Car written off as Cat C - how do I go about getting it 'roadworthy'/insured again

dn852k4

My car has been written off as Category C. I'm keeping the car + cash settlement. I've been told the MOT is no longer valid, therefore I have no insurance, depsite the fact I haven't recieved any paypout yet (can they take my car off the road without me recieving a settlement from them?)

The car is mechanically sound and the damage is only cosmetic, light dents/chipped paintwork on the driver's side. What do I need to do to get the car back on the raod and insured again? Does it need to be repaired? In my opinion the damage doesn't affect the car's 'roadworthyness' at all and I would be happy to continue driving my car in it's current condition.

any advice appreciated.

Conor_3

The MOT is still valid. All you need to do to is make sure it complies with the legal requirements for roadworthiness. A few light dents and chipped paintwork won't make it unroadworthy. Nothing to stop you driving it in its current condition if that's the case. You should also have no problem insuring it TBH although you may need ot take it for a VIC check at your local VOSA test station.

sodajazz

Similar thing happenend to my OH. His car was broken into so had steering lock and window damage and the insurers wouldnt cover the cost to fix it, so wrote it off. He managed to get the work done at his own expence and was told by the insurers he was with, he needed to get some sort of inspection done on it before they would renew the cars status. Most of the garages he went to had no idea what it was that they had to do, even the letter from insurers didn't seem to explain it correctly.

He ended up getting in touch with different insurers, explained, honestly, his situation and was told if he could get the car though a new MOT they would be happy with that, and insure him, so with that he continued to drive his beloved car right up until it was assulted by that nasty lampost and he finally had to get rid.

vaio

The MOT is still valid, you don’t need to repair it as long as it is roadworthy but as a cat C you will need a VIC inspection. There aren’t a lot of places that do these and they normally have a longish waiting list (4 or 6 weeks). If the tax has been refunded or run out you will not be able to re-tax it until you have had the VIC however you can (and indeed must) insure it if you are going to use it on the road even just going to a test station.

I presume (but not 100% sure) that as long as it is taxed, insured, MOT’d and roadworthy then you can carry on using it pending the VIC.

dn852k4

vaio wrote: »

The MOT is still valid, you don’t need to repair it as long as it is roadworthy but as a cat C you will need a VIC inspection. There aren’t a lot of places that do these and they normally have a longish waiting list (4 or 6 weeks). If the tax has been refunded or run out you will not be able to re-tax it until you have had the VIC however you can (and indeed must) insure it if you are going to use it on the road even just going to a test station.

I presume (but not 100% sure) that as long as it is taxed, insured, MOT’d and roadworthy then you can carry on using it pending the VIC.

I was told that I will have to send my current mot certificate to my insurance company and I need a new one. Are they not supposed to take the mot certificate off me?

vaio

dn852k4 wrote: »

I was told that I will have to send my current mot certificate to my insurance company and I need a new one. Are they not supposed to take the mot certificate off me?

What you are required to do with your insurance company depends on what your policy says, they might want a copy of the MOT or the original but I can’t see any reason they wouldn’t send it back to you if it’s still valid.

If your policy says they can keep it then there is nothing to stop you getting a copy from the garage that issued it (might even be worth doing before you send it off or at least take a photocopy). Nothing your insurance company do can affect the validity of your MOT.

http://www.vosa.gov.uk/vosacorp/repository/07 203a.pdf

covers VIC checks and confirms what I said earlier about driving the car without a VIC as long as it is roadworthy, MOT’d, insured and taxed.

jadeematee

Hi, Ive just bought a car that was cat c wrote off in december. I have insured it and it is taxed. I have an MOT certificate that was done in august last year. Is this invalid? The damage on the car was a crack in the bumper. Also can i still drive it? Any reply would be appreciated.

colino

The VIC check is only for confirming the ID of a vehicle (making sure someone doesn't ring it) and doesn't have a direct link with the MOT. I have successfully got my garage to print off copies of the still valid MOTs for cars bought as salvage. Biggest issue for people hoping to make a bundle on fixing salvage cars is that the V5C on Cat Cs will come back indicating the car has been substantially damaged/repaired.

vaio

jadeematee wrote: »

Hi, Ive just bought a car that was cat c wrote off in december. I have insured it and it is taxed. I have an MOT certificate that was done in august last year. Is this invalid? The damage on the car was a crack in the bumper. Also can i still drive it? Any reply would be appreciated.

Existing MOT is valid and as long as it's insured, taxed and roadworthy you can drive it.

You will not be able to re-tax it (or get new log book) until it has gone through a VIC (which can have 6-8 weeks waiting list)

jadeematee

Thankyou!
I have had it re MOT'd today anyway just to make sure it is ok. it ran out in july anyway and had the cash to go do it

You have put my mind at ease!

Thanks:)

sassy_one

It will most likely require a VIC test from VOSA at one of there test stations.

You will be charged for the test, but this test will remove its CAT C status, although it will be rcorded against the car for good!