Your van gets you from job to job, carries your tools and advertises your business. You may not be able to do without it. However, the time will come when you’ll need to replace and sell your van.

Light commercial vehicles are no different to cars – they too will develop common faults after they have been on the road for a while. If you find your van needs regular repairs, and has a long service history, perhaps it is time to sell and invest in a new van.

In this guide we look at the signs that you might need to sell your van or repair with replacement parts, if you should sell your van for scrap, and how to prepare your van to be sold or scrapped.

Signs that you should sell your van

1. Age & depreciation

Like any vehicle, the moment your van left the forecourt its value was depreciating. According to the motor valuers Parkers, the biggest losses, an average of £14,000-£15,000, occur during the first three years of a van’s life. So, it is not advisable to sell during this time. Manufacturer’s warranties are also likely to cover you for all or some of this period. Your van will be running at its best at this stage.

After three years the loss to the value of your van will slow and will give you the best return on your investment (if you decide to sell). Once a van is over five years old the depreciation rate will slow down even further, potentially retaining between 20%-30% of its original value, and you could run the risk of wear and tear making the van worth very little. However, you need to balance this out against the usage you will still get out of the vehicle, how well it runs and the number of repairs it needs.

2. Rising repair costs

Any van owner will have to deal with common problems as any vehicle ages, such as clutch issues, exhaust, brakes. Most issues can be fixed fairly quickly and at manageable cost. However, if more serious issues arise which aren’t as easily fixed and repairs start to add up, it might be time to consider replacing your van, as it will become more expensive to keep your van on the road than to replace it.

Signs of rising repair costs:

• Major components like the engine, gearbox, or suspension need replacing.
• Your van fails its MOT due to multiple issues.
• Repair bills exceed the van’s resale value.

3. Your van no longer fits your needs

Over time, your van may no longer be the right fit for your lifestyle or business. Whether it’s too small, too big, or simply not practical anymore, upgrading or downsizing could be a better option. If this is the case and your van is sitting unused or no longer suits your needs, selling it now could help you get a better price before depreciation lowers its value further.

Should I sell my van for scrap

When scrapping your van makes sense

In certain cases, it makes more sense to sell your car for scrap rather than through other means of selling. For example, if your van has failed its MOT and the repair costs outweigh its value, or if your van has sustained severe damage from an accident, excessive rust, or ongoing mechanical failures, and as a result making your van unsafe to drive or too expensive to fix. It’s also important to recognise that high-mileage vans may have a limited resale appeal, so older models with little market demand might attract better offers from scrap dealers than private buyers.

How much will I get if I scrap my van?

The scrap value of your van will depend on a few factors, including the condition, make, model and year of manufacture. You can use our free online car valuation tool to get an instant preview of the total amount you could receive.

The environmental benefits of scrapping

Scrapping your van is not just about getting rid of an unwanted vehicle, it’s also an environmentally responsible choice. Modern scrapping processes allow up to 95% of a van’s materials to be recycled, reducing waste and minimising landfill impact.

At ASM, our state-of-the-art vehicle dismantling facility is designed to work in accordance with the European End-of-Life Vehicle Directive, ensuring all hazardous waste and toxins are removed from scrap vehicles and disposed of as part of the ‘green’ de-pollution process. We even ensure that metals and valuable metals can be re-used. Increasing our use of non-renewable supplies helps us provide a better environment.

Get your van ready for sale

Gather your paperwork

Before selling your van, having the right documents ready will make the sale process smoother. Buyers (whether private, trade, or scrap dealers) will expect certain paperwork in order to verify ownership and the van’s history.

Essential documents to have:

• V5C Logbook
• MOT Certificate
• Service History
• Receipts for Repairs & Parts
• Finance Settlement (if applicable)

Clean and fix minor damage

Rusty wheel arches, scratches, chipped paintwork, tears to the seating; all these little things will reduce the price a private buyer is prepared to pay. Get them cleaned and fixed up, if possible, before you put your van on the market.

Remove branding

If you are considering a private sale, and it is possible to do so, remove any personal branding on your van. You don’t know where your old van is going to end up, plus you will get a better price if it is a blank canvas for its new owner.

Sell your van at ASM

ASM Auto Recycling will buy your van for scrap or assess what parts can be recycled. There are some deciding factors on what price you will get. These will be its mileage, service history and overall condition.

