If your car has been in an accident or assessed by an insurer, you may have heard it described as a write-off and given a letter category. These categories matter. They affect whether your car can ever go back on the road, what it is worth, and whether you should be scrapping it or selling it for salvage. Here is a clear guide to what each category means and what it means for you as the owner.

What is an insurance write-off?

A write-off happens when an insurer decides a car is either too damaged or too expensive to repair compared to its value. It does not always mean the car is a wreck. Sometimes a fairly minor repair bill on a low-value car is enough to trigger a write-off. The insurer then assigns one of four categories based on the level of damage.

The current system uses Cat A, Cat B, Cat S and Cat N. The older system used Cat C and Cat D, which you may still see mentioned on second-hand cars.

Category A - scrap only

Cat A is the most severe. These vehicles are so badly damaged that nothing can be salvaged, not even spare parts. The entire car, including the shell, must be crushed and destroyed. You cannot keep any component from a Cat A vehicle. If your car is a Cat A write-off, its journey ends at an Authorised Treatment Facility where it is recycled responsibly.

Category B - body shell destroyed

A Cat B car cannot return to the road, but some parts can be removed and reused before the body shell is crushed. Think engines, gearboxes, alloys or interior trim. The shell itself must be destroyed. If you own a Cat B vehicle, you cannot legally drive it or sell it as a runner, but the salvageable parts do hold value.

Category S - structural damage

Cat S stands for structural. The car has suffered damage to its frame or chassis, but it can be repaired by a professional and put back on the road. Once repaired and inspected, a Cat S car can be re-registered and driven legally. Owners often choose to repair these or sell them on, though the category will always stay on the vehicle's history.

Category N - non-structural damage

Cat N covers non-structural damage. The car's frame is fine, but there may be issues with electrics, cosmetics, or components like steering or brakes. These cars can be repaired and returned to the road. Cat N vehicles are common on the used market at lower prices, but a written-off history affects resale value.

What this means for scrapping or salvage

If your car is Cat A or Cat B, scrapping through a licensed facility is usually the only legal route. Cat A must be fully destroyed, while Cat B can have parts removed first. For Cat S and Cat N cars, you have a choice. You can repair them, sell them on with full disclosure of the category, or decide the repair simply is not worth it and move the car on.

When the cost of fixing a Cat S or Cat N car outweighs its value, many owners look at salvage. A repairable car often fetches more through salvage than through straight scrapping. Our guide on how to sell your car for salvage explains how that works and when it makes financial sense.

Getting the paperwork right

Whatever the category, you must notify the DVLA when ownership changes or the car is scrapped. For a vehicle being destroyed, the Authorised Treatment Facility issues a Certificate of Destruction. You should still inform the DVLA yourself using Section 9 of your V5C. If you are unsure of the process, our guide on how to scrap a car walks through every step.

The bottom line

The category your car receives is not just insurance jargon. It decides what is legally possible. Cat A and B cars belong at a recycling facility, while Cat S and N cars can live on if the numbers add up. If you have a written-off vehicle and want to know what it is worth, you can get an instant scrap car quote in seconds and book free collection if you decide to move it on.