I unknowingly sold a car that was a Cat S write off - where do I stand?
I bought a car and sold a car that I believed to be fine - I did the relevant vehicle check on Autotrader when buying and nothing untoward showed up. Now the chap I sold the car to has found that the car is actually a Cat S. This didn't show up in the check I did. I am devastated for the guy that has bought the car but can't now reimburse him. Where do we stand?
Asked on 3 March 2026 by Donald G
Answered by
Craig Cheetham
As the seller you are required to declare to a prospective buyer that the car is Category S. If the documents you supplied with the vehicle indicate that it is Category S, then it could be argued you have done so, although this would depend on legal interpretation if it went to court. This will have been stated on the V5C Registration Document as "Vehicle Seriously Damaged and inspected", complete with the date. Did you check this on the document before you transferred ownership?
If there was nothing in the paperwork to indicate it was Category S, the advert used to sell the vehicle did not indicate Category S and you did not say directly to the buyer that it was Category S, then it would be possible that a court would decide you have withheld this information. A small claims court may determine that you have to reimburse the buyer or agree a compensatory gesture.
If there was nothing in the paperwork to indicate it was Category S, the advert used to sell the vehicle did not indicate Category S and you did not say directly to the buyer that it was Category S, then it would be possible that a court would decide you have withheld this information. A small claims court may determine that you have to reimburse the buyer or agree a compensatory gesture.
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