Cat D write-off?

unknown_786 · 21 April 2006 at 10:28AM

I have seen a car that I really like....Ford Focus 1.6 Zetec 04 Plate...with 36,000 miles on the clock....Really liked it when I saw it....haggled to £4700...was going to go and give the money today...Just paid for a Car Check to be sure...and found out it was "recorded as a Cat D write-off on 3 Nov 2005"......Now im really confused because I really like the car......Any advice?

Bendybops19 · 21 April 2006 at 10:37AM

I bought a cat C write off. Basically, if the insurance company thinks that repairing it will cost more than the actual car, they will write it off. But the owner can buy the car back off the insurance company if they do this and get the repairs done themselves.

Which is what the guy did with the car i bought. After the car has been reapired it has to go through a special long MOT, so make sure it has had this done.

It is a little unnerving that the person didnt declare it was a Cat D tho, but then they guy i got my car from didnt either :rolleyes:

Get the car checked over fully, make sure it had all the correct checks after the repairs and he has all the paper work. If your happy, go for it!! Being a cat D, you should get alot of money knocked off!

Exemplar · 21 April 2006 at 11:56AM

Can you post the exact details of the car please, I will let you know it's real worth.
Alex

carl310166 · 21 April 2006 at 12:28PM

I have been thinking about buying a cat D motorbike from a workmate of mine,i have seen the bike,and i know what work has been done etc.

I had a look on this site http://www.car-crime.com/salvage_category.htm
and i asked other people.

There will not be any problems insuring the bike,BUT if you are involved in an accident in the future,they will not be able to obtain a true value for the vehicle,so be carefull.

That is my understanding anyway.

martyn95 · 22 April 2006 at 6:20PM

unknown_786 wrote:

I have seen a car that I really like....Ford Focus 1.6 Zetec 04 Plate...with 36,000 miles on the clock....Really liked it when I saw it....haggled to £4700...was going to go and give the money today...Just paid for a Car Check to be sure...and found out it was "recorded as a Cat D write-off on 3 Nov 2005"......Now im really confused because I really like the car......Any advice?

Best to stay clear as you may have difficulty selling it.

However it is the best category.

Cat 'A' Total Burn out - crushed
Cat 'B, To be stripped of parts & then crushed
Cat 'C' Repairs exceed pre accident value
Cat 'D' Meansit was a constructive total loss & repairs did not exceed its pre accident value.

Regards

Martyn

martyn95 · 22 April 2006 at 6:22PM

unknown_786 wrote:

I have seen a car that I really like....Ford Focus 1.6 Zetec 04 Plate...with 36,000 miles on the clock....Really liked it when I saw it....haggled to £4700...was going to go and give the money today...Just paid for a Car Check to be sure...and found out it was "recorded as a Cat D write-off on 3 Nov 2005"......Now im really confused because I really like the car......Any advice?

Also , when buying a car get a HPi check carried out.

woodall001 · 14 July 2006 at 10:06AM

I have a cat D vehicle. It was repaird to 100% (just panel damage) I have not told my insurance company it was cat D when insuring it, as I was not asked.

I am now selling the vehicle, and the buyer is having trouble getting insurance, her insurance company Direct Line want an AA Vehicle Inspection, is this common?

Is it a legal requirement to tell your insurance company that a vehicle was listed as cat D?

little_miss_thrifty · 14 July 2006 at 10:47AM

[QUOTE=carl310166

There will not be any problems insuring the bike,BUT if you are involved in an accident in the future,they will not be able to obtain a true value for the vehicle,so be carefull.

That is my understanding anyway.[/QUOTE]

Insurance companies usually take a % off the final value, if the vehicle has been categorised.

little_miss_thrifty · 14 July 2006 at 10:50AM

martyn95 wrote:

Also , when buying a car get a HPi check carried out.

You could do, but in our case (see my thread 'HPI, waste of money, what's the point?') the Hpi check was a complete waste of time and ended up costing us more in losses! Never believe what is printed!!

LMT x

chrisw · 14 July 2006 at 3:57PM

It might be a good buy if it's been properly repaired and you're intending to keep it for several years.

Just a thought, but make sure you are actually buying the repaired one and somebody hasn't switched the plates to an identical stolen vehicle. If it turns out to be stolen, you will lose the lot.

Jorgan_2 · 15 July 2006 at 1:42PM

Buying a cat D shouldn't be a problem as long as its been repaired properly. Make sure you are paying less than market value for the car & remember this when selling. If its got all the paper work, you shouldn't have a problem. It doesn't have had to be in accident, either. Mate of mine bought a cat D Jag XJS convertible. Previous owner had left it parked with the hood down & some low life decided to pour 4 or 5 cans of paint over the interrior.

Cat D write-off?

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