Insurance Claim Categories

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Insurance Claim Categories

Category A

May not be resold. Must be crushed. Total burnout or flood damage (salt or foul water).

Severely damaged with no serviceable parts, or already stripped out shell.

DVLA require "Notification of Destruction".

Category B

May not be resold. Damaged beyond economical repair, usually with severe structural damage.

DVLA require "Notification of Destruction".

Parts can be removed and sold.

Category C

Repairable salvage. Usually applