I’ve always said that cars are like people, they come in all shapes and sizes, and they don’t always perform at their best. And just like people, cars can suffer some serious damage that may render them a write-off. But what exactly does it mean when a car is written off? And what are the different categories of write-offs? Well, let me explain.
When an insurance company deems a car to be a write-off, it means that the cost of repairing the vehicle exceeds its market value. In other words, it’s more economical for the insurer to pay out a settlement and take the car off the road. But not all write-offs are created equal. There are different categories that determine the level of damage and the potential for the car to be repaired or salvaged.
The first category is called Category A, and it’s pretty much as bad as it gets. This is reserved for cars that are completely beyond repair, with no salvageable parts. These are typically the result of severe accidents or fires, and the only option is to scrap the car and sell off any remaining parts for scrap metal.
Category B is slightly less extreme, but still pretty dire. These cars have sustained significant damage, but there may be some salvageable parts, such as the engine or transmission. However, the vehicle itself is still considered to be beyond repair and must be scrapped.
Moving on to the less extreme categories, we have Category C and Category D. These cars have sustained substantial damage, but they are still deemed to be repairable. Category C cars require repair work that exceeds their market value, but they are not beyond repair. Category D cars, on the other hand, have sustained lighter damage but still require repairs that exceed their value. These cars can be salvaged and put back on the road, but they will have a history of being written off.
Finally, we have the newest category, Category S and Category N. Category S is for cars that have sustained structural damage, while Category N is for cars with non-structural damage. These categories were introduced in 2017 to provide more clarity on the level of damage sustained by a written-off car.
So, there you have it. The different categories of write-offs explained. Hopefully, you’ll never have to experience the pain of having your beloved car written off. But if you do, at least now you’ll know what it all means.