Car Write-Off Categories A, B, S and N Explained
By RegPeek Editorial Team · Published
A write-off is an insurance decision, not always a scrapyard sentence — but the category tells you a great deal about what you would be buying.
The short answer
Category A means scrap the entire vehicle, Category B means scrap the body shell but salvageable parts may be reused, Category S means structural damage that has been or can be repaired, and Category N means non-structural damage. Only S and N vehicles can legally return to the road.
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Check a VehicleThe four categories
Category A — scrap only
The vehicle must be crushed in its entirety. No part of it may be reused. A Category A car must never appear for sale as a road vehicle.
Category B — body shell crushed
The body shell must be destroyed, although reclaimed parts may be sold for use in other vehicles. The vehicle itself can never return to the road.
Category S — structural damage
The vehicle sustained damage to its structural frame or chassis. It can be repaired and returned to the road, but the repair quality matters enormously and the marker stays with the vehicle permanently.
Category N — non-structural damage
Damage that is not structural — which can still include brakes, steering or airbags, so 'cosmetic' is misleading. These vehicles can be repaired and driven.
Why a car is written off
Insurers write a vehicle off when the cost of repair is uneconomic relative to its value, or when the damage is severe. An older car can be written off after modest damage simply because it is worth little, which is why some Category N cars are perfectly sound.
Buying a Category S or N car
- Expect a significantly lower value than an equivalent car with no marker, and expect that discount to follow you when you sell.
- Ask for photographs of the damage before repair and invoices for the work.
- Have it inspected professionally, particularly for panel gaps, paint mismatch and uneven tyre wear.
- Confirm your insurer will cover it — some will not, or will charge more.
- Check the MOT history for post-repair advisories using our MOT history guide.
Sellers are not always upfront about a write-off. A history check on the registration is the reliable way to find the marker — see what a full history check shows.
Start with a free check on the homepage, then unlock the full report before you commit to a repaired vehicle.
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Related guides
- What Does a Full Car History Check Show?What a paid vehicle history check covers — finance, stolen markers, write-off records, keepers, plate changes, import status and specifications.
- How to Check if a Car Has Outstanding Finance Before BuyingWhy outstanding finance can cost you the car and your money, how to check the registration for a finance marker and what to do if one appears.
- How to Check if a Car Is Stolen Before BuyingHow to check a registration for a stolen marker, the paperwork and VIN checks that catch cloned cars, and what to do if something does not add up.
- How to Read MOT History Before Buying a Used CarA practical guide to reading a used car's MOT history: mileage patterns, repeat advisories, test gaps and the red flags worth walking away from.
RegPeek is an independent vehicle information service and is not affiliated with DVLA or DVSA. This guide is general information, not legal advice.