What do you say to buying a car that has been in a Category S accident?

What do you say to buying a car that has been in a Category S accident? It is fully repaired and MOT'd?

Asked on 5 December 2018 by Andrea Whitehead

Answered by Honest John
Avoid like the plague, unless it is at least 30 to 50 per cent cheaper at retail than the identical car without the history. You need to ask questions. How do you know the structural damage has been repaired safely? What expectation would you have of this vehicle when the salvage has been sold on to a third party? And how do you think they have managed to repair it for less than the insurer? Remember, insurers can obtain labour rates as low as £28 per hour with parts discounts of up to 15 to 20 per cent through approved repairers using manufacturer approved repair methods. It might have been repaired to manufacturers standards using manufacturer repair methods, but using second hand parts or non original parts. But then again, it might not. Would you want your family in it? Your friends? I would not suggest any one should buy one unless you owned a bodyshop have access to the OE repair methods and repair according to them.
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