Insurance write-off categories explained | Complete guide to Cat A, B, C, D, S & N

Insurance write-off categories have changed over recent years, and now – in 2024 – there are several you need to understand before deciding whether you should buy a motorcycle (or car) that’s been written off. I spoke to Aaron Tasker, Head of Retail Operations at Motomine (one of the UK’s leading motorcycle insurance salvage specialists) to get the facts as there’s a surprising amount of misinformation online. This is what you need to know…

What is an insurance write-off?

Quite simply, if a motorcycle (or car) has been written off, it means that it was deemed too badly damaged to be put back on the road, or the cost of repairing it was uneconomical. In this case, the policy holder will typically receive a payout from the insurer, which is calculated based on the vehicle’s pre-incident condition (or ‘agreed value’ if you have an ‘agreed value’ policy), and the vehicle will be destroyed or sold, depending on the category.

Editor’s note: In some cases a policy holder might look to ‘buy’ their bike back from the insurer. This might be possible, but be wary of potential safety issues related to unseen damage and unexpected costs in the repair.

Why repairs can be too expensive, but the policy holder can afford them

There are many costs that influence the decision to write a motorbike (or car) off, including the cost of original parts and professional labour.

It might also be the case that using new replacement parts will make repair uneconomical, but some specialists – like accident rep[air specialists 4th Dimension – may be able to give the policy-holder the option of using ‘green’ parts, which are salvaged / second-hand parts that will look perfect, but can make a significant saving while providing the same warranty as new original parts.

It’s not always necessary to replace parts either – bodywork and other areas (even frames in some cases) can be repaired to a guaranteed safe standard, which can, in some situations, mean the difference between having your bike written-off, or having it repaired back to its former glory.

Parts don’t always have to be replaced – 4th Dimension for instance has a professional in-house repair and paint team

Insurance write-off Cat C and Cat D no longer exist

While you could see Cat C or Cat D declared on older vehicles that were written off several years ago, they no longer apply to any motorcycle or car as these categories were replaced by the new structure that includes N and S. Note however that category S does not apply to motorcycles or derivatives.

The system was changed in October 2017 because the categories were primarily based on the cost of repairs, rather than the extent of damage. This was becoming increasingly problematic due to the ever-increasing complexities in vehicle (mainly car) manufacturing, and there was a concern that unsafe vehicles were being returned to the road. The new code focuses on the extent of the damage only, and does not consider cost of repairs.

If you’re buying an older motorcycle or car that has one of these categories, this is what they mean:

Cat C: Too expensive to repair | This meant that the vehicle’s repair would cost more than its value, but it could continue to be used as long as it was repaired to a roadworthy condition.

Cat D: Total costs too high | In this case, the vehicle often had very little damage and was perhaps of low value, but other costs – like transport and storage – made it too expensive to repair.

Current Cat A, B, S & N insurance write-off categories explained

Cat A: Scrap | When a motorcycle or car falls into Category A, it means it’s not repairable and it has no useable parts. This would normally be because the vehicle has severe fire damage, has been in a crash so bad that no reusable parts remain, or has suffered flood damage. For cars specifically there’s guidance that relates to the level of water ingress: if the water has passed the door sills (meaning it’s got into the car), then consideration should be made as to whether some of the electrical safety systems have been compromised. If this is a risk, then a Cat A may be applied.

Cat B: Break for repairs | This category means that the vehicle is beyond repair, but some parts can be re-used or sold. Car bodyshells have to be destroyed, but motorcycle bodywork can be salvaged. In the case of bikes, a Category B write-off means it’s suffered either non-cosmetic damage to the main frame, had its Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) removed or tampered with, or has had two major assemblies damaged beyond safe repair (such as the front suspension assembly, engine or swing-arm including suspension unit). Cat Bs should only be depolluted and processed via a licenced Authorised Treatment Facility (ATF). The owner should not technically be able to buy the bike or car back, however this can be a slightly grey area in some cases. Note that the guidance on the DVLA website that infers the owners may remove parts from their vehicle before they scrap it is incorrect: this should only be done via an ATF.

Cat N: Non-structural damage, repairable | Motorcycles or cars that fall into Category N most likely have relatively superficial damage and can be repaired. They do NOT have any structural damage.

