Query about Category B Insurance Write off

newlywed

Hi, just seen a car that seemed ok. Slightly scratched and very minor dent in the top of the boot.

However did an AA car data check on it and they said it's a Cat B write off (used for spare parts but the body shell should be crushed and never returned to the road). This was in 2005. The V5 is dated 2004. They also said it had been listed as being scrapped with DVLA.

Yet is has a recent new style MOT certificate. And DVLA's website says it's taxed till October 2007 (although no tax in the car). It's still registered to the first owner (but has apparently been sold to a main dealer and then onto a small trader) - but not re-registered.

So my questions are:-

1. Can you get a new MOT if it's written off?
2. Can you get a new tax disc if it's written off?
3. Could the AA car check be completely wrong (as the trader suggests)? Even though the make, model, colour and VIN match their records?

Are we ever going to find a genuine car for a small budget?

highguyuk

As far as I was aware, only Cat C and D cars could be repaired and put back on the road.

Cat A and B should be scrapped or sold for spares or repairs. Therefore, I'd be walking away in that respect. Your insurance will also probably be higher with a Cat B.

There is also far too many anomalies for my liking - look elsewhere!

newlywed

Thanks. Yes we did walk away (swiftly) but he seemed surprised and said the check could be wrong.

Just wanted to know with the new MOT test whether that kind of thing is checked with the DVLA when they start and why the DVLA give tax discs for cars only worthy of scrap!!!

knnicho

It could be that when the car was written off the insurance company failed to take the car away with them. You can stil get a cat B car MOT'd but you would not be legally allowed to drive it on the road and if the V5 was stil present then that explains how they got the car taxed. You would be a fool to by a car that is a cat b tho, its not worth risking your life just because it may be cheap.

iluvmylexus

if it is a cat b
dont touch it with a bargepole
it is easy to tax it if you know how so dont let that fool you

Dave_Brooker

newlywed wrote: »

Hi, just seen a car that seemed ok. Slightly scratched and very minor dent in the top of the boot.

However did an AA car data check on it and they said it's a Cat B write off (used for spare parts but the body shell should be crushed and never returned to the road). This was in 2005. The V5 is dated 2004. They also said it had been listed as being scrapped with DVLA.

Yet is has a recent new style MOT certificate. And DVLA's website says it's taxed till October 2007 (although no tax in the car). It's still registered to the first owner (but has apparently been sold to a main dealer and then onto a small trader) - but not re-registered.

So my questions are:-

1. Can you get a new MOT if it's written off?
2. Can you get a new tax disc if it's written off?
3. Could the AA car check be completely wrong (as the trader suggests)? Even though the make, model, colour and VIN match their records?

Are we ever going to find a genuine car for a small budget?

Back then things were different and you could repair a cat b car (you wern't supposed to) without breaking any laws.

You could still buy it, MOT it and use it, but unless it's really cheap it's well worth avoiding.

TheImportanceOfBeingIdle

Dave_Brooker wrote: »

Back then things were different and you could repair a cat b car (you wern't supposed to) without breaking any laws.

You could still buy it, MOT it and use it, but unless it's really cheap it's well worth avoiding.

So if it's really cheap you'd compromise safety and buy it??

Not the wisest of advice ever to be offered. It's category B for a reason.

Dave_Brooker

TheImportanceOfBeingIdle wrote: »

So if it's really cheap you'd compromise safety and buy it??

Not the wisest of advice ever to be offered. It's category B for a reason.

There's no reason to assume any salvage car is unsafe, provided they have been repaired properly.

mpython

Just to let other posters know, DB joined MSE yesterday and has been posting relentlessly in several threads and has wound quite a few people up.

I would advise people not to feed the troll.

TheImportanceOfBeingIdle

Dave_Brooker wrote: »

There's no reason to assume any salvage car is unsafe, provided they have been repaired properly.

Category B write offs are only to be used for spares. Got that?? ONLY TO BE USED FOR SPARES. The reason Category B write offs are given that category is because it has sustained heavy damage which SHOULD NOT be repaired.

newlywed

knnicho wrote: »

It could be that when the car was written off the insurance company failed to take the car away with them. You can stil get a cat B car MOT'd but you would not be legally allowed to drive it on the road and if the V5 was stil present then that explains how they got the car taxed. You would be a fool to by a car that is a cat b tho, its not worth risking your life just because it may be cheap.

Thanks. I was just confused how the car could be written off and noted at DVLA as scrap but have MOT and tax - guess the MOT only checks certain points but on the other hand I thought with the new computerised system it was linked to DVLA so when the car was entered on the system, surely that should have been flagged at DVLA ???

We wouldn't touch it with a bargepole. Even though there was no evidence of major damage (original windows, bumpers in tact etc etc).

We left swiftly. But the guy seemed to think the data check was in error. So he hasn't repaired it at all - so very likely it is still in the same state as when it was written off!! :eek:

Doesn't matter how cheap it was (and it was) we would never risk our lives for it, let alone the lives of OH's two kids. No way. Life is worth far, far more than that.