If your car has been in an accident or suffered significant damage, your insurer may decide it is a write-off. But not all write-offs are the same. Understanding the different categories helps you know your options.
Category A: Scrap Only
Category A is the most severe. The entire vehicle must be crushed and no parts can be salvaged or resold. This is reserved for vehicles so badly damaged that even individual components are considered unsafe. Category A vehicles can only be processed by a licensed scrap yard.
Category B: Body Shell Destruction
Category B vehicles must have their body shell crushed, but usable parts can be salvaged and sold. The car can never be returned to the road, but components like engines, gearboxes, and electrical parts can be recovered through our car dismantling service.
Category S: Structural Damage
Formerly Category C, Category S means the car has sustained structural damage such as a bent chassis or crumple zone damage. These vehicles can be repaired and returned to the road, but the repair must be professionally done. The S marker remains on the vehicle’s history permanently, which affects resale value.
Category N: Non-Structural Damage
Formerly Category D, Category N covers non-structural damage such as electrical faults, engine damage, or cosmetic damage where repair cost exceeds the vehicle value. Like Category S, these can be repaired and returned to the road. The N marker is permanent on vehicle history.
Your Options
For Category A and B, scrapping is mandatory. For Category S and N, you can choose to repair the vehicle yourself, buy it back from the insurer at salvage value, or sell it for scrap if repairs are not worthwhile. Our auto salvage team can advise on the best option for your situation.
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