4. Scroll down and click the green button that says 'SELL YOUR CAR'
5. Type the REG, mileage, choose private seller. Then create ad
At this stage it should auto pick up the car details for you, if it doesn't you're out of luck with getting a quick free HPI check. However if all is well carry on to the next step by clicking NEXT.
6. On the right hand side you will see a column. Under 'Your Advert' it will tell you if it is a Insurance right off by displaying the letter D or C next to the asking price of the car. If you cannot see any 'C' or 'D' then its likely a clean car.
To test it out......
Go on to ebay or such like and find a CAT D or C car. Note down the reg on the pictures and put it into the autotrader website to see for yourself. Works only for most cars, not vans or anything else. Purely cars.
Of course......
Autotrader get their info from experian, which is one of the top HPI companies that hold information about all vehicles. However, of course, it will NOT tell you if a car has finance or any other info you may need to know. I'd advise that if you're still nervous about buying a used vehicle, then do a proper FULL hpi check ie.. from hpi.co.uk or confused.com (who use hpi.co.uk system). Its expensive but also gives you information about any mileage discrepancies as well.
The idea of this quick check is to hopefully pull up some red flags before you've even wasted money on a full HPI check.
Hope it helps.
All comments (87)
rogparki
27 Jul 14#1
Might help if you put "Write off " instead of "Right off " - (_;)
Xippi
27 Jul 14#2
Just tried it out and it worked for a known cat C car.
MrClifford
27 Jul 14#3
or just have a look at the log book when you view the car, much quicker
J4GG4
27 Jul 14#4
CAT D is not on the log book, plus saves a trip just to see if it is a CAT C.
callum9999
27 Jul 14#5
It's much quicker to travel and inspect a log book than it is to type a few words online? Are you new to computers or something!?
Darroch
27 Jul 14#6
Good post op.
cartrader56789
27 Jul 14#7
Thanks handy ........... pity didn't include finance check which I think is worse as you can loose the lot
abucd4
28 Jul 14#8
definitely do a full HPI check for finance if you're on the verge of buying, but excellent for an initial check before driving to view!
bavis1
28 Jul 14#9
I think you will find motors.co.uk do the same thing when you advertise car for sale on their site
mjkc7
28 Jul 14#10
just checked my car and it's clear, checked my son's car and it's a cat A, anyone want to buy a 1.6 zetec s fiesta?
ScottyMelotty
28 Jul 14#11
Cat A = scrap only. For cars so badly damaged, there are few or no salvageable parts. Should never re-appear on road.
mjkc7
28 Jul 14#12
Cat A can be put back on the road, it can be reshelled.
NUMBER8GAMESTER
28 Jul 14#13
Great post.
Kevo2k7
28 Jul 14#14
Very Clever op, nice one pal :wink:
jaydeeuk1
28 Jul 14#15
Ingenious.
slharbron
28 Jul 14#16
Nice find. :heart_eyes:
dalipsinghno1
28 Jul 14#17
I have put in car details and clicked on "2 Your advert" But I can't see the section where it gives the Cat D or C. All it has is a box asking for my selling price and below it has a suggested price. On the right it allows to edit the previous details. Have I missed something.
Avenger1324
28 Jul 14#18
Write-off categories
Category A: scrap only. For cars so badly damaged, there are few or no salvageable parts. Should never re-appear on road.
Category B: body shell should be crushed. Signifies extensive damage, although some parts are salvageable. Should never re-appear on road.
Category C: the vehicle is repairable but the costs exceed the vehicle’s value. Can re-appear on road.
Category D: the vehicle is repairable but repair costs are significant compared to the vehicle value. Can re-appear on road.
cool, works well just searched my first car now a cat c.
Symnz
28 Jul 14#21
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/bikes
Works on Motorbikes too! :smile:
HotUkDale
28 Jul 14#22
worth a look heat added thanks :smile:
Sebas111
28 Jul 14#23
Since when?
tapi
28 Jul 14#24
presumably if there's nothing there after you've put in a price and clicked next, it's ok? There's not a 'clear' icon that should be shown, or similar?
prankz2k
28 Jul 14#25
For a second there as I was clicking the next page, I read the title as 'FREE wife insurance' oO
J4GG4
28 Jul 14#26
Correct, As long as autotraders system can pick up all the car details automatically and there is no logo to the right under 'your advert' ie.. (no CATD or CATC logo) then the car will not be registered as a previous write off.
