Sell a Cat N Car
Whether your car’s just been written off as Category N or you have a Cat N car you no longer want, you can sell it as it is. A Category N car is legal to sell and can legally return to the road once repaired, so specialist buyers will pay for it.
That means no repair bills, no paying storage or insurance on a car you can’t use, and no time-wasters from private sales. Get an instant quote to see what your Cat N car is worth, and we’ll arrange free collection within 24-72 hours, with same-day bank transfer.
Sell It As It Is
There’s no need to fix up your car before you sell it. We’ll connect you with buyers who take Category N cars in any condition – no need to chase repair quotes or spend more money on a car you can no longer use. Just tell us about its condition when you get a quote, and leave the rest to us.
Higher Than Scrap Price
Your Cat N car could be worth more than scrap. We connect you with specialist salvage buyers who will buy your car for spares and repairs and pay more for its reusable parts. That’s extra cash that can go straight towards your next car.
Free Collection
Free collection, with no hidden fees, from wherever your car is, including an insurer’s yard or storage site. A written-off car can keep costing you storage fees, insurance, and tax while it sits there. Our buyers cover 99% of UK postcodes and usually collect within 24-72 hours.
Scrap Car Comparison: The UK’s Best Cat N Vehicle Buyer since 2009
We’ve helped drivers across the UK sell their damaged or broken cars, MOT failures, and non-runners quickly, safely, and for the best possible price.
- £225 million+ paid to customers for their vehicles since 2009 – so you know you’re getting a fair price for your Cat N car
- 8.5 million+ vehicles processed through our technology, matching you with the right buyer every time
- 450+ Authorised Treatment Facilities and specialist buyers nationwide, so your car is collected fast wherever you are
- Hundreds of thousands of cars are bought every year, making us the UK’s leading scrap and salvage car buying website
- £1 million+ raised for national and local charities since 2016
- Collection is free in 99% of UK postcodes at a date and time you choose
- Your price is guaranteed for 24 hours, with no hidden fees
Testimonials
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“It was all done so quickly and easily, which took my worries about what to do with a car deemed a repair write-off immediately out of my hands.” – Maxine
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“Sam is absolutely lovely and so helpful. Understands that scrapping a car due to an accident is in itself quite stressful. Thank you Sam ” – S Holton
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“Quick and easy way to sell my damaged car, very satisfied with the overall experience.
Verified comments from Trustpilot
You May Have Seen Us
What is a Cat N Car?
In the UK, a Category N write-off is a car that an insurer has written off after it suffered non-structural damage, such as to its bodywork, lights, or electrics. The damage can come from an accident, but also from flooding, fire, or theft.
Category N is a write-off marker used by insurers under the Association of British Insurers (ABI) code, and the N stands for non-structural, which makes a Cat N car a repairable write-off. The insurer decided not to fix the car, usually because repairs would cost too much relative to its value. Because the frame and chassis weren’t damaged, a Cat N car can be repaired and legally returned to the road.
What Category N Means When You Sell
When you sell a Category N car, you’re selling a car with a permanent insurance write-off on its record. This affects its value and your responsibilities as a seller.
The Cat N marker stays with the car for life, even after repairs, so any buyer who runs a history check will see it. As a result, a Cat N car is worth less than an identical car with a clean history. How much less depends on the damage, whether it’s been repaired, and how in-demand the model is.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) should already have been told the car was written off, and you mustn’t mislead a buyer about its history.
To see how Cat N compares with Cat A, B, and S, see our guide to insurance write-off categories.
Here’s what Category N means in practice.
Non-Structural Damage
A Category N (Cat N) car has suffered non-structural damage. The frame and chassis remain intact. Cat N damage can be caused by situations such as collisions, flooding, other weather damage, fire, or theft. On an older, lower-value car, even minor bumps and scrapes can be uneconomical to repair.
Although these vehicles are considered beyond economical repair, the damage made repairs too expensive rather than impossible, so they can be legally repaired and driven once they’re roadworthy.
