Has a Cat C car definitely had structural damage?
- Thread starter peddy
- Start date
It can be anything that is uneconomical to repair, so it could be flood damage (though not fire, which is Cat F) where it would cost thousands to strip, dry, seal, replace the interior - or it could have been vandalised on all panels - or it could have had a bump that's made it crab.
A Cat D can be repaired and simply reregistered as damaged repaired. A Cat C needs an inspection before it can be reregistered as damaged repaired. In both instances the marker will remain with the car for the rest of its life.
If it is very bad then it would have been made a Cat A or Cat B.
This article might help.
A Cat D can be repaired and simply reregistered as damaged repaired. A Cat C needs an inspection before it can be reregistered as damaged repaired. In both instances the marker will remain with the car for the rest of its life.
If it is very bad then it would have been made a Cat A or Cat B.
This article might help.
Hi peddy
Categories Of Write-Off
An explanation of the categories of write-off are listed below:
Category A
A vehicle which should have been totally crushed, including all its spare parts.
Category B
A vehicle from which spare parts may be salvaged, but the bodyshell should have been crushed and the car should never return to the road.
Category C
An extensively damaged vehicle which the insurer has decided not to repair, but which could be repaired and returned to the road.
Category D
A damaged vehicle which the insurer has decided not to repair, but which could be repaired and returned to the road.
Category F
A vehicle damaged by fire, which the insurer has decided not to repair. Theft These vehicles have not been recovered and ownership rests with the insurer who made the total loss payment. They are able to repossess the car as soon as it is identified, even if it has been bought innocently.
Vehicles categorised as A, B or C require a VIC test before the DVLA will issue a new registration document. This will then be noted on the V5C. See www.dvla.gov.uk for more information on VIC testing.
Not quite the answer but hope it helps
Categories Of Write-Off
An explanation of the categories of write-off are listed below:
Category A
A vehicle which should have been totally crushed, including all its spare parts.
Category B
A vehicle from which spare parts may be salvaged, but the bodyshell should have been crushed and the car should never return to the road.
Category C
An extensively damaged vehicle which the insurer has decided not to repair, but which could be repaired and returned to the road.
Category D
A damaged vehicle which the insurer has decided not to repair, but which could be repaired and returned to the road.
Category F
A vehicle damaged by fire, which the insurer has decided not to repair. Theft These vehicles have not been recovered and ownership rests with the insurer who made the total loss payment. They are able to repossess the car as soon as it is identified, even if it has been bought innocently.
Vehicles categorised as A, B or C require a VIC test before the DVLA will issue a new registration document. This will then be noted on the V5C. See www.dvla.gov.uk for more information on VIC testing.
Not quite the answer but hope it helps
lacroupade
Lifer
and of course the 'cost of repairs' includes stuff like potential car hire etc.., which is why you often see Cat Ds with minimal damage that you might think was economically repairable. It is to a garage or private individual, but not to the insurer.
its up to the insurance company as to what they classify them as. i have seen cat c cars that werent too bad and cat d cars that have been far worse so its just hit and miss as to what the car is classified as. i dont think cat a and b's are allowed to be put back on the road..... although i have seen some repaired for track use
the best thing to do with any repaired car is to inspect it and see if you can find where it was damaged, if you cant, then it is fine and also to take it up to about 80mph on a motorway and see if there are any vibrations or if it pulls or judders when you brake hard.
at the end of the day these are cars that people have made an insurance claim against, a few people damage their cars and dont claim on the insurance, simply putting the car back together or selling it on for someone else to do it and the repairs being very shoddy. so just because it has a cat c or d registered against it may not be a bad thing. at least you know its history up front unlike one that isnt registered at such and you find out it is a shed when a mechanic looks underneath and spots something. it happened to me previously even though the car was not registered as being repaired
the best thing to do with any repaired car is to inspect it and see if you can find where it was damaged, if you cant, then it is fine and also to take it up to about 80mph on a motorway and see if there are any vibrations or if it pulls or judders when you brake hard.
at the end of the day these are cars that people have made an insurance claim against, a few people damage their cars and dont claim on the insurance, simply putting the car back together or selling it on for someone else to do it and the repairs being very shoddy. so just because it has a cat c or d registered against it may not be a bad thing. at least you know its history up front unlike one that isnt registered at such and you find out it is a shed when a mechanic looks underneath and spots something. it happened to me previously even though the car was not registered as being repaired
lacroupade
Lifer
and of course its worth around 50% of book value as a result.....