ASM Auto Recycling offers a hassle-free way to sell your van. We are an authorised and regulated yard with decades of experience in car and van buying. Get your instant online van valuation from us today.

When insurers assess an insurance claim for a vehicle after an accident or theft, flood or fire, they are guided by the Association of British Insurers (ABI) Code of Practice.

Over the last decade the ABI has revised its Code of Practice relating to salvage vehicles. The major change came in 2017, when the previous write-off categories of A, B, C and D became A, B, S and N, to reflect the changes in the way modern cars are built and the materials they use. The revised code focused more heavily on the overall condition of damaged cars, and established minimum qualification requirements for individuals employed to categorise salvaged vehicles.

The new salvage Code of Practice is also seen as being more rigorous and less open to exploitation by criminals.

How does the ABI salvage code of practice affect me when buying a used vehicle?

The changes to the ABI salvage Code of Practice mean that prospective buyers will have more information about a vehicle’s salvage status if they are considering buying an insurance write-off.

The revised Code of Practice will be more transparent. Before these changes, the cost of repairing a written off vehicle was compared to the pre-accident value it had. Now, the cost and value of the repairs are not included as a factor, just the extent of the damage.

The ‘S’ and ‘N’ categories have been endorsed by the DVLA and the Department for Transport.

The ABI code of practice insurance categories

There are four categories that insurers use for vehicles they assess to be ‘write-offs’ - in other words, cars that are so badly damaged that for insurance purposes it is cheaper to pay out the market value of the car.  

Category A

Any vehicle in Category A is a total loss, and only qualifies for scrap with no parts removed. The V5C logbook is destroyed by the insurer.

Category B

Category B vehicles are also beyond repair, but some parts may be salvageable, dismantled and sold as spares. The rest of the car is scrapped.

Category S

Cars in the ‘S’ category have suffered structural damage, but can still be repaired. Often the damage is to the chassis or structural frame of the vehicle. The V5C logbook will be destroyed and any prospective buyer will have to apply to the DVLA for a replacement.

Category N

‘N’ means vehicles that have been non-structurally damaged, but are considered repairable and have the potential to be roadworthy again. The cost of repairs are still substantial, but it is still possible to get insurance on a Cat N car (although the premiums will be higher) and the DVLA won’t insist on a new MOT. The insurer is not required to destroy the V5C logbook.

ABI compliant ASM online salvage auction

If you’re looking to return a used car to a roadworthy condition, our online salvage auction offers the opportunity to purchase quality salvage vehicles at competitive prices. Each vehicle listed in the auction features comprehensive details about its condition, including its salvage category.

ASM Auto Recycling also offers up to 20% off the price of used spare parts supplied for the repair of vehicles purchased from ASM.

It’s a fact – vehicles are the most recycled consumer product worldwide. Incredibly, most of a car can be recycled. But what happens to scrap cars, and how are cars recycled?

Here at ASM Auto Recycling, we should know. We are an ATF (Authorised Treatment Facility), a centre where cars are scrapped legally. Find out more about the car scrap process with our step-by-step guide.

1: Almost the entire car can be recycled

Did you know that up to 95% of a car can be recycled? Most of the steel is reusable, and some parts can still have a life in other cars. Only a small amount of what goes into a car is hazardous and has to go to landfill.

2: Over 27 million cars are recycled every year

27 million cars are recycled every year globally, accounting for almost all end-of-life automobiles. This is almost half of the 60 million new cars produced annually.

3: A car contains around 30,000 parts – many get a new purpose

It is remarkable to think of just how many parts there are in cars – there are more in petrol and diesel vehicles than in electric cars, and these parts can find uses in many different ways. Tyres can become running tracks, windscreen glass is made into jewellery, and batteries can be turned into X-ray shields.

4: It takes less than a minute to shred a car

The shredding machines at an ATF can turn a car into a piece of metal the size of a small microwave oven in around 45 seconds. Mega shredders can do this in just 10 seconds!

5: Recycling a car is a 5-step process

There is much more to car recycling than just sticking a chassis into a compacter. At ASM Auto Recycling we have an 11-bay workshop fully equipped to safely dismantle, test and clean recycled car parts, as well as state-of-the-art depollution rigs.

Step 1: Depollution

The first step of the car recycling process is depollution – removing any materials and parts that would be hazardous to the environment. All fluids are drained from the vehicle, such as the residue of engine oil, water, brake fluids, petrol and diesel, and flushed out so there are no dangerous substances left.

