Do you have to tell insurer if car is written off?

kmb500

I am considering buying a Cat D car. I was under the impression, and this is indicated by online buying guides like MSE etc, that insurers will need to know if the car is written off and they may charge a premium. However I have done up a couple of quotes online and they don't ask about write off status.

Do you have to declare it or not? And if so, does anyone know if it's actually likely to increase the premium by any significant amount?

thanks.

DoaM

They'll likely know already once you specify the vehicle reg.

jonathon

i have never been asked

Aretnap

You only have to tell an insurer about things that they explicitly ask about, or that are mentioned in the assumptions that you tick a box to confirm are correct.

The vast majority of insurers do not ask about a car's write off status. From memory there are one or two that do, or used to, mention it in their assumptions (eSure? Swift over?) but they are very much in a minority. 

Just read the questions and assumptions carefully and make sure that the information they actually ask for is correct.