Cat D write-off?

j69ant

Ive dealt with Cat C and Ds for years.. My sister, and 2 of my exs have Cat Ds and Cs which ive purchased and repaired. IVe also had 3 in the past.. Ive never had an issue with insurance, or even an insurance claim.

The whole write off thing got a stigma attached to it for the publicity years ago with the increase in cut and shuts.

Most people dont realise cars can be written off by something as minor as a scratch to a bumper or being stolen recovered.

My sister drives a gorgeous Pug 206 CC - it was stolen recovered and taken for a joy ride..It came complete with keys and the only reason it was written off ( cat D ) was the previous owner didnt want it back.

The whole insurance grading is an absolute joke anyway. Its down to the guy who assesses the car to decide what cat to declare it. Ive seen cars with scratched bumpers be declared a cat c and once saw a car so badly hit, the passanger side seet was mated with the drivers - it was on a Cat D ! ..
Insurance companies aint daft either. From a lot of cars ive seen / bid on I suspect ( and obviosuly this is just my opinion ) that when insurance companies are looking at paying out big money to the owner, they want to get the max money back from a salvage auction on the car they have payed out on.. Cat Ds always fetch a lot more money than Cat Cs ( dont have the hassle of a VIC check ) therefore a lot of the time, Cat Ds are just as damaged ( if not more in some cases ) than Cat Cs.

If the price is right ( roughly 1/3 cheaper than book value for a Cat C & about 1/4 cheaper than book value for a Cat D in my expereince ) i dont think a write off is a major issue - especially if you intend on running it into the ground.

urbanfoxs

found a car today which i have put a small deposit on to secure - think i have found exactly the same car advertised elsewhere with a cat d status!! - no mention of this on the original site or with the dealer with whom i spoke to in person when i paid the deposit - where do i stand? - the car seems immaculate if a little cheaper than anywhere else?

cyclonebri1

urbanfoxs wrote: »

found a car today which i have put a small deposit on to secure - think i have found exactly the same car advertised elsewhere with a cat d status!! - no mention of this on the original site or with the dealer with whom i spoke to in person when i paid the deposit - where do i stand? - the car seems immaculate if a little cheaper than anywhere else?

Thats because it is worth less hence being cheap. I have no issues with an right off car provided I bought it knowing that, got it cheaper as a result, and finally accepted that I would get less because of it's status when I sold it. Can still be a fine car.

I know this thread goes back years, but it's still valid. And regarding a much earlier post I don't "think" there is a requirement to tell your insurers, they will know as it will be on the national register. Don't put down an inflated price for insurance purposes as may end up paying a high premium which they will accept, with no chance of the valuation being being honoured as that of a previously undamaged car.:money:

sazzy70

I recently sold me Rover 75 after having it for 8 months, the day the guy turned up to inspect and buy I could not find my V5, I assured I would post on, advertised as seen, fully inspected, guy pays and takes it away, I find and send on V5 a few days later, hes now taking me to court as it says its a Cat C ???? I never knew this when I bought the car from the previous owner !! :S, hes demanding his money back or he's taking me to court, I will hear from his solicitiors soon.

I had no idea about it dont be caught out like me.

Now I have no car and worried.

cyclonebri1

sazzy70 wrote: »

I recently sold me Rover 75 after having it for 8 months, the day the guy turned up to inspect and buy I could not find my V5, I assured I would post on, advertised as seen, fully inspected, guy pays and takes it away, I find and send on V5 a few days later, hes now taking me to court as it says its a Cat C ???? I never knew this when I bought the car from the previous owner !! :S, hes demanding his money back or he's taking me to court, I will hear from his solicitiors soon.

I had no idea about it dont be caught out like me.

Now I have no car and worried.

Not a legal expert, BUT, I don't think he has a leg to stand on. You didn't missdecribe it? You answered his questions honestly?

I think his soicitor will laugh at him, after taking him for a few quids,;):T

sazzy70

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

Not a legal expert, BUT, I don't think he has a leg to stand on. You didn't missdecribe it? You answered his questions honestly?

I think his soicitor will laugh at him, after taking him for a few quids,;):T

Cheers Bri, it was advertised as it was yes 100%, I can't tell him something I was not aware of at the time :S. I was just a bit worried and shocked to be honest.

Sidge

A Cat D could also be wrote off because the owner was only third party insured! also a cat D does not need to have a VIC cert. because it is non chasis damage. if it were chasis damage then it would be a cat C. i've bought a citroen c2 1.4 hdi (£35 a year to tax) cat D on a 2006 it is worth £5900 but will be selling for £4500 because its a cat D. Theres great bargings to be had, because it does not need to go to a VIC i would check the damaged area for any signs of bad workmanship, if its a wing, door, bumper or bonnet these are usally replaced, so not to much to worry about just need to look in the the engine bay, round the wheels and damaged area for allignment issues (there usally isn't any), if its the rear quarter look out for poor welding on the spotwelds under the seals this will give a good indication of if the joint welds that you cant see beacause there filled and painted will be any good, if it all looks good then you've got a bargin.

Kilty_2

Sidge wrote: »

A Cat D could also be wrote off because the owner was only third party insured! .

Surely not since the insurance company would have no involvement in the repair (or assessment for repair) of the vehicle since it's not covered?

Hence so many unrecorded write offs from self insured hire companies, etc....

1956

also cat C does not have to have chassis damage,any repair costs over p.a.v will qualify cat C, e.g slashed hood on a old convertble escort will be cat C. as cost of new hood would exceed the p.a.v
dean.m

200888

I know this is off-topic but anyone else notice how many times this thread has been revivied? its 4 years old!