Salvage Catagories – Cat D, Cat C, Cat B, Cat X

admin    Salvage    

Some useful tips when buying damaged cars with the view to repair – Take heed of the Category of the damage, as this will affect your resale, and future cars value!

When an insurer takes the decision that a damaged car is an uneconomical repair, and writes it off, they assign a salvage category.

You will pretty much always see the classification of the salvage category on all the auto Salvage websites, and when buying a damaged car to repair and later sell, its very important to take the salvage category into consideration. Ultimately the category will affect the final value of the car, and what you can sell for!

Cat A - Not for resale. Fire damaged (burnt-out), flood damaged (contaminated or salt water), severely damaged with no serviceable parts, or heavily stripped (shell).
Notification of Destruction required. (To be crushed). Recorded at DVLA & HPI.

Cat B – Not for resale. Damaged beyond economical repair and/or severe structural damage.
Notification of Destruction required. (Parts can be removed and sold). Recorded at DVLA & HPI.

Cat C – Repairable salvage. Generally applies to older vehicles. Can be sold for repair but must now have VIC inspection.
Recorded at DVLA & HPI.

Cat D - Repairable salvage. Minimal damage sometimes stolen and found after claim has been paid, or cost of repair combined with difficulty obtaining new parts to enable a swift repair.
Recorded with HPI.

Cat X – Repairable salvage. Not recorded on any registers such as HPI. Limited or very light damage, or vehicle is new or less than 12 months old. Usually requires minimal repair work.
NOT Recorded with HPI.

If you are buying to repair and sell, your more than likely to opt for the simplest, Cat X, which is not recorded on HPI, once repaired to a high standard no one will ever know its been an uneconomical repair from an Insurer. There are loads of reasons an Insurance company might not be able to repair, and may decide to write it off, it may not necessarily always be because its uneconomical to do so. Often customers with new cars, will demand a brand new replacement or for Hire car companies, who just don’t want to up their insurance premium by claiming.

Cat D is still good for repair, and can still be very light damage which is easily repaired. Just it will be recorded on HPI – When you come to sell you must make sure to tell any buyers it is a CAT D damaged repaired car.

Cat C is also still OK for repair, but once repaired will require a DVLA VIC (vehicle identity check) This is a fairly simple process, but may take some time to complete being that its the DVLA. Again, when you come to sell the car you need to make it very clear that the car was CAT C salvage, and that the car has had damaged and been repaired.

If you enjoyed this article please consider sharing it!