Some examples of Cat N damage include:
- Bodywork: dents, scratches and damaged bumpers
- Electrical: broken headlights, a faulty infotainment system or wiring issues
- Interior: water damage, ripped seats, damaged headlining or a broken dashboard
- Windows: cracked or broken windows and windscreens
- Mechanical: damaged brakes, steering, or suspension
Category N and the Old Category D
Category N replaced Category D on 1 October 2017, when the ABI updated its Salvage Code of Practice. Cars written off before that date weren’t reclassified, so a Cat D car stays Cat D and should never be described as Cat N.
Category D was for cars that could be repaired, but where the insurer decided repairing them wasn’t economical. A Cat D write-off was based on cost rather than the type of damage. The repair bill was less than the car’s value, but extra costs, such as a hire car or waiting for parts, made a payout the cheaper option for the insurer.
The key difference is the type of damage each category allows. Because Cat D was based on cost, a Cat D car could have structural damage. A Cat N car can’t, because Category N only covers non-structural damage. A car with structural damage written off since October 2017 would be Category S instead.
Telling the DVLA
According to GOV.UK guidance (last updated 4 November 2024), if your car is written off, you need to tell the DVLA. If you don’t, you can be fined £1,000.
If you keep your Category N car, you can hang on to your V5C registration certificate (logbook). Keeping a written-off car means the insurer pays out and then sells the car back to you, usually by deducting the salvage value from your payout.
If you keep a Category S car, send the logbook to your insurer and apply for a free duplicate using Form V62. The DVLA will record the car’s category in the new logbook.
A repaired Category N car can go back on the road with its existing logbook. A repaired Category S car needs the replacement logbook showing its category.
Declaring the Write-Off
If you’re selling a Category N car, be honest about its history.
Insurers record write-offs on the Motor Insurance Anti-Fraud and Theft Register (MIAFTR), run by the Motor Insurers’ Bureau. The write-off then shows as a Vehicle Condition Alert Register (VCAR) marker on vehicle history checks. The marker is permanent and can’t be removed, even after repairs or a new MOT.
Misleading a buyer about a Cat N car’s history can count as misrepresentation, and the buyer could claim a refund or compensation after the sale.
Selling through Scrap Car Comparison removes that worry. You declare the write-off when you get your quote, so the buyer knows from the start, and it’s already built into your price.
What a Cat N Car Might Be Worth
If you’re wondering how much your Cat N car is worth, you can expect anywhere between £100 and £1,000+ (Scrap Car Comparison, November 2026), depending on its condition, history, year, make, model, and mileage.
The best way to find out what your car is worth is to get a quote based on its exact condition.
What Drives the Offer
Your offer will depend on the same things used to value any other used car:
- make, model, age and mileage
- what parts were damaged
- whether the car runs
- how much demand there is for the model’s parts
If it needs to be scrapped or broken down for parts, current scrap metal rates will also affect your offer.
“There’s no fixed value for a Category N car, because every car is different. Buyers look at the same things as for any used car: age, mileage, condition and demand. The biggest influences are whether it’s been professionally repaired, whether it still runs, and how confident a buyer is in its condition and history. The market for Cat N cars is strong, although they’ll attract lower offers than the same car without a write-off marker.” – James Snook, Head of Sales and Operations, Scrap Car Comparison
Repaired Against Unrepaired
A repaired Cat N car with a valid MOT and repair records will usually fetch more, because it will be considered more reliable and convenient to the buyer.
An unrepaired Cat N car is valued on what it would cost to fix, or what its parts are worth. You don’t have to repair it before selling, and repairs don’t always pay for themselves, so it’s worth getting a quote for the car as it is before spending money on it.
How to Sell Your Cat N Car
Get rid of your Cat N car safely, quickly, and legally with Scrap Car Comparison.
