Category B insurance write off

If your car has been classed as a Category B Insurance Write Off, then this will mean that the car must not be driven again but roadworthy parts and components may be sold. Structurally the vehicle cannot have parts removed for the use in other cars as this can be deemed a safety issue.

There are many private sellers that still try to sell Category B cars so it is advisable to always have a vehicle data check as it could save you thousands. Recently there was the case of a buyer who had put down a deposit for a car; he then decided to have a vehicle history data check. The data check said that the car was a Cat B Write Off but the seller didn’t mention this. After phoning the DVLA, they confirmed that it is illegal to sell a category b vehicle as it is deemed unsafe to drive. Some people try to get it repaired and put back on the road but this too is illegal.

There are some salvage yards that might even keep the body shell of the car and try and sell it off - remember that this is not legal with category b insurance write offs. You may be tempted to buy the shell of a cat b write off but bear in mind that if you are found doing this, you could face a fine and have your insurance void. Insurance companies do not check a car before they insure them; they rely on your honesty. So if you lie about the state of a vehicle and they later find out, no matter how insignificant it may seem you may be liable for any damages to your car.

After doing a little research, I have come across some websites that clearly state that the vehicles they are selling are category b insurance write off vehicles. Stating this, they are still selling these cars to people who are interested. For example there is a cat b vehicle that says ‘damage to front bumper only’ and buyers will assume that the vehicle is safe to drive and legal to buy. Some cars are selling from £6,000 - if you need parts it would be simpler to enquire at a scrap yard than buy a £6k vehicle only to use some of the parts. A friend brought it to my attention that these websites could be as a front for dodgy mechanics looking for cut and shut vehicles that they can weld together.

It is well worth paying as little as £5 for a vehicle data checks before buying yourself a death trap potentially saving you from thousands of pounds worth of repairs.