Cars with Cat C on register | Motoring discussion | Back Room Forum

Fri 13 Aug 2004 13:03

Cars with Cat C on register - Nicole17

Hi,

I am interested in buying a used car. i have found one which is cheap but has cat c on its register. is it a good idea to buy this car? Apparently the reason for the Cat C is that is was stolen and recovered after the insurance company paid out compensation. Also what does cat c on the register mean for insurance. would this increase the insurance premium on the car.
Thank you for your help in advance.

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Fri 13 Aug 2004 14:00

Cars with Cat C on register - JamZ

I dare say it may have also been stolen but I thought Category C was " vehicle extensively damaged, insurer decided not to repair". I may be wrong though...

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Fri 13 Aug 2004 17:05

Cars with Cat C on register - Aprilia

'Stolen and recovered' would be a Cat D, I should think.

Cat C means significant damage and needed an inspection to verify vehicle identity once it was repaired (to prevent 'ringing').

I would buy Cat C salvage and repair it myself - I would be reluctant to buy an already-repaired Cat C car unless I was very confident of the repairers abilities and trusted him 100%.

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Sat 14 Aug 2004 23:56

Cars with Cat C on register - martint123

I think more cars are going on cat C because their identity may be in doubt - number fiddled with etc. cat C now needs a Vehicle Identity Check before the V5 is re-issued. Cat D doesn't need a VIC.

Martin

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Sun 15 Aug 2004 12:45

Cars with Cat C on register - Abbie

Hi Nicole,

Cat C generally means that the car was uneconomical to repair - the threshold for repair costs is usually 65% of the cars value, but this can go up to 80% provided the garage guarantee that they will foot the bill if extra work is required. An engineer would have written the car off, and a Cat C status means that the car incurred no significant structural damage. As it was stolen recovered, the damage probably lay around the steering column, locks, windows etc.

For info:

Cat A is generally assigned to a burnt out car, or one that is damaged beyond recognition. I also used to Cat A cars for 'moral' reasons - for example if passengers/pedestrians in the accident had been killed. Cat A cars are crushed to prevent them going back on the road.

Cat B is assigned to cars which have incurred structural damage, and which can not safely be repaired. These are generally found sat around in salvage yards, being canabalised for parts. It is illegal to repair a Cat B car and to drive one on the road. When they have been broken up, the chassis should be crushed.

There is nothing illegal about driving around in a Car C car, provided it is roadworthy. As such, you don't need to declare this status to your insurance company and they won't charge you any extra premium to insure it. However, they will check the MIAFTR database if the car is in an accident/vandalised/stolen and is uneconomical to repair again. At this stage the insurer will see that it is a previous Cat C, and reduce their total loss offer accordingly.

www.abi.org.uk/Public/Consumer/Codes/MotorVehicleS...f

Hope that helps

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Sun 15 Aug 2004 12:55

Cars with Cat C on register - Abbie

I should add that if you are in any doubt as to the quality of the repair it would be worthwhile forking out for an AA inspection or similar.

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Sun 15 Aug 2004 21:24

Cars with Cat C on register - spikeyhead {p}

You're far better of paying a main dealer to do a half hour check on the vehicle roadworthiness. They are far more likely to pick out faults than the rescue organisations.
--
I read often, only post occasionally

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