Thanks for the replies... I've seen a Cat C MC and I'm very tempted... parts fixed weren't major, so I think the car is in good nic and repaired well, etc...
2007
24k miles
Full Service
Sat Nav, Auxiliary, Climate Control, heated seats, Parking Sensors, Premium Sound System
How much would you pay for this car knowing it's registered Cat C?
2007
24k miles
Full Service
Sat Nav, Auxiliary, Climate Control, heated seats, Parking Sensors, Premium Sound System
How much would you pay for this car knowing it's registered Cat C?
peddy - be careful - we've reviewed some pretty dodgy damaged repairs on here.
General rule I've seen is 33% below book and LAcroupade above is suggesting 50%
General rule I've seen is 33% below book and LAcroupade above is suggesting 50%
lacroupade
Lifer
cj10jeeper said:
CJ I think the general principle is it can creep up to 75% of BV if its passed an inspection ( which of course a Cat C must), but without that inspection (which isn't required on a Cat D) its 50%. But I know where I'd be pitching! :roll:
But I'm seriously worried about the parts fixed weren't major statement.....if that was the case it would be a Cat D wouldn't it? I'd say, as CJ does, this wants a bit more investigation......thats not to say a well repaired vehicle isn't a good buy at the right price, but you are best to err on the side of caution....
Z4coupebeaver
Member
A well repaired cat C or D can be a great way into owning a very good car that you would otherwise not be able to afford.
"Well repaired" is the improtant point though. If you can't asses the repair yourself then get someone who can and only do so if there is a significant saving on an undamaged car.
50% of book price is about right if it is a bad repair with faults hidden but I would expect to pay about £13-14K for what you are describing if the car is perfect.
Many of the critics of cat C/D cars are those who have never owned them. One of the cheapest cars I ever had was a cat C Boxster. It was a perfect repair by a Porsche indy every specialist who saw it said they could only see the repair when it was pointed out. I bought it cheap, sold it cheap, lost very little in 2 years.
"Well repaired" is the improtant point though. If you can't asses the repair yourself then get someone who can and only do so if there is a significant saving on an undamaged car.
50% of book price is about right if it is a bad repair with faults hidden but I would expect to pay about £13-14K for what you are describing if the car is perfect.
Many of the critics of cat C/D cars are those who have never owned them. One of the cheapest cars I ever had was a cat C Boxster. It was a perfect repair by a Porsche indy every specialist who saw it said they could only see the repair when it was pointed out. I bought it cheap, sold it cheap, lost very little in 2 years.
peddy said:
Firstly pay AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE using the Cat C category as a negotiating lever. Before parting with your hard earned a full independent mechanical examination should confirm the quality of the repairs. Personally I wouldn't touch it UNLESS it passes the exam and all parts used in the repair are OEM. - but whatever its a risk but at least you can try and mitigate against it with a low purchase price and good pre purchase exam.
IIRC the inspection costing £36 is only to check the vehicles identity not it's road worthness or the quality of the repairs. Certainly the inspection my Peugeot had was just for that when I wrote it off buy driving through a puddle and hydraulicing the engine.
My comment would be you need to be aware of what you are buying but I see now issue of Cat C/D if the history and quality of repair can be proved. As above some cars are written of because of other factors such as hire cars etc and some are written off because the buyer has a policy that even small repairs result in the car being written off and replaced with new.
On the flip side, Lucy's Z4 Coupe suffered major front end damage that won't be recorded as it wasn't written off, but it's a car that I doubt I would touch knowing it's history.
My comment would be you need to be aware of what you are buying but I see now issue of Cat C/D if the history and quality of repair can be proved. As above some cars are written of because of other factors such as hire cars etc and some are written off because the buyer has a policy that even small repairs result in the car being written off and replaced with new.
