BE RIGHT ON WITH WRITE-OFFS
A used car that has previously been written off can be a bargain — if you know the score and how to check it out. Alisdair Suttie explains
The words ‘write-off’ are usually enough to have most used car buyers scurrying for the cover of a safer option. However, these cars present an intriguing opportunity for the clued-up and careful buyer.
The first thing to know is what a write-off is. Anything that falls into categories A or B is only fit to be scrapped, with some part or parts salvageable. Under no circumstances should these cars go back on the road.
Then there are category C and D cars. With cat C, the repair cost exceeds the value of the car. These cars often end up being sold at auction by insurance firms and bought by those able to fix them.
As for cat D cars, these have sustained damage that’s less than the value of the car to fix, but have been written off because the insurer wants to settle the claim.
Tom Hudd, operations manager of the Thatcham Research Technical Centre, says these cars present a conundrum: “If there are no structural repairs required, the car can be fixed relatively easily. However, you need to be sure of the quality of work, especially on modern cars in which high-tech steels and aluminium are used. They are very difficult to repair properly.”
Hudd recommends getting an engineer’s report on any repaired cat D or C car to be sure of the workmanship. He also says a history check is a vital first step.
Philip Nothard, retail and consumer editor of HPI, agrees: “You need to know why a car has been written off. There are 450,000 cars written off every year in the UK and one in four cars checked shows up as a write-off, so they’re more common than many people think.”
After a history check, you should look for signs of poor repair work such as uneven panel gaps, doors that don’t close easily and paint overspray. Other telltale signs include welding in areas such as the front suspension turrets and boot f loor that doesn’t look to be up to factory standard.
Nothard points out that many cars will have been properly repaired by skilled companies. Buying from a reputable dealer holds no more of a risk than buying a car that has not been previously written off.
However, he also says: “If a car doesn’t seem right for whatever reason, it’s best to walk away. Anything advertised for sale too cheaply should raise suspicions.”
So what about cost? A cat D write-off is generally valued at 25% less by the trade and a cat C car at half that of another with no such history. Those are substantial savings, but you must remember that ongoing insurance premiums may be higher for a cat C or D car. It could also be more difficult to sell on and be worth less.
To make life easier for car buyers, a new Salvage Code is coming into force on 1 October. It will replace cat C and D cars with a new cat S for those with structural damage and cat N for non-structural damage.
This should make it simpler to understand why a car has been written off. Whether or not you consider buying it comes down to your attitude to risk and how much of a bargain you want.