ChunkyLlama
28 Jul 14#27
Nice find, this works a treat. Previous car was a CAT C and it picked that up nicely. Cool beans.
simplyjimbo
28 Jul 14#28
Just looked at a traders advert with no mention of the car being CAT C, this trick just told me it was and saved me a 60 mile round trip. Cheers
kashavsehra
28 Jul 14#29
Cheers jagga. Heat added!
antonywhite37
28 Jul 14#30
doesn't appear to work for mobile site
Bradleigh
28 Jul 14#31
Depending when the car was written off it may not show on the logbook Have found this myself and now hpi everything Handy check to save you having a wasted journey (_;)
Nomnomchoons
28 Jul 14#32
Fantastic, thanks OP :sunglasses:
free121
28 Jul 14#33
Nothing. Means my cars clean right?
Majnu
28 Jul 14#34
cold disnt work
chrisbenwalker
28 Jul 14#35
just checked my old saxo vtr, and it is indeed a cat d :stuck_out_tongue:
J400uk
29 Jul 14#36
Nice tip, certainly saves a bit of money
xigent
29 Jul 14#37
It would be in everyone’s interest if this information was freely available on the DVLA web site.
Hot
john27084
29 Jul 14#38
Much quicker to go and view the log book, okay so if I travel 50 miles to view a car, we're talking at least 2 gallons in fuel and around 2 hours. I'm with J4GG4 on this one. People like you just like to criticise.
Symnz
29 Jul 14#39
Yeah but who's checking? :wink:
theyiddo
29 Jul 14#40
Cheers OP, works great. The wife's old Corsa, which got smashed into head on, is a Cat B.
rabb5it
29 Jul 14#41
Thank you for this OP, I'll make a note for future reference.
missmarmy
29 Jul 14#42
I worked in a salvage yard for 5yrs. No parts of a Cat A vehicle are to be sold. It can only be crushed and weighed in for scrap.
julieparsons73
29 Jul 14#43
Why does mine have (AC ) in brackets
julieparsons73
29 Jul 14#44
Why does mine have (AC) in brackets ?
J4GG4
29 Jul 14#45
PM me your reg and i'll take a look?
belvaz
29 Jul 14#46
An excellent post. Log books and v05 documents do not get updated very quickly cos the DVLC is in the Peoples Socialist Republic of Wales.u
qz177c
29 Jul 14#47
I confirm this works. Great find OP.
allan_trebble78
29 Jul 14#48
I tried this on my old Subaru N21fab which I only found out that it was a write off when I traded it in. Great tip that I will remember in future. Thanks
belvaz
29 Jul 14#49
jjumbo1
30 Jul 14#50
Great find
loofer
30 Jul 14#51
Is the source data as good as HPI/MyCarCheck etc or you more likely to get accurate/up to date results by using their paid service? Appreciate that not all write-offs get recorded but I would like to think there is only one central database that all these firms get their data from.
J4GG4
30 Jul 14#52
With the companies you mentioned your covered if anything goes wrong (supposedly). So its within there best interests to supply accurate information.
I think the autotrader method really is a rough guide line, so do not take it as a guarantee but its there to help out if you really dont want to pay £20 for a full HPI or the journey is a long way away.
Cars can be written off and not be recorded, so really the average person will not know if a car has been in a crash or not or if its been repaired properly or not..etc.
itsdavidjones1984
31 Jul 14#53
Cat A are burn outs or one's with bodily remains/waste. Can never be put back on the road.
Cat b are breakable only, heavy chassis damage, high repair cost exceeding 4x the PAV, roof cut off etc, some insurers don't allow you to retain, however there is no law against retaining a cat B.
Cat c is when the repair cost outweighs the value of the vehicle.
Cat d is a constructive total loss. Simply due to repair costs being under or borderline but once salvage value is applied it's a total loss. Most insurers only repair up to 75% of the PAV.
itsdavidjones1984
31 Jul 14#54
Air con
Ajibee
1 Aug 14#55
To save anyone else wondering, PAV is pre-accident value.
ramkmr
1 Aug 14#56
Thanks OP
mjkc7
5 Aug 14#57
ive done some other checks and looked at the V5, only autotrader says it's a CAT A? no one else says it's a wright off?