On the flip side, Lucy's Z4 Coupe suffered major front end damage that won't be recorded as it wasn't written off, but it's a car that I doubt I would touch knowing it's history.
I think something doesn't look quite right. The list of parts, is that something that they've given you? Have you seen the assessors report that had it written off in the first place? I am certain the buyer (at cat C) would have received this. Anyway, some rough figures (using Cooper BMW Parts online)...
Labour...
Assemble bumper 2 hours
Fit and align headlights 2 hours
Fit washer jets (fill and test) 2 hours
Fit landing panel 1 hour
Fit oil cooler 2 hours
Total 9 hours
£160 /hour = £1440
Hire car - 1 week @ £150 / day = £1050
So total parts, labour and car hire = £6985
Assume I have the labour and hire car costs very wrong so double them, total = £9475
From the description you've given, loaded 2007 MC, that's still half the cost of the car. There has to be something else in there. Although if the car has been fully certified to go back on the road - not sure what that needs? To what degree it is checked.
Don't think I do it myself for tow reasons; I'd constantly be worried about how true the chassis was and selling it, even at a reduced price. If I was to chance it I'd not be wanted to pay any more than £10,000.
Also, the low miles on the car, is that because it was a low mile car recently smacked, or had it done 24k by late 2008 and been sitting for a year somewhere with fluids all over the engine and front suspension. I assume it was parked as there was no interior damage from the airbags discharging?
Most importantly, did it have the running in service? :?
EDIT: Interesting to see the other posts that have gone up while I was writing this...
Z4coupebeaver and Ewazix, given your comments would possibly sway my opinion. I guess it is how risk adverse one is against the cost.
Porsche have a number of PPI specialists, but not sure about BMW, guess a good indi?
Total £4495peddy said:
Labour...
Assemble bumper 2 hours
Fit and align headlights 2 hours
Fit washer jets (fill and test) 2 hours
Fit landing panel 1 hour
Fit oil cooler 2 hours
Total 9 hours
£160 /hour = £1440
Hire car - 1 week @ £150 / day = £1050
So total parts, labour and car hire = £6985
Assume I have the labour and hire car costs very wrong so double them, total = £9475
From the description you've given, loaded 2007 MC, that's still half the cost of the car. There has to be something else in there. Although if the car has been fully certified to go back on the road - not sure what that needs? To what degree it is checked.
Don't think I do it myself for tow reasons; I'd constantly be worried about how true the chassis was and selling it, even at a reduced price. If I was to chance it I'd not be wanted to pay any more than £10,000.
Also, the low miles on the car, is that because it was a low mile car recently smacked, or had it done 24k by late 2008 and been sitting for a year somewhere with fluids all over the engine and front suspension. I assume it was parked as there was no interior damage from the airbags discharging?
Most importantly, did it have the running in service? :?
EDIT: Interesting to see the other posts that have gone up while I was writing this...
That could explain a lot! Actually, for my first motorbike accident I drove pretty much straight into the driver's side headlight on a brand new Golf GTi (£20k+) and that was written off by the insurance company.srhutch said:
Z4coupebeaver and Ewazix, given your comments would possibly sway my opinion. I guess it is how risk adverse one is against the cost.
Porsche have a number of PPI specialists, but not sure about BMW, guess a good indi?
well it's more than 10k now and his reserve is just over 15k anyways... http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320638195842
Think I'll give it a miss... Thanks for all the advice and help.
EDIT: Pawn, That's what's baffled me... but we know insurance companies can make some strange decision... :tumbleweed:
Think I'll give it a miss... Thanks for all the advice and help.
EDIT: Pawn, That's what's baffled me... but we know insurance companies can make some strange decision... :tumbleweed:
peddy said:
Although, I may have missed it, but the d doesn't say cat c? Now, I'd always ask the question, but it should say it in the ad. If I am right and it isn't there, that's bang out of order. Light cosmetic damage is one thing, CAT ? has far greater implication.
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