Step 2: Dismantling

This is when the car is dismantled for the parts that can be recycled. Some parts can still have a life as a whole in another vehicle, while others are disassembled and their materials put to use in other products. Once a car has been dismantled, only the shell of the chassis is left. Many of the parts salvaged are available as part of our used car parts service.

Step 3: Sorting

Before destruction of the vehicle, there might be some final sorting and removal of parts. For example, not all the remaining plastic will be recycled, and a decision will be made on things like the fabric interior.

Step 4: Shredding

Huge shredding machines reduce the chassis of the car to a significantly smaller piece of metal – one that is then ‘detinned’. This means that the thin layer of tin that prevents the steel from rusting when it was a vehicle is removed, so that the steel can be safely melted down.

Step 5: Reuse & Processing

After melting, the steel is rolled into flat sheets, ready to be reused in other industries. Recycling steel is a much cheaper process than producing new steel, so by recycling your car you are helping both the economy and the environment.

Recycle your car with ASM

If your car has seen better days, it might be time to consider scrapping it. Recycling your car with ASM Auto Recycling is a quick, straightforward process. We’ll pay a fair price, handle all the paperwork and collect your vehicle if it’s local enough to us, or you can drop it off at one of our depots (and get a better scrap price).

Get an instant online valuation at ASM today!

Have you had your vehicle valued for scrappage recently? Was the price you were given higher or lower than what you were expecting?

There may have been quite a bit of difference in the price you would have received only a few months ago. That is because steel, aluminium and copper dominate the scrap metal market, and this is the stuff that cars are made of more than other metals. The scrap prices for end-of-life vehicles are likely to feel the effects of fluctuations in scrap metal prices more keenly than other products.

So yes, the scrap value of steel does have a major impact on the amount of money you might be able to get from your car as scrap. Like the price of oil, certain countries exert a major influence over scrap metal prices. They are also affected by world events. For example, the performance of the Chinese economy will have a huge influence on European steel prices. Turkey is the world’s largest importer of scrap metals, and so a reliable indicator of global steel values is the Turkish TSI index.

How can I ensure I get the best price for my scrap car?

We are committed to providing customers with the very best possible price for your unwanted or end-of-life vehicle.

Vehicle recycling firms like ASM will pay more money for scrap metals that are considered ‘Grade 1’. High-grade metals are those with no associated alloys found within the material. In addition, the metals should have no signs of corrosion and be of a minimum size and diameter to be accepted.

‘Grade 2’ scrap metals are often made from alloy(s) alongside the primary metal you wish to scrap. Even 1% alloys in a material will see it handed a Grade 2 status. These materials must also be clear of foreign contamination to achieve the best possible prices.

How are scrap cars valued?

Today, the vast majority of scrap car prices in the UK are given to vehicle owners per tonne. Be mindful that the value of scrap metals fluctuates daily, so scrap car values can change day to day. By keeping a keen eye on trends in the value of scrap metals you can see the right time to cash in on your unwanted vehicle. The London Metal Exchange is the most genuine indicator, but at ASM we can always tell you the daily prices over the phone too.

The scrap metal marketplace can be affected by a range of factors, from the overall demand for new metals, to the performance of the construction industry, to the location of individual scrapyards.

All fees for your scrap car are now paid via cheque or electronic bank transfer. Since 2013, it has been illegal for anyone to be paid in cash for their scrap vehicle — a move designed to prevent thieves from stealing vehicles off driveways and selling them at scrap yards for cash, amongst other metal theft.

Is steel valuable?

Steel will get a fair price but is generally the least valuable of the main types of scrap metal, behind lead, aluminium, titanium, brass and copper. This is because it is very widely available. Stainless steel is more valuable, and a lot of automotive parts are made of stainless steel.

What are the benefits of vehicle recycling?

Vehicle dismantling is the most environmentally friendly way to scrap your vehicle. It’s a process where salvaged car parts are removed from the shell of the vehicle, cleaned and tested for use in other second-hand vehicles. Our used car parts store includes over 100,000 used car parts available for purchase. As part of a vehicle’s dismantling, all of its potential toxins such as fuels, oils and brake fluids are removed as part of the de-pollution process, in line with the European End-of-Life Vehicle (ELV) Directive.