J4GG4
11 Sep 14#58
As with all cheap HPI checks, they can get it wrong. Which autotrade is more than likely using just that, a cheap system.
Its something to go by as a free quick guide. Do not take it too seriously.
onamission100
11 Sep 14#59
I read some where Traders are legally obliged to declare if the vechile is a Cat C or D ...... but check this out yourself to be sure
J4GG4
12 Sep 14#60
Correct.
slickafoe
9 Nov 14#61
Heated! Although when i checked my volvo it came up as A/B !WTH,when it is actually a cat'D'
HRWC
30 Dec 15#62
Great post. checked it out on a known CAT D and it came up as CAT D recorded. Checked a car I'm looking at for my daughter as price is low for age and mileage - nothing registered so this car seems OK
This_Is_My_Username
30 Dec 15#63
Typical, all about the badge nowadays, don't mind spending the money if they done the same and used a Mercedes engine!
s22had
30 Dec 15#64
sorted!!!
jinsta
30 Dec 15#65
Dont work. My car was cat'd - doesnt say nowt. Also on another car shows the wrong colour. Not a proper hpi checker so cold!
bartmcsimpson
30 Dec 15#66
heat from me, great tip! hpi check only told me previous reg was write off, Cat D doesn't need to be on V5, so this way was quick and easy for me
118luke
30 Dec 15#67
Dont know why, but this post makes me want to listen to
very useful and very easy to find out if the is categorised. never buy cat A or cat B cars biggest regrets cars worth pennys. YOU rather pay extra then losing thousands of ££££££££££. Always do a full hpi check.
mrspydey
30 Dec 15#69
WOW THANKS A LOT :smile:
Top.Tip
30 Dec 15#70
Great post - very helpful and it works!
J4GG4
30 Dec 15#71
Slightly adjusted the steps as the autotrader website changed slightly it seems.
DJD1801
30 Dec 15#72
Hi I have found a used car Audi and carried out a HPI RAC check as meant to be buying tomorrow morning. Rac shows not an import and all checks good. However further down on the RAC report they state it is an import . Gutted clean car or at least it seems to be . Don't want to loose out on it but more importantly I don't want to get stung either . Any advise would be greatly appreciated
fc101
30 Dec 15#73
many thanks just checked this as about to buy a car which came up as cat D they said it had a cosmetic repair but not so sure about it now as its for an 18 year old and the insurance will be steep enough in price without having to say by the way its a cat D it doesn't need much for the price to go up, thanks alot this was a fab bit of information although i have got a young lady in tears to contend with right now.
J4GG4
30 Dec 15#74
Its a myth that insurance goes up if a vehicle is a CAT D or C. Someone is spreading a load of old lies and its unfortunately caught on like wild fire. The ONLY difference it makes (And thats if the insurance company is on the ball) is if you had a claim in it, then they MAY value the car a tad less than normal. Really you have nothing to worry about with CATD or C vehicles, as long as the repair has been done to good standard then you will be fine. I've never heard of any case where a car was was involved in a accident (after a prev accident repair) and considered structurally weaker due to previous accident. Most parts are replaceable on a car including body panels, rear quarters..etc.
leasha
1 Feb 16#75
this cat c thing confuses me. recently my car was hit while parked. only damage was to the back right pannel. its now been written off as a cat c, and I've bought it back at the salvage price. from what I've been told by the accessor is that cat c does not get logged anymore, I don't even need to declare it if I ever sold it and all I need to do is fix it. I've even spoken to my insurance company (as I went through a different insurance company as it was a non fault claim) and they said all it need now a days was a new mot and all is fine. is this right? how come it's not logged anymore?
It will be marked as a CAT C for sure, but i think now you no longer need to repair the vehicle and take it to the DVLA to check the vin over (vic check). I believe that process has now been scrapped. But it will still show the mark as a CAT C and it will show it on the log book. CAT D's are not marked on the log book.
Telis
4 Sep 16#78
Good advice, it works
opaninkofi
1 Oct 16#79
Thanks Op, I just saved a friend from picking up a cat C car tomorrow.
Khairul
3 Oct 16#80
Thanks! Very useful.
meh_4322
14 Oct 16#81
thanks man, great help
Splashmo
19 Dec 16#82
Cheers. Couldn't remember if my car was a C or a D. This little trick confirmed it's a D.
