A write‑off check helps you understand whether a vehicle has suffered structural or non‑structural damage. CarVerified reveals insurance write‑off categories instantly.
• Category S – Structural damage
• Category N – Non‑structural damage
• Category C & D – Older insurance categories
A write‑off marker significantly affects a car's value, insurability and how easy it is to sell on. Category S and Category N vehicles typically sell for noticeably less than an equivalent car with no write‑off history — buyers price in the risk of a poor repair and the harder resale down the line. Many mainstream insurers decline to cover Category S vehicles at all, or only offer cover at a higher premium, and some lenders won't offer finance against a written‑off vehicle either. The category alone doesn't tell you the quality of the repair, only that a claim was made — it's worth getting an independent inspection and checking with your insurer before you commit to buying one.
Buying a written‑off car without knowing its history can lead to safety issues and poor resale value. CarVerified’s GOLD CHECK combines write‑off data with finance, stolen, mileage, MOT, and DVLA information.
Looking specifically for salvage title or MIAFTR records? See our dedicated salvage check for salvage category, VIN salvage title status and salvage auction history.
How do I check if a car is salvage or has been written off?
Enter the vehicle's registration number into CarVerified's free check. We show any recorded write‑off or salvage history from MIAFTR and insurance data, alongside the category (S, N, C or D) if one applies.
What is Category D or Category C on a write‑off check?
Category C and Category D were the UK's write‑off categories before a 2017 update introduced Category S and N. You may still see a car with a legacy Cat C or Cat D marker — these vehicles were repairable and could be put back on the road, similar to today's Category N and S.
What is an ABI salvage category?
ABI stands for the Association of British Insurers, the body that defines the UK's official salvage categories — Category A, B, S and N — used by insurers to record how a written‑off vehicle should be treated. CarVerified's write‑off check shows you which ABI category, if any, applies to a vehicle.
What does "salvage title" mean for a UK car?
UK vehicles don't carry a US‑style "salvage title" — instead, a written‑off vehicle is recorded against an ABI category (S, N, C or D) on DVLA and insurance databases. If you've seen the term "salvage title" used for a UK car, it's referring to the same underlying write‑off record our check searches for you.