Each year, hundreds of thousands of end-of-life vehicles are dismantled and recycled in the UK alone. If your vehicle has given up the ghost or is sitting unwanted on a driveway, get an instant quote on what we will pay. If you have no way of getting the vehicle to ASM Auto Recycling, we will arrange collection from your home at a time and date to suit you.

At ASM we have always championed the value in used car parts and how motorists can save on significant maintenance costs by simply buying second hand. It’s also beneficial for the environment because you will be making the most of your salvage parts, from end-of-life to damage-repairable vehicles. You’ll be contributing to a more circular economy.

Have ever wondered what the most valuable car parts are? What car parts are most popular? Read on and we’ll explain what parts of your car you could cash in on with the help of a local scrap yard. However, do consider that if you remove parts from your car its total value can be worth much less.

What car part is worth the most?

The engine

The most valuable of car part is often the engine, understandably. A completely new engine can be the most expensive of maintenance jobs, but a dodgy engine may end up getting your vehicle written off altogether. So, if you are scrapping your car and no longer have use for the engine, it is a great part to be able to cash in on.

If your engine is still running efficiently, ask a mechanic for help before you sell it. They will remove it, drain it of any fluids and transport the engine safely to a trusted local scrapyard. Engines can still bring value even if they don’t work any longer. The aluminium they contain is a valuable scrap metal and can be sold to a local scrap metal dealer.

What car parts are easy to sell?

Car stereo and GPS

Two of the easiest parts to sell are car radios and satellite navigation system (GPS) systems. They are less likely to be damaged because of where they are in the vehicle. They also do not corrode or wear like a moving part or parts that are exposed to the elements. They are easy to remove too, so you won’t have to wait around long for your money.

What other parts can you sell?

Catalytic converters

Often the cause of vehicle thefts in the UK, catalytic converters are a big-money salvage car part. They are considered valuable because of the precious metals they contain – such as rhodium, platinum and palladium. They too are easy to remove, which is what makes them a prime target for criminals.

Catalytic converters are also a mandatory part of modern exhaust systems, filtering and lowering the toxic fumes emitted by vehicles. If you still have a functioning catalytic converter they will be in extremely high demand.

Air conditioning units

Any parts from an air conditioning unit are generally very valuable, whether they’re from a car or elsewhere. Compressors are often the most expensive part to replace, with the cost often running well into hundreds of pounds. Even filters and condensers can also cost upwards of £100 to purchase and install, so selling them to a scrapyard could make you a handsome amount of money.

Air Bags

There is also an enormous demand for air bags. When you consider the number of air bags recovered from accident write-offs and multiply that by the lawful requirement of two air bags per vehicle then you can appreciate the market value they have. They can, depending on the make and model, also be very costly to replace. This makes salvaged air bags far more alluring, which is reflected in the amount a scrapyard will give you for them.

Bumpers and exterior parts

Exterior parts are also very popular from damage-repairable vehicles, simply because we all have a prang once in a while. They’re also some of the easiest parts to remove from a vehicle. Some of the more common external salvage car parts that are highly sought after include the front bumper, the front bonnet and the rear bumper, all of which can take a bang and are vulnerable on a daily basis.

Find high quality recycled parts at ASM

We have an extensive range of over 100,000 recycled high quality vehicle parts at ASM. From big heavy engines all the way to spark plugs and used car tyres. If you’re looking for a high-quality, but affordable, car part simply search by your registration, make or model. We can deliver items to you or you can collect the parts in person from our Thame depot.

What Does This Mean for You?

For our valued customers, this procurement means access to a vast inventory of genuine Land Rover, Range Rover, and Jaguar parts at competitive prices. Whether you’re looking for a specific engine component, body part, or interior fixture, this haul of salvage flood-damaged cars ensures that we will now have a comprehensive selection of parts available for a wide range of models. Our dedicated team of professionals meticulously inspects and salvages parts to guarantee their quality and performance.

Hear from our Operations Director, Chris Morgan:

“Given the well documented problems regarding lack of parts availability and main dealer back-order issues relating to many manufacturers – including Jaguar and Land Rover – this consignment has provided an unprecedented opportunity for a vehicle recycler to supply prestige marque green parts back into the UK body shop repair network on a significant scale. The symbiotic relationship between the vehicle recycling sector and the insurance repair network has undoubtedly gained momentum in recent years and we hope that this will further help to consolidate that growing association”.

Commitment to Sustainability and Quality.