Whitey153
19 Feb 17#83
Class works perfect
Jayjay0019
23 Jun 17#84
thanks very helpful I owe u a drink
jack.jumpin
6 Jul 17#85
Sweet still working
opaninkofi
6 Jul 17#86
i have one free hpi check remaining which so if you need a detailed report of a car let me know and I will check it for you. cheers
Summer.Lil to opaninkofi
6 Sep 17#87
I would be really grateful for this, if it hasn't gone already?
![Fresh Breakfast Meat Box (Using code) @ Campbells Meat [Haggis / Lorne Sausage / Bacon / Black Pudding & More]](/images/topics/208684_1.jpg)
![[Xbox One] Q. u. b. e: Director's Cut on Deals with Gold](/images/topics/208716_1.jpg)
Opening post
Go over to:
1. autotrader.co.uk/
2. Highlight 'SELL MY CAR' at the top
3. Click on 'SAFELY SELL MY CAR'
4. Scroll down and click the green button that says 'SELL YOUR CAR'
5. Type the REG, mileage, choose private seller. Then create ad
At this stage it should auto pick up the car details for you, if it doesn't you're out of luck with getting a quick free HPI check. However if all is well carry on to the next step by clicking NEXT.
6. On the right hand side you will see a column. Under 'Your Advert' it will tell you if it is a Insurance right off by displaying the letter D or C next to the asking price of the car. If you cannot see any 'C' or 'D' then its likely a clean car.
To test it out......
Go on to ebay or such like and find a CAT D or C car. Note down the reg on the pictures and put it into the autotrader website to see for yourself. Works only for most cars, not vans or anything else. Purely cars.
Of course......
Autotrader get their info from experian, which is one of the top HPI companies that hold information about all vehicles. However, of course, it will NOT tell you if a car has finance or any other info you may need to know. I'd advise that if you're still nervous about buying a used vehicle, then do a proper FULL hpi check ie.. from hpi.co.uk or confused.com (who use hpi.co.uk system). Its expensive but also gives you information about any mileage discrepancies as well.
The idea of this quick check is to hopefully pull up some red flags before you've even wasted money on a full HPI check.
Hope it helps.
All comments (87)
:heart_eyes:
"2 Your advert"
But I can't see the section where it gives the Cat D or C. All it has is a box asking for my selling price and below it has a suggested price. On the right it allows to edit the previous details. Have I missed something.
Category A: scrap only. For cars so badly damaged, there are few or no salvageable parts. Should never re-appear on road.
Category B: body shell should be crushed. Signifies extensive damage, although some parts are salvageable. Should never re-appear on road.
Category C: the vehicle is repairable but the costs exceed the vehicle’s value. Can re-appear on road.
Category D: the vehicle is repairable but repair costs are significant compared to the vehicle value. Can re-appear on road.
Source: RAC - what is an insurance write off
Works on Motorbikes too! :smile:
Have found this myself and now hpi everything
Handy check to save you having a wasted journey (_;)
Hot
Appreciate that not all write-offs get recorded but I would like to think there is only one central database that all these firms get their data from.
I think the autotrader method really is a rough guide line, so do not take it as a guarantee but its there to help out if you really dont want to pay £20 for a full HPI or the journey is a long way away.
Cars can be written off and not be recorded, so really the average person will not know if a car has been in a crash or not or if its been repaired properly or not..etc.
Cat b are breakable only, heavy chassis damage, high repair cost exceeding 4x the PAV, roof cut off etc, some insurers don't allow you to retain, however there is no law against retaining a cat B.
Cat c is when the repair cost outweighs the value of the vehicle.
Cat d is a constructive total loss. Simply due to repair costs being under or borderline but once salvage value is applied it's a total loss. Most insurers only repair up to 75% of the PAV.
no one else says it's a wright off?
Its something to go by as a free quick guide. Do not take it too seriously.
Although when i checked my volvo it came up as A/B !WTH,when it is actually a cat'D'
[url=]'Cat D' by George the Poet
never buy cat A or cat B cars biggest regrets cars worth pennys.
YOU rather pay extra then losing thousands of ££££££££££. Always do a full hpi check.
Source: RAC - what is an insurance write off[/quote]