Cat S: Structural damage, repairable | Category S doesn’t apply to motorcycles, but means that the CAR has structural damage, but that it is repairable.

What happens if your motorcycle or car is written off

If your vehicle is written off, your insurance provider should guide you through the process, and you’ll likely need to send the bike or car’s log book (V5C) to them, keeping the yellow ‘sell, transfer or part-exchange to the motor trade’ section (except in the case of a Cat N, but more on that later).

If your insurance company is taking possession of the vehicle or scrapping it, you’re effectively selling it to them, so you MUST notify the DVLA. You’ll need your insurance company’s name and postcode, the motorbike or car’s registration number, and the 11 digit reference number from the yellow section of the V5C that you kept.

You can notify the DVLA that your vehicle has been written off online here, or by posting the yellow section of the V5C to the DVLA.

If you don’t notify the DVLA that your vehicle has been written-off by selling it to your insurance company, you could be fined £1,000.

How to retain a personal / cherished number plate on a written-off vehicle

As you would if selling any bike or car, you’ll need to transfer a personal or cherished registration BEFORE it’s sold to the insurance company, which you can do online here.

Thanks to Aaron Tasker at Motomine for his help with the above

Can you buy your written-off vehicle back from the insurance company?

In many cases, it is possible to buy your damaged motorcycle back from the insurer (or ‘retain the salvage’), but this comes with complexities, and you need to be aware of what you’re getting into.

If your motorcycle or car fell into Cat N or Cat S (S applies to cars only), it could be possible to buy it back from the insurance company for an agreed amount. This might be useful if you want to carry out repairs yourself, for instance, and in some cases the insurance company will simply offer you a reduced payout if you want to keep it, but you need to be wary of unseen damage and potential related safety issues.

If your vehicle was written off as a Category N (or D before October 2017), you can keep the V5C log book. If it was a Category S (or C before October 2017), you’ll have sent the V5C log-book to the insurance company, so you’ll need to apply for a new one using form V62 online here. In this case, the DVLA will record the write-off category in the new log book.

As there’s no requirement to notify the DVLA that a motorcycle or car has fallen into Cat N, this can mean that there’s no record of a Cat N or (a Cat D) in the log book, so when buying, it’s advisable to carry out a full vehicle history check, which should show this status.

What to look for when buying an insurance write-off

There’s no legal requirement for a motorcycle to be assessed after repairs, though some insurance providers may require a new MoT certificate before providing insurance cover.

It’s vitally important that repairs to any crash-damaged motorcycle are carried out properly and that the vehicle is deemed safe to return to the road. It’s always a good idea to ensure that the bike has been inspected by a professional before riding.

As an example, I once went to look at buying a Cat C Yamaha XJR1300, which the seller had repaired themselves. I was slightly wary that there weren’t many tools in the seller’s garage, but the bike looked excellent. When I test-rode it however, I found that it weaved at speed. I suggested this might be down to over-tightened head bearings, so the seller took out a large adjustable spanner and loosened off the centre nut. Besides adjustable spanners being a red flag, the seller not knowing that the fork pinch bolts must be slackened first when adjusting head bearings made me walk away.

Is it more expensive to insure a write-off?

Questions about the cost of insurance are always difficult as there are so many variables in any policy price. Our guidance would be to get a quote before buying, but it’s worth noting that write-offs may have a lower than typical market value.

While any motorbike must be road legal, Bennetts motorcycle insurance policies are not increased due to a bike being categorised as a write-off.

Should YOU buy an insurance write-off?

Motorcycles (and cars) that have previously been Cat N (or D), or Cat S (or C) write offs should be cheaper to buy, so can be a good option for many, but as is always the case, check very carefully to be sure you’re happy with the condition.

I keep detailed records and receipts of all the work I do, and once a buyer has shown they’re seriously interested in buying (and not a scammer), I have no problem showing them my garage while talking through any repairs, so they can judge for themselves if I’m competent.

My advice would be to only ever buy an insurance write-off if you’re capable of servicing and disassembling a bike yourself, as you’ll then have a much better chance of recognising decent, safe work.

If you’d like to chat about this article or anything else biking related, join us and thousands of other riders at the Bennetts BikeSocial Facebook page. If you want any further advice about insurance write-off categories, or buying and selling bikes, get expert advice at bikeclub.bennetts.co.uk.