1. Enter Your Registration and Postcode
Enter your car’s registration, your postcode, and whether the car runs. You’ll see offers from buyers near you within seconds. Each offer is guaranteed for 24 hours, so you have time to compare them.
2. Confirm Your Offer and Tell Us About the Damage
Once you’ve chosen an offer, tell us:
- what’s damaged
- whether any repairs have been done
- whether any parts are missing
- whether you have the V5C logbook
Declare the Cat N status so it’s built into your price. We’ll give you a quick call to confirm the details. Your offer is then confirmed or adjusted if the damage is different from what the quote was based on. The confirmed price is what you’ll be paid, as long as the car matches your description on collection day.
3. Book Your Free Collection
Choose a collection date and time with your buyer, usually within 24-72 hours of accepting your offer. They’ll collect from wherever the car is, including a driveway, garage, insurer’s yard, or storage site. If there are access issues at the collection address, tell us so your collector brings the right equipment.
4. Get Your Paperwork Ready, Sort Your Tax and Remove Your Plate
Sort your plate and tax before the car is collected. A private plate can’t be put on retention once the car has gone, and your tax refund is only calculated from the date the DVLA is told, so any delay costs you money.
- Paperwork: your V5C logbook, photo ID, and bank details. If your insurer still has the V5C, ask for it back early. If it’s missing, tell us, as some buyers accept other proof of ownership, or order a replacement from the DVLA on Form V62 (£25).
- Private plate: put it on retention with the DVLA online or on Form V317 (£80). The car must be able to move under its own power, so check this first if your Cat N car doesn’t run.
- Tax: tell the DVLA you’ve sold the car on collection day. Your tax is cancelled automatically and any full months left are refunded.
5. Get Paid On Collection Day
Your collector will check your ID and V5C, then load the car. Paying cash for scrap vehicles is illegal in England and Wales under the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013. You’ll be paid by bank transfer on the day, wherever you are in the UK.
Repair, Sell On or Sell For Salvage
If you’ve got a Cat N car, you have three options: repair it and put it back on the road, repair it and sell it privately, or sell it as it is to a specialist buyer. The table below compares the cost, time, outcome and disclosure duty of each route.
| Repair and keep | Repair and sell privately | Sell as it stands to a salvage buyer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | Parts and labour for the repair | Parts and labour, plus advertising costs | Nothing |
| What you get | A roadworthy car with a permanent Cat N marker | Cash (reflects the car’s Cat N history) | Cash, and the car is gone |
| How long it takes | Depends on garage availability and parts | Repair time, plus time taken to find a buyer | 24-72 hours, depending on the buyer |
| Who discloses it | You | You | You declare it once on the quote form, and the buyer already knows |
| When it makes sense | The repair costs less than the repaired car is worth to you, and you can get insurance at a price you’re happy with | The sale price, after the Cat N discount, still covers the repair and leaves you ahead | You want the car gone, or the repair isn’t worth the cost, time or stress |
If there’s outstanding finance on the car, none of these routes is open until the finance company agrees.
Not sure which route is right? Ask yourself:
- Do you have a firm repair quote? Without one, you can’t fairly compare repairing vs selling.
- Is the repaired car worth noticeably more than the repair bill? If not, repairing it is likely to leave you out of pocket, whether you keep the car or sell it.
- Do you have time and space? Repairs and private sales can take weeks, while the car sits on your driveway or racks up storage fees.
- Do you actually want the car back? If the write-off has knocked your confidence in it, keeping it may not be worth the stress.
Selling a Vehicle With Outstanding Finance
You can sell a Cat N car that’s on a Hire Purchase (HP) or Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) agreement, but the finance company must agree to the sale, and the finance must be cleared as part of it. Until the agreement is settled, the finance company legally owns the car, so it isn’t yours to sell on your own.
If your Cat N car still has finance on it, Scrap Car Comparison won’t turn it away. We work directly with you and your finance company to get the sale agreed and the finance cleared.
If your car has just been written off, the insurer normally pays the finance company first, up to the amount needed to clear the agreement. Anything left over is paid to you.