ASM Auto Recycling is a proud member of the e2e network and is widely recognized as one of the UK’s leading vehicle recycling operations. Our state-of-the-art 20-acre facility in Thame, Oxfordshire, processes over 35,000 vehicles annually. Additionally, we have three satellite sites located in Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, and Buckinghamshire.

Our extensive inventory includes over 3,000 collision repair panels in stock, along with more than 50,000 green parts available for next-day nationwide delivery.

Get in touch today.

To find out more about ASM’s green parts proposition, please contact either Chris Morgan (chris at asm-autos dot co dot uk) or Chris Whytock (chris dot w at asm-autos dot co dot uk).

Equally, if you’re interested in purchasing any Jaguar and Land Rover car parts, check out our dedicated Jaguar, Land Rover and Range Rover pages for more information.

The importance of an MOT

The Ministry of Transport (MOT) test has been a legal requirement since 1960 for all vehicles over three years of age in the UK. It is a 20-point test examining the roadworthiness of a vehicle. It covers basic components such as tyres, suspension, lights, mirrors, brakes and exhaust pollutants. MOT certificates are valid for a year.

It is not uncommon for a car to fail its MOT, or be given advisory points for owners to rectify. Some of these repairs do not cost a great deal; often they can be as little as a replacement lightbulb. However, as a car gets older the costs of the repairs often increase to the point where drivers might wonder if the car is worth it.

What do you do if your car has failed its MOT?

It is illegal to drive a car that has failed its MOT with a major or dangerous defect. It is also illegal to drive a car that is an MOT failure if your current MOT has expired, other than to a garage or to a pre-arranged MOT test appointment. The car should be left at the garage for the repairs to be made or driven from the test centre to your chosen garage.

If your current MOT has still to expire, or the fault is not a major one, you can drive the vehicle home or to a garage from the MOT test centre. If the car has a dangerous defect and you do not want repairs to be made or the car to be retested, the vehicle will need to be towed to your home.

Driving a car without a valid MOT is an offence which carries a fine of up to £1,000 and possible points on your licence.

A car without a valid MOT can still be sold

It is perfectly legal to sell a car that has failed its MOT. If you are selling to a private buyer, you will need to make them aware that there is no valid MOT, as this will affect the price they are prepared to pay. The buyer will also need to make arrangements to get the car collected or towed, if it cannot be driven on public roads for the reasons mentioned above.

The main advantage of selling a car with no MOT is that you don’t have to spend money on getting it repaired. The drawback is that potential buyers will see this as a justifiable reason to offer less for the car, particularly if they have the hassle of collecting it or getting it towed. The other alternative is to sell the car as scrap.

Scrapping a car that has failed its MOT means that you won’t have to worry about those awkward details of a private sale, especially if the car can’t be driven on public roads. An Authorised Treatment Facility will even collect your car as part of its scrappage service, if it is required.

Sell your car with no MOT to ASM Auto Recycling

At ASM Auto Recycling we will buy MOT failures and give you the best price for scrapping them. If you are not happy with our initial quotation you can give us a few more details and we will see if we can revise your quote. Selling your car to us is a quick and easy way to get that MOT failure off your hands in return for some cold hard cash.

A private sale will involve arranging viewings with the potential buyers. You may have to put up with tyre kickers, time wasters and haggling. If this doesn’t appeal, you have two choices.

You can go to a reputable local car salvage dealer, such as ASM Auto Recycling. We will be able to give a competitive estimate of the valuation of your vehicle. We offer a choice of a collection or drop-off service, and immediate payment once a price has been agreed.

Alternatively, you can visit one of the many websites available offering a used car buying service. You know which ones we mean – sites like Cazoo, Webuyanycar and CarWow, to name but a few. They claim to offer a quick way to sell your car for cash, but how do they compare with each other, and to selling through a trusted local dealer?

“Cazoo yeah you can”. Well, can you?

Cazoo has made a big dent in the online car buying and selling market, even though they are relative newcomers. Cazoo was only founded in 2019 by the people behind LoveFilm and Zoopla, and like those websites they have given used car shopping a funky digital makeover. But can you sell a used car without leaving your sofa?

Well, actually, it’s not as easy as it looks.

Like every online dealer, Cazoo has a few rules regarding what cars they will buy.

You start by giving a few basic details of your vehicle such as mileage, service history and its general condition.

