Buying Category N Vehicles
Information for Salvage Buyers
What does Category N mean?
A Category N write-off (also shortened to CAT N) is a car, motorcycle, van, truck or indeed any other vehicle which is damaged, and the damage is classific as non-structural. This could mean that any elements of the vehicle that are non-integral to the structure of the vehicle have been damaged, which could mean body panels, doors, windows, the engine, battery or alternator.
What is CAT N Damage?
Category N damage is damage that is deemed as non-structural. Generally, Category N damage is the least severe classification of total loss write-off.
What does non-structural damage mean?
Below is a graphic that specifies which elements of a vehicle that the Association of British insurers views as structural components. If a vehicle has been classified as a Category N, it means that none of these elements have been damaged, and the damage has occurred to non-structurally integral parts of the car or another vehicle.
Source: Extracted directly from the Code of Practice for the Categorisation of Motor Vehicles
Reasons to buy a Category N
Because it has been damaged, a Category N is likely to be cheaper than CAT X and CAT U vehicles (when comparing like for like), which are vehicles that have very little damage.
If you or your company has access to the right tools, skills, and facilities, Copart's selection of Category N vehicles could be a great opportunity to get your hands on a new project vehicle. Copart sells over 125,000 CAT N vehicles per year, from Micras to Maseratis, from Fords to Ferraris.
When buying any Copart vehicles, it is important to visit the Operations Centre storing and auctioning the vehicle before bidding on it. This is because we want you to have the opportunity to make the most informed buying decision.
Should the vehicle be repaired, the DVLA must be notified that it has been returned to the road and it must be able to pass an MOT. Unlike CAT S's, the DVLA does not issue new V5Cs for Category N write-offs.
Please note: If the vehicle has been written off, it will remain in its write-off category for the remainder of its life, regardless of whether it is repaired or not. Therefore its write-off will appear in an HPI check.
How to buy Category N vehicles
Over 25% of all vehicles sold by Copart every year are CAT N write-offs. To buy a CAT N from our site, simply sign up for a Copart account, then we'll need to collect a Membership fee and a few documents from you. Once this has all been cleared, you'll be ready to buy from our vibrant and growing Category N stock, in addition to all CAT S, CAT N, CAT U, and CAT X vehicles on our site.
Do I need licences to buy a CAT N?
Unlike Category B Buyers, any Members buying Category N vehicles do not need any licences, other than a Copart Membership. This is also the same for buying CAT S, C, D, U and X.
Please Note: Winning bidders must arrange transportation for Category S, N, C, and D vehicles, as they are unlikely to be roadworthy, and most will not be able to be driven away from our Operations Centres. Alternatively, buyers make use of our Nationwide Delivery Service. If you're buying three or more vehicles, find out about our Priority Loading Service.
Is CAT N the same as CAT D?
In a word, no. 1st October 2017, the old CAT C and D categories of write-off have been retired, and they have been replaced with Category S and N.
Formally, to determine a vehicle's write-off category, it would be evaluated from an Appropriately Qualified Person (AQP), a vehicle would be classified as a CAT C if it was deemed to cost more to repair than its pre-accident value, and if it would be less to repair, it would be a CAT D, but this left much of the decisions down to engineer's opinions.
The introduction of the new categories was designed to mitigate this issue. Vehicles are now checked against a set of criteria which has been pre-determined by the ABI.
We still sell some Category C and D vehicles, as these were examined and classified before the cut-off date of the 1st October 2017.
Although CAT Ds are less severely damaged than a Category C, it does not guarantee whether or not there has been structural damage to it.
Looking For Parts?
If you have recently won a Category N or D vehicle from us, and are looking to source genuine used car parts to complete a repair, BreakerBid4U may be the answer you're looking for.
The service allows you to buy Category B vehicles without the need for CAT B licences. We allow Members to bid on CAT B vehicles through the BB4U service.
Then you will be able to break the vehicle at one of six specialist BreakerBid4U facilities located at Copart Operations Centres across the UK. It is a great way to get hold of lots of used parts for a great price.
Once you have pulled the parts you need, Copart will retain and crush the vehicle frame, and issue a Certificate of Destruction (COD).