What Is a Cat S Car? (Complete Guide)

If your car has been damaged in an accident, it may be too expensive to repair. When that happens, it’ll be “written off” by your insurer. A Cat S car is one that’s been written off for structural damage.

Here, we look in more detail at what Cat S means and the type of damage it covers. And we explore if buying a second-hand Cat S car is ever worth it, and what it costs to insure one. 

Cat S meaning

Insurance companies use four categories to describe how much damage a vehicle has suffered for it to be written off. Until October 2017, the categories were A, B, C and D. Now, though, they’re A, B, S, and N. 

A category S (Cat S, similar to the old Cat C) car has sustained structural damage. That will usually result from a crash or other accident. The good news is it can be safely repaired and driven again. However, all Cat S cars must be re-registered with the DVLA before they’re allowed back on the road. 

The other categories are: 

Category N (similar to what was previously Cat D): Cat N cars have been damaged cosmetically. The car’s structure remains intact. Like Cat S, a Cat N vehicle can be repaired and returned to the road. You won’t need to re-register it with the DVLA, but you’ll still need to let them know it was written off. Learn more about Cat N cars here.Category B: Cat B cars are too damaged or old to repair, but some of the parts can still be salvaged to be reused or sold. Once an expert has removed those parts, the remaining vehicle will be scrapped.Category A: Cat A cars are too damaged or old to repair and cannot be used for parts. Cat A cars are sent to a licensed scrapyard to be safely dismantled and crushed.

Is Cat S the same as Cat C?

Not quite. Cat S and Cat N replaced Cat C and Cat D when the categories were updated in 2017. Before that, the focus was very much on the repair costs rather than the type of damage. 

If the cost to mend the vehicle was higher than its value, it was a Cat C write-off. If not, it was moved to Cat D. If a car was classed as Cat D, the repair costs were lower than the vehicle’s worth, but associated costs (like transporting the car) could make fixing it uneconomical. 

Today, Cat S focuses more on the structural damage that could affect vehicle safety, rather than how much it costs to fix. 

What is Cat S damage? 

To understand “structural damage,” it’s helpful to picture the design of a typical car. The image below from the Association of British Insurers (ABI) highlights the parts that could be damaged in an accident. Any of these could cause a vehicle to be written off as Category S.

Image Credit: Association of British Insurers (ABI)

Common examples of Cat S damage include: 

Twisted or crumpled chassisTwisted A and/or B postsFractured header or cant railsCracked bulkheadCracked or corroded sillsDented wheel housing extensionCrushed cross memberSnapped wings (or wing supports)

Why do insurers write off Category S cars?

In many cases, Cat S cars can be safely repaired and returned to the road. However, most types of structural damage will cost a pretty penny to fix. 

Insurers will weigh up the parts, labour, and admin costs, and whether you’re entitled to a hire car while yours is out of action. Typically, if the repair bill exceeds 50-60% of the total value of your vehicle before the accident, it’ll be written off as Category S.

What happens if my car is written off?

Most of the time, when your car is written off, you won’t get it back. Your insurance provider keeps it, and you get paid compensation. 

Written off as Cat A or Cat B

If your vehicle needs to be scrapped (Cat A or Cat B), your insurance company will arrange that.  

When that happens, you’ll need to:

Send the log book to your insurer (but keep the yellow “selling, transferring, or part-exchanging this vehicle to a motor trader” section)Let the DVLA know your vehicle has been written off. Don’t skip this — you could be fined £1,000 if you don’t tell them! 

Note: If your car has a private number plate, you’ll need to apply to take it off the vehicle before it’s scrapped. You can do that via gov.uk.

Written off as Cat S or Cat N

If your car falls under Cat S or Cat N, you can buy it back from the insurer and fix it yourself. To do that, you’ll need to: 

Send your entire logbook to your insurance companyApply for a duplicate log book (using form V62)

Finally, the DVLA will record your car’s category in the new log book.

Who repairs Cat S cars?

If you want to repurchase your Cat S car from your insurer and get it repaired, you’ll need to find a reputable garage or body shop willing to take on the work. 

Note that there’s no legal requirement for any repair work carried out on a Cat S car to be independently inspected. That means you might not be 100% certain that the car you get back is safe to drive. 

With that in mind, you should pay for a third-party inspection before signing off on the repairs. The AA and the RAC both offer vehicle inspection services. Yes, it’s an additional cost. But you’ll have the peace of mind of knowing the car is mechanically and structurally sound before you drive it.

Is buying a Cat S car worth it?

It depends! If you want a second-hand car you can drive until the end of its life, a cheap Cat S car could be tempting. But, like any other second-hand vehicle, it won’t be perfect.

The repairs should (hopefully) have made it roadworthy again. But there may be annoying rattles, squeaks, and other minor defects you’ll have to grin and bear. And those imperfections will probably mean you’ll lose money on it if you try and sell it further down the road. 

Bottom line? Do your homework. If you’re serious about buying a Cat S car, pay for a history check to get the complete picture before you part with your cash. 

And remember, there’s no law that says Cat S repairs need to be independently inspected. So you’ll need to pay for a third-party inspection to be confident the car is safe to drive. 

Do Cat S cars cost more to insure? 

The short answer: yes, insuring a Cat S car can be more expensive. 

When a car has been written off as Category S and repaired, it could still run into problems later in life. That makes it a higher risk to insurance providers. To offset the risk, some will price their cover higher than for a similar car that’s not been written off. Others, meanwhile, will simply refuse to cover a Cat S car. 

Recap: what does Cat S mean on a car? 

A Cat S car is one that’s been written off for structural damage. However, the car can be safely repaired and returned to the road, so long as it’s re-registered with the DVLA. 

Buying a second-hand Cat S car could net you a bargain, but they’re often more expensive to insure. And remember, the repair work doesn’t have to be independently inspected before the car is returned to you. Make sure it’s roadworthy by paying for a third-party inspection. 

Our advice? Buyer beware.

Also read:
Car insurance: What is a non-fault claim?
Do I need high performance car insurance?
Do I need specialist kit car insurance?
What’s the best scrappage scheme for cars?