What Cat N means
Cat N is one of the four insurance write-off categories (A, B, S and N). GOV.UK describes it as a vehicle that “can be repaired following non-structural damage”, and says “you can use the vehicle again if it's repaired to a roadworthy condition”. (GOV.UK)
“N” stands for non-structural: the AA's wording is “non-structurally damaged but repairable”. (The AA) The insurance company decides that a car is written off and which category it goes in. (GOV.UK)
Cat N and the log book
When a written-off car is in Cat N and the owner wants to keep it, GOV.UK says:
- the insurance company gives the owner an insurance payout and sells the car back to them;
- “You can keep the log book if you want to keep a category N vehicle.”
Source: GOV.UK, Insurance write-offs
For Cat S, GOV.UK lists extra steps: the complete log book goes to the insurer, the owner applies for a free duplicate on form V62, and DVLA records the category in the log book. More in What is a Cat S car?
Cat N compared with Cat S
| Cat N | Cat S | |
|---|---|---|
| Damage | Not structural | Structural |
| Back on the road | If repaired to a roadworthy condition | If repaired to a roadworthy condition |
| Log book when the owner keeps it | The owner can keep it | Sent to the insurer; duplicate on form V62; DVLA records the category |
Source: GOV.UK, Insurance write-offs. All four categories: Write-off categories explained
Cat N and the old Cat D
Cat N has been used since 1 October 2017, when the salvage code changed the categories from A, B, C and D to A, B, S and N, with “a greater focus on the condition of the vehicle rather than repair costs”. (Bodyshop magazine, 14 June 2017)
The old Cat D meant “repairable but repair costs don't exceed pre-accident value”. (The AA) So Cat D was about cost; Cat N is about the kind of damage. They aren't the same category under a new name. Cars written off before October 2017 were given the old letters.
Buying or selling a Cat N car
From trading standards' official guidance for businesses:
- A trader not telling a consumer that a car “has previously been an insurance write-off” is listed as a misleading omission (Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024).
- Any seller, trader or not, has to describe the car correctly.
- Selling, offering for sale or supplying an unroadworthy vehicle is illegal under the Road Traffic Act 1988 — for private sellers as well as traders.
Source: Business Companion, Selling used vehicles (England, Scotland and Wales)
Cat N cars on Motorwatchr
Motorwatchr marks a car Cat N only when the advert, the seller or the site's own vehicle check says so — “Cat N, seller says”, with the seller's words quoted and the link to the advert. We never guess a category from photos or price.