If the insurance payout is less than you owe, the difference is still yours to pay. If you have GAP insurance, check whether it covers that shortfall.
If you then buy the Cat N car back from your insurer, check with your finance company that the agreement has been fully settled before you try to sell it.
Getting Your Settlement Figure
Before selling, ask your lender for a settlement figure. This is the exact amount needed to clear the agreement. Under the Consumer Credit Act 1974, you have the right to request this. The figure is usually valid for a set period, so check the date it runs to.
If the offer is more than the settlement figure, the finance is paid off from the sale, and you keep the difference. If the offer is less than the settlement figure, then the gap (known as the shortfall) must still be paid. This is your responsibility. Selling the car won’t clear the full debt.
Some lenders may agree to turn the shortfall into an unsecured personal loan, but this is entirely at their discretion. Speak to your lender about what options are open to you.
Remember: outstanding finance cannot be concealed and will show on a vehicle history check, which can be run by any buyer before paying for the vehicle.
FAQs
How Much is a Cat N Car Worth?
A Cat N car is usually worth around 20–40% less than the same make and model without an insurance write-off record. The exact value depends on whether the car has been repaired, how bad the damage is, and the usual factors like make, model, age, and mileage.
Where is the Best Place to Sell a Cat N Car?
The best place to sell a Cat N car depends on whether you want the highest price or the quickest, easiest sale. Selling privately can get the most for a well-repaired Cat N car, but finding a buyer takes longer and you’ll handle the adverts, viewings and payment yourself. Dealers are convenient for a part-exchange, but they usually offer less for a Cat N car and may refuse it altogether.
If you’re wondering who buys Cat N cars in any condition, specialist salvage buyers do. Scrap Car Comparison lets you compare their offers in 30 seconds, with free collection and no repairs needed.
Is It Hard To Sell a Category N Car?
It can be harder to sell a Cat N car privately, because prospective buyers may be deterred by its history and potential personal and financial risk. A Cat N write-off marker increases insurance costs, and finance can be harder to secure, shrinking the buyer pool. People may also worry about poor repair quality or unrecorded faults. This is why Cat N vehicles are priced significantly lower to attract interest.
Do You Have to Declare a Cat N Car When Selling?
It depends on who’s selling, but you should always declare it.
Dealers and traders must tell buyers. Failing to disclose a write-off is a “misleading omission” under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 and can be a criminal offence.
Private sellers have no specific legal duty to volunteer Cat N status, but you must not mislead the buyer. The car must match its description, so calling it “clean history” or “never written off” is unlawful. If a buyer asks, you must answer honestly. A buyer who was misled can claim compensation or undo the sale.
Can I Sell an Unrepaired Cat N Car?
Yes. Cat N cars don’t have to be repaired before they’re sold. Be honest about the car’s condition; if the damage makes it unsafe to drive, make it clear it can’t be used on the road until it’s fixed. Selling an unroadworthy car for road use is an offence. Scrap Car Comparison can get you quotes for your Cat N car in any condition, with free collection across the UK.
Is Cat N Collection Free?
Yes. Scrap Car Comparison offers free collection of Cat N cars in 99% of UK postcodes, with no hidden fees. As long as the car is in the condition you described when you got your quote, you’ll be paid the full amount you were quoted.
Can I Remove Category N From My Car?
No. A Cat N marker stays on a car’s history permanently, even after a full repair, unless it was recorded in error. Insurers record it on the MIAFTR, a national database run by the Motor Insurers’ Bureau. Vehicle history checks such as HPI draw on this database.
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Sell my Cat N car
Whether it’s racking up storage fees, a garage wants it gone, or you’re still paying tax and insurance on a car you can’t use, we can take it off your hands. Repaired or not, get offers from our network of 450+ specialist buyers in just 30 seconds. Enter your reg and postcode, declare the Cat N status, and we’ll find you the best price. No MOT or road tax required.
