The Complete Guide to Category N Cars Key Takeaways ▼Understanding Category N Cars: Cat N vehicles have non-structural damage, such as paintwork issues or electrical faults, making them cheaper to buy but possibly costly to repair. Always ensure to carry out thorough checks like HPI before purchasing.Insurance Considerations: While Cat N cars can be insured, they often come with higher premiums or may be refused coverage altogether. It's important to shop around for quotes and be aware of potential insurance limitations.Buying Tips: Cat N cars offer great savings but may come with hidden issues. Consider getting a mechanic or using RAC/AA checks to avoid buying a vehicle with more problems than disclosed. Category N Cars ExplainedIf you are looking to buy a supercar or a modified car in the UK, you must have often heard the term ‘Category N’, also known as ‘Cat N’. This is a term which is used within the car industry, quite specifically car insurance companies. Cat N describes the level of damage a car has sustained, determining whether it should be written off. If a vehicle has been labelled Cat N by an insurance company, this means that it has taken some damage, usually in a car accident. This doesn’t affect the car’s chassis or structural frame of the vehicle. An example would be paintwork issues. This can include chips, scratches, dents and etc. A car insurance company usually determines whether a vehicle is Cat N, which is subject to inspection of the damage that has occurred.Car insurance companies use the language ‘write-off’ when they need to describe cars which have suffered significant amount of damage. This damage often ends up costing more than what the vehicle is worth, or in other situations, where the repair isn’t worth the time/money to sort. Insurance companies call this ‘beyond economical repair’. Lets dive deeper into car insurance write off categories. Car insurance write-off categoriesWhen a car gets written off, insurance companies have classified them into 4 categories. Prior to the law change in October 2017, these categories were:Cat ACat BCat CCat DCat A vehicles:Cat A damaged vehicle meant that it has taken the most impact and the only real use of the vehicle is for it to be scrapped. Some examples of Cat A cars include fire, or a very serious collision compromising the structural integrity of the vehicle. Cat B vehicles:Cat B refers to a vehicle not being able to be repaired. However, those with a ‘breakers’ license are able to purchase these vehicles from auction houses in order to strip them for car parts. Cat C vehicles:Cat C (now known as Cat S) is when car insurance companies decide that a vehicle has been written off due to the structural damage it has sustained. The vehicle can be repaired but it will cost more than what the car is worth in order to get it back on the road.Cat D vehicles:Cat D (now known as Cat N) is where a car has suffered non-structural damage, however the insurance has decided that it can still be repaired and put back on road due to the total value to repair the car, would be less than what the car is worth. What is a Cat N car?The term ‘Cat’ refers to category and the ‘N’ part refers to non-structural damage. It was often known as Category D up until October 2017, where the categories got renamed to Cat A, Cat B, Cat S and Cat N. Cat N as mentioned earlier is where a vehicle contains non-structural damage i.e. paintwork issues, dents, scratches and etc. To put it simple, these are damages which have not affected the car chassis or compromised the structural integrity of the vehicle. In some cases, these issues can be easy to spot but in other cases an investigation would need to take place to find out the extent of the damage sustained. What damage is classified as Cat N?Cat N damage can sometimes be hard to spot or assess. A Cat N car will not have any damage to the frame or chassis of the vehicle. The car insurance company that deals with the claim will send an engineer out (sometimes virtually) to assess a cars damage in order to deem it a write off. If a vehicle has been deemed as a write-off and falls under a Cat N car, this is usually because the company/engineer has decided that the damage it suffered can be repaired and it wont cost more than what the vehicle is worth. Examples of Cat N damage can be:Paintwork issuesScratchesDentsElectrical issueWindscreen cracksAlloy wheels (cracks/curbing)Although the issues seem to be relevantly small to begin with, they may cause other parts of a vehicle to malfunction. For example, if there was an electrical fault, this may end up causing parts such as headlights to not work, brakes to not engage as they should and many other issues. It is important to note that if a car insurance company has deemed a vehicle a write-off, everything should be clearly outlined in a vehicle history check. Running an MOT check is different to carrying out a vehicle HPI check. An HPI check will tell you if a car is a write off whereas an MOT check doesn’t. Be sure not to confuse both in order to be certain of a vehicle’s history. Cat N car