Last updated 1 November 2026.
Car Control's Premium check costs £6.99, including VAT, and covers insurance write-off records (category, damage area and date), outstanding finance and stolen records, plus mileage and MOT history. It is a one-off payment with no subscription, and the preview is free.
What a write-off is
When a car is damaged and the insurer decides it isn't worth repairing, or can't be repaired safely, the car is written off and given a category. That category stays on the car's record, and it has a big effect on the car's value and on whether it can be insured.
Write-off categories explained
| Category | What it means | Back on the road? |
|---|---|---|
| Cat A | Must be scrapped completely. No parts can be reused. | No |
| Cat B | The body shell must be crushed. Some parts can be salvaged. | No |
| Cat S | Structural damage, such as to the chassis or crumple zones. | Yes, once repaired to a roadworthy condition |
| Cat N | Non-structural damage, such as cosmetic or electrical. | Yes, once repaired to a roadworthy condition |
Cars written off before October 2017 may show the older categories: Cat C (repair cost more than the car was worth) and Cat D (repairable, but the insurer chose to pay out). They roughly correspond to today's Cat S and Cat N.
How to check if a car has been written off
- Run a write-off check on the registration. Insurers record write-offs on the insurance industry's own register, which the free government services don't show.
- Look at the V5C logbook. When a Cat S car is kept and put back on the road, DVLA records the category in the logbook. A Cat N car can keep its old logbook, so a logbook with no category doesn't prove the car is clean.
- Look at the car. Paint that doesn't quite match, uneven gaps between panels, overspray on rubber seals and new parts on an older car can all point to a big repair.
- Ask the seller whether the car has ever been in an accident or an insurance claim, and keep the answer in writing.
Can you check if a car is written off for free?
Not fully. DVLA's free vehicle enquiry and the MOT history service don't show insurance write-offs. The records sit on the insurers' register (MIAFTR), which isn't public, so every full write-off check is a paid one. The logbook helps for Cat S cars, but not for Cat N.
Does a Cat S or Cat N car need an inspection?
GOV.UK doesn't set a separate DVLA inspection. A Cat S or Cat N car can be used again once it's repaired to a roadworthy condition and, like any car over three years old (four in Northern Ireland), it needs a valid MOT. An MOT checks the car on the day, not how well the repair was done, so have a qualified mechanic or engineer inspect a written-off car before you buy it.
Is it safe to buy a Cat S or Cat N car?
It can be, if the repair was done properly and the price reflects the history. A written-off car is usually worth noticeably less, some insurers charge more or won't cover it, and it will be harder to sell later. The real risk is a seller who doesn't mention it: a write-off check makes sure you know before you negotiate.
Insuring and selling a written-off car
Most insurers ask whether a car has ever been written off. Answer honestly, because a wrong answer can mean a claim is cut or refused, and get a quote before you buy. When you sell, tell the buyer the category. Selling a repaired Cat S or Cat N car is legal, but hiding the history can leave you facing a claim from the buyer, and a dealer must not mislead you about a car's past.
How to check with Car Control
The write-off check is part of the Premium report (£6.99). It shows any insurance write-off and damage records for the car, alongside outstanding finance, stolen status, scrapped, import and export markers, plate and keeper changes and the full mileage and MOT analysis.
Records only include write-offs that were reported by insurers. Damage repaired privately, without an insurance claim, won't appear, so always look at the car carefully or have it inspected.
Sources: GOV.UK, insurance write-offs (categories, what DVLA records in the logbook); GOV.UK, getting an MOT.