Should you buy a CAT N Car?

Buying a CAT N car comes with a fair few risks, but the promise of a stunning value makes it hard to resist for some. Is that for you though? Let’s discuss.

The first thing to explain is what a CAT N car actually is. There are 4 “CAT” (categories) that UK insurers use:

• CAT A – Vehicle must be entirely destroyed. No parts can be taken, car can never be put back on the road.
• CAT B – “Breaker”, shell and chassis must be destroyed and can never be put back on the road, but parts can be taken.
• CAT S – Structural damage, repairable but insurer chose instead to write off the vehicle as the damage was too costly to repair.
• CAT N – Non-Structural damage, minor damage that was enough to write the car off, but not structural.

As you can see, CAT N is the most light of the “written off” categories, in theory making it the safest bet when buying such a car. But, it comes with risks. CAT N cars are project cars – even if they’ve been repaired it’s still very likely things will fail sooner than expected and you (or your mechanic) will need to keep on top of it all. Of course, the value proposition is hard to argue with. Buying a car for thousands less than a ‘normal’ version seems too good to be true, and often it is, but there are some rare finds that are actually a complete steal. So if you are dead set, here’s how to go about buying one.

First, inspect any photos online. Check for the damage, check the current condition. If the damage isn’t visible in the pictures, that is either a great thing, or really bad. If you are willing to go take a look, when you get there the first thing to do is talk to the current owner. Ask about what damage it had, if it’s been repaired and how, if everything (else) works.

When inspecting the damaged area, remember that wiring looms are pretty fragile and expensive, so test all the electronic components fully. Check the area around the damage. If it’s a front end impact, check the radiator and AC for leaks. Check the driveline to see if the shafts and mounts are good if you can test drive it. See if it tracks straight, shifts well.

If all seems good, you are happy with the history, the condition is fine, and the price is right… You might have found a bargain. Proceed with caution though.