Most of the cars Cazoo buy are under 15 years old, with fewer than 150,000 miles on the clock. They also need a valid MOT with at least two weeks of validity left by the time a sale is booked with Cazoo. They also do not buy the following:

• Cars with outstanding finance
• Cars with major accident damage
• Cars with tyres that are not road legal
• Cars that have not been first registered in the UK
• Cars that have exceeded 25,000 miles per year

Webuyanycar – do they though?

Webuyanycar is still perhaps among the most well-known online car selling services. Their unmistakable jingle was first heard on our TV screens back in 2006.

Their USP is written into their brand identity. There are only two types of vehicle that they will not buy – any registered outside the UK or from within the motor trade.

Their pledge is to provide a valuation within 30 seconds. Admittedly it would depend on how quickly you entered the details of your registration and mileage, email address and postcode. Once your details are entered you do receive your valuation immediately and the details of your nearest drop off branch.

However, there are the following caveats to your valuation:

• The sale may be subject to a transaction fee
• An inspection of the vehicle may change the price offered
• The valuation is only guaranteed for 4 days

Is CarWow like, er, wow?

CarWow does not actually buy your car. It is merely a middle man, providing you with a listing on its site, through which dealers can contact you with their valuations. CarWow does provide an initial quote, but only after a very lengthy survey (compared to Cazoo or WeBuyAnyCar) on details about your car. You need to add photos as well here.

So it feels like you are doing a lot of what is involved in a private sale, but for the lower price that a dealer will offer.

The benefits of selling your car through ASM Auto Recycling

Ultimately, anyone wanting to sell their car needs to be clear on what is most important to them. Is it solely about the best price you can get, or are there other factors? Do you want a quick sale, or one where most of the paperwork is done for you?

If you come to a local dealer like ASM Auto Recycling, you can expect to get a better price than an online site. Selling through ASM can be just as quick too.

• We will provide you with a quick online valuation and only ask for your vehicle’s registration, your postcode, email address and phone number. If you think the car is worth more than our valuation, you can give us more detailed information about the vehicle, and we will respond with a new quotation
• We will offer you a scrap price too
• We will accept cars that do not have a valid MOT or are not currently running, unlike an online seller
• Your valuation can be higher if you choose to drop your vehicle off at one of our four locations across Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
• Selling to a local dealer like us also means that if there are any issues with the sale, you will be able to speak to us in person.

Plus, it should be noted that most online sellers will only honour their offer price after their engineers inspect the vehicle in person. You will still need to provide documentation and accessories, such as a valid logbook (V5C), service history, locking wheel nut, spare keys etc.

Get a valuation from ASM today

We know that it can be tempting to sell to seemingly speedy online platforms. But you can get just as quick a sale, and at a better price, with a local car dealer like ASM. Request your free instant valuation today.

As you may have seen in some of our previous blog posts, there are many different types of vehicle categories when it comes to car insurance write-offs. Some vehicles are placed into categories that deem they are capable of being restored to roadworthy condition, while others are placed into categories that insist they should be scrapped and recycled for parts.

Fortunately, the Cat D category falls into the former group of vehicles. This article is designed to uncover all you need to know about Category D vehicles, a category that has recently been consigned to the history books.

Is Cat D the same as Cat N?

As of October 2017, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) introduced new car insurance write-off categories in a bid to simplify the process. The new categories were endorsed by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and the Department for Transport (DfT). Cat D was one of those to fall by the wayside, to be replaced with Cat N. The ‘N’ stands for ‘non-structural damage’, compared with the new Cat S classification, which stands for ‘structural damage’.

What is the difference between Cat C and Cat D?

Cat C is another of the car insurance write-off categories to fall foul of the industry’s recent alterations of the classification system. Cat C used to denote vehicles that insurers had deemed to have structural damage that would cost more than the value of the car to repair.

While existing Cat C classifications remain for older cars, more recent insurance write-offs with the same symptoms as a Cat C vehicle will now be classified as a Cat S. It’s the same as older Cat D vehicles with light, cosmetic damage and newer vehicles with the same damage now being classified as Cat N.

Although Cat C or S vehicles are deemed too expensive for an insurer to repair, these vehicles tend to be resold at auction to motor traders and bodyshop garages that have the expertise to buy them at cut-price fees and restore them to roadworthy condition.

Can you insure a Cat D car?