insurance:When it comes to car insurance for Cat N cars, it can be difficult to find companies that will cover these types of cars at a cheaper premium. Although insurance companies may cover you, it will come at a higher cost due to the car previously being written off. At the same time, you will also come across insurance companies that will not cover Cat N cars so it’s vital you shop around and compare various quotes in order to find out what works out the cheapest. Buying a Category N car: When it comes to buying a used car privately, Cat N cars often get bought and sold many times. One thing to note is that private sellers are often keen to get rid of category N cars quickly, so be sure to keep an eye out for these sellers. They purchase a Cat N car, repair it to a mediocre standard and sell it as ‘professionally repaired’. Behind the scenes, they have not disclosed the full damage or shared any history of the damage at all. In worse cases, they even sometimes do not disclose a vehicle is on a category. This goes back to ensuring you perform a car HPI check to cover your own back in case the seller is hiding something. It is also good to check with DVLA for any information regarding the vehicle you are buying.If you are considering purchasing a used car whether that is a modified car or an everyday car, a Cat N or Cat S car may give you more value. Vehicles which are on a Cat N tend to be 20-40% cheaper than a brand new car hence why they may be a viable option to look into. While Cat N cars can be cheaper, they may also have hidden issues. These issues can be engine-related, suspension-related, etc. If you do not have experience in the car market, it is highly recommended to take either a mechanic with you or pay for an RAC/AA check in order to get an idea as to how healthy the vehicle is. These experienced mechanics will be able to pick up on unwanted noises, check the history of the vehicle, how well it has been maintained and many other things. These can help you decide whether it is a car worth buying or if it’s just another vehicle with a ton of issues. When purchasing a Cat N car privately, it is important to remember that although you are saving 20-40% of the cars value, if relevant checks have been carried out, there are also factors you need to take into consideration. Similar to how you have purchased a vehicle privately, at a massive discount, when it comes to the time to sell it on privately, the buyers that are interested may also use the same haggling techniques you used to purchase the car. This can lead to unserious buyers, timewasters, tyre-kickers and overall just a hassle to deal with. Alternatively, if you are happy with the Category N car you have purchased and decide to keep it as a long-term car, it may end up saving you a ton of money. You will not have to worry about the resale value, especially if its a long term vehicle kept in good condition. Overall, as a rule of thumb, it is only good to purchase a Cat N car if you have carried out the relevant checks and everything passes with a green light. You should ensure that the car’s history is in good nick and nothing seems out of the ordinary. If you have doubts a vehicle is not what the owner is describing, it is best to walk away and look for another vehicle. Here at ASM Performance Cars, we take pride in finding customers the best used or modified car. Although some of our vehicles may be on a Category N or Category S, we are extra cautious when purchasing these vehicles and ensure that all relevant checks have been carried out. If you are interested in checking some of our modified cars or supercars for sale, then browse our website, where we showcase some of the best cars around. FAQ's What does Cat N mean for a used car? Cat N refers to a car that has non-structural damage, such as scratches, dents, or minor electrical faults. These vehicles are safe to drive but have been deemed “beyond economical repair” by insurance companies, meaning the cost of fixing the cosmetic issues outweighs the car’s value. Is it safe to buy a Cat N car? Yes, a Cat N car can be safe to drive as the damage is non-structural, meaning it doesn’t affect the chassis or frame of the vehicle. However, it’s essential to carry out proper inspections, such as an HPI check, to ensure all damage has been disclosed. Can I get insurance for a Cat N car? While you can usually get insurance for a Cat N car, the premiums are often higher, and some insurers may refuse to cover it. Be sure to compare quotes from different companies to find the best coverage. What should I check when buying a Cat N car? Before purchasing a Cat N car, perform an HPI check to verify the vehicle’s history. It’s also advisable to have a mechanic inspect the car for hidden issues like engine problems or suspension wear that may not have been fully repaired. Why are Cat N cars cheaper? Cat N cars are typically 20-40% cheaper than undamaged used cars because they have been written off due to non-structural damage. While this can offer great savings, be cautious of hidden costs for repairs or insurance. Share: