement fee based on the current value of the vehicle if you were to sell it without the damage that’s written it off. For example, if your car had 80,000 miles on the clock, they’ll look at the prices of the same make & model vehicle that also have the same mileage. Alternatively, you can opt to buy back your written off vehicle and sell it yourself if you don’t believe that your insurance company is offering a fair price.

What Happens To My Insurance After a Write-Off?

After your vehicle is written off, your existing insurance policy will be cancelled as the car or van is no longer driveable or taxable. At this point, the insurer will pay out the value of the vehicle which also means that it no longer belongs to you – it becomes their property. If you’ve paid off your insurance in one annual lump sum, then everything is settled and you’re in the clear, but if you were paying monthly, you’ll have to continue paying the instalments for the car that no longer exists!

To get started with your quote, simply fill out the quote form at the top of this page or give us a call on 03333 44 99 50 to get instant offers for your vehicle.

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