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) says that many car insurers will agree to insure a Cat D vehicle, providing proof of repair is given. Nevertheless, there will be some insurers that simply don’t want the risk of insuring accident-damaged vehicles on their portfolio.

It’s important to note that even if your car insurer does agree to insure your Cat D (or Cat N) vehicle, the premium is almost certain to be more expensive than a non-damaged model. It’s not worth trying to hide the vehicle’s classification either; if your insurer finds out that you concealed its Cat D status at a later date your insurance policy will be voided immediately.

Does Cat D show on V5?

If you are looking at buying a used vehicle, it’s important to note that you won’t find out whether a car has been classified a Cat D vehicle by looking at its V5 log book.

That’s because Cat D vehicles do not require a Vehicle Identity Check (VIC) test, which are normally logged in the V5 as a rule. Only Cat C (or Cat S) vehicles are legally required to have their new classification marked on the V5.

How does Cat D affect car value?

There’s no doubt that if you want to buy a Cat D vehicle, you can expect to pay significantly less for it than a non-damaged vehicle. Even Cat D cars that have been restored to roadworthy condition are often marketed as much as 30% cheaper than comparable non-damaged models.

Vice versa, if you currently own a Cat D vehicle, you can expect to achieve a much lower sale price if you want to get rid of it, due to the Cat D write-off label.

Can you part exchange a Cat D?

If the time has come to sell your Cat D vehicle, you’ll be pleased to know that it is possible to part exchange it for a newer model with a garage. However, it is up to their discretion whether they will accept it or not. It’s important that you make them aware of the vehicle’s classification at the earliest opportunity to be transparent about the damage. This will give you the best possible chance of getting it included in a deal for a newer vehicle.

Can you get a Cat D vehicle removed?

Unfortunately, once a vehicle has been deemed a Cat D by an insurer, the classification will remain part of its history for the remainder of its usable life. Don’t think you can hide your vehicle’s past as it will always show up if a garage or independent buyer pays for a history check.

If you find that you are struggling to sell your Cat D vehicle and you reach the point where you just want to get rid of it, ASM Auto Recycling can help.

You can scrap your car at one of our Authorised Treatment Facilities (ATFs) located throughout Central England. We’ve been scrapping end-of-life vehicles for more than 40 years and are best placed to offer a fair, competitive price for your Cat D vehicle.

Is your Cat D vehicle unroadworthy? Perhaps it failed its latest MOT? No problem. At ASM Auto Recycling, we have a fleet of multi-vehicle car transporters that can retrieve your Cat D vehicle from its location at a time and date to suit you.

For more information on recycling or arranging the collection of your scrap Cat D car, call our friendly, experienced team today on 01844 268 940 (Option 3).

In October 2017, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) introduced new car insurance write-off categories for road vehicles, replacing the previous Cat C and Cat D classifications with Cat S and Cat N respectively. The new categories were endorsed by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and the Department for Transport (DfT). Both Cat S and Cat N were introduced to better reflect the growing complexities of repairing 21st century vehicles.

When a car insurance claim is made for a vehicle following an accident or damage due to theft, flood or fire, the insurer will review the vehicle’s damage to ascertain whether the cost of repair is worthwhile – aligned to the vehicle’s value.

Since October 2017, accident-damaged vehicles that are deemed a write-off by an insurer but do not have structural or chassis damage have been classified Cat N. That’s because, despite the car’s structural integrity being intact, the repair costs would still be greater than the cost of replacing the vehicle altogether for the claimant.

What merits structural damage on a vehicle write-off?

Structural damage to a vehicle is basically damage to any part or component that is part of the main body of the vehicle or used to maintain the body’s structural integrity. Components or parts that are bolted onto a car’s structure or chassis are not deemed part of its structure or frame. Structural components that commonly sustain damage include:

• Suspension mounts
• Lower and upper frame rails
• A, B and C pillars
• Rear window frames
• Rocker panels

Is Cat D the same as Cat N?

In essence, yes Category D vehicles are now classified as Category N. However, cars already classified as Cat D will not be reassessed by insurers. This means there will still be a high number of Cat D vehicles for sale on the used car market for many years to come.

As with the new Cat N, the old Cat D classification meant that vehicles were a write-off but hadn’t sustained serious damage and could be restored to roadworthy condition without having to inform or re-register the vehicle with the DVLA.

The reasoning behind replacing Cat D with Cat N was simply to reinforce that these vehicles had non-structural damage.

