Sell My Cat N Car or Van

An insurance write-off is the last thing any motorist wants to go through, and sometimes it can feel that there is still life in the old dog yet. However, if you’re driving an old car that’s worth less than £1000, the chances are slim that you’d come away from a prang without your insurers deeming it uneconomical to repair – that is the repair work is likely to cost more than half the value of the car itself.

What Does Cat N Mean?

A Category N write-off is the lowest of all write-off categories, and stands for Non-Structurally Damaged Repairable. This means that the damage sustained to write the car off is only superficial and the car does not need to be re-registered with the DVLA once it has been put right and is back on the road.

This category is what used to be known as Category D until a change in specifications came about in October 2017 aimed at clearing things up for motorists.

Category N vehicles, with no reported structural damage, are judged less expensive to repair than replace, taking into consideration all costs. This means the repair bill is cheaper for the insurance company allowing for an N classification. It is far more worthwhile all round to get your Category N car repaired if it is in good condition.

Car Insurance for Cat N Vehicles

Under insurance guidelines since 2013 obtaining insurance is perfectly easy for a motorist with category N cars and price comparison websites will not ask you if the car has been written off in the past. However, the guidelines also state you are expected to answer all questions fully as asked by an insurance operator – although there is no law stating you must declare whether you know the car has been categorised, if not asked. Insurance companies can insist that an independent engineer inspects the vehicle, although a valid MOT certificate should also suffice in this case.

Can I Buy Back a Category N Vehicle?

One of the biggest advantages, if you can call it that, of a Category N write off is that the damages might not actually cost you that much to repair yourself if you know what you’re doing and where to look. For example, if you’re driving around in a car worth £1500, repairs at a bodyshop or professional garage could set you back £1000. But with a few parts sourced second-hand from your nearest scrapyard and some time spent in the garage, you could potentially only spend in the region of £150-200, making repairing and keeping, or even reselling, your Cat N vehicle a potentially viable option.

Selling Your Category N Vehicle

When it comes to selling a cat N car or van, you might find your options are fairly limited. There is a very specific market when it comes to selling category motors, but there are potential buyers out there. Scrap Car Comparison works with a network of salvage and specialist buyers who are ready to quote your Cat N vehicle in just 30 seconds. Find out how much it could be worth.

If you would like to receive an instant no-obligation quote for your vehicle simply add your details to our online quote form and we’ll compare prices from our nationwide network of dedicated buyers to find you the best price! Alternatively you can call one of or advisors on 03333 44 99 50.