You might be able to keep your car or sell it on to a new buyer depending on the extent of the damage. Here are some of your options.
Whether you can sell or use a car that has been written off depends on the write off category your vehicle has been assigned to.
After an assessment your insurance company will tell you the value of your vehicle (rather than the cost of repairing it) and the category it falls into.
| Category | Repairing the vehicle | Using the vehicle |
|---|---|---|
| A | Cannot be repaired | Entire vehicle has to be crushed |
| B | Cannot be repaired | Body shell has to be crushed, but you can salvage other parts from it |
| C | Can be repaired, but it would cost more than the vehicle’s worth | You can use the vehicle again if it’s repaired to a roadworthy condition |
| D | Can be repaired and would cost less than the vehicle’s worth, but other costs (such as transporting your vehicle) take it over the vehicle’s value | You can use the vehicle again if it’s repaired to a roadworthy condition |
| N | Can be repaired following non-structural damage | You can use the vehicle again if it’s repaired to a roadworthy condition |
| S | Can be repaired following structural damage | You can use the vehicle again if it’s repaired to a roadworthy condition |
Your insurance provider will usually get your vehicle scrapped for you if it cannot be repaired.
If this happens, you’ll need to send the log book, or V5C document, to your insurance provider, but keep the ‘sell, transfer or part-exchange your vehicle to the motor trade’ section in yellow.
If you have a personalised number plate and want to keep it, you should apply to take it off the vehicle right away.
Make sure you inform the DVLA that your car has been written off, or you could face a £1,000 fine.