Can you repair a Cat N vehicle?

Of the two new car insurance write-off categories – Cat S and Cat N – the latter vehicles are likely to be easier to repair. When a vehicle is classified a Category N, it means that the car hasn’t sustained structural damage and the only repair work required is normally aesthetic. This means you might have to replace bodywork, but this is something you could either undertake yourself or get a trusted bodyshop firm nearby to take a look.

Buying a Cat N car to repair can be a savvy move, particularly if you are planning to retain the vehicle until the end of its safe, working life. As we’ll touch upon shortly, it’s not as straightforward if you plan to repair a Cat N car to sell on the open market. However, there are hundreds of Cat N cars out there that are perfectly repairable, providing you can source the right replacement parts such as bumpers, panels, headlights and so on.

Remember – if you don’t want to have to fork out for brand-new replacement parts from the vehicle’s manufacturer, we’ve got over 100,000 recycled car parts for all manner of vehicles, each of which have been cleaned, tested where possible and covered by our 90-day parts-only guarantee.

Is a Cat N car more expensive to insure?

Although it’s very possible to get an insurance policy for a Category N vehicle, the premiums are almost certain to be higher than if you’d bought a brand-new car or even a non-damaged used model. It’s important you are up front and honest with your insurer, informing them that the car you wish to insure has been classified as Cat N. If you don’t and your insurer later finds out that you lied on your policy forms, your policy will be automatically invalidated, technically leaving you uninsured at the wheel.

Will a Cat N categorisation affect my insurance?

If your vehicle has been involved in an accident, causing it to be written-off as a Category N vehicle, your existing insurance policy will be ended by your insurer. This means you will need to seek new insurance quotes for your vehicle as a Cat N car. Unfortunately, this categorisation will undoubtedly have an effect on your monthly premiums, as insurers will deem it to be a greater risk to you and other road users than non-damaged vehicles.

Does a Cat N car need a new MOT?

If your car has been deemed a Cat N write-off, don’t despair. It doesn’t mean your vehicle is automatically unroadworthy – far from it. In fact, you don’t need to do anything to continue using the car. The DVLA does not insist on newly categorised Cat N vehicles having a new MoT before returning to the road. Instead, the DVLA is happy to wait for the vehicle’s next MoT when its existing one runs out.

When you consider that a Cat N classification means that a vehicle has only sustained cosmetic damage, it’s unsurprising that the DVLA doesn’t insist on fresh MoTs. Providing the cosmetic damage can be repaired cost-effectively, you should have no qualms about getting behind the wheel of your Cat N car – providing you’ve notified your insurer of its new classification, of course!

Is it possible to buy back Cat N cars from my insurer?

In the event that your insurer writes off your vehicle as a Cat N, they will typically retain the car and pay you compensation in line with its pre-accident value. However, you are entitled to reject the compensation and negotiate to buy back your newly classified Category N car if you are prepared to restore it to roadworthy condition yourself.

Unlike Cat A and Cat B vehicles, which insurers are not legally allowed to sell back to drivers due to the severity of their damage, Cat N and Cat S vehicles can be sold back to vehicle owners. Again, this may be an attractive option if you know what you are doing with cars, you have a trusted mechanic that can get the job done and you plan to keep the vehicle for the rest of its working life.

What’s the best way to sell on a Category N vehicle?

Now that you’ve understood that a Cat N vehicle loses much of its former value and becomes more expensive to insure, you might want to accept the write-off and take the compensation pay-out from your insurer to put towards buying a replacement vehicle.

At ASM Auto Recycling, we work with many car insurers to accept and recycle Category N vehicles from accidents that occur throughout the year. There may be certain car parts that can be recycled, ready for use in another used car. That’s why we put all salvage vehicles through our state-of-the-art vehicle dismantling facilities, allowing us to de-pollute parts of vehicles that can’t be reused in the most environmentally friendly manner, whilst setting aside those used car parts that can be resold with our very own 90-day parts guarantee.

If you currently own a vehicle that’s been classified as a Cat N, we would be happy to accept your vehicle for safe and efficient dismantling and recycling. With a vehicle collection service available or the option to drop your Cat N car off from your local ASM Auto Recycling site, it’s never been easier to get rid of your Cat N vehicles in Central England.

To enquire about our car scrappage services, call our friendly, experienced team today on 01844 268 940 or drop us a line at admin at asm-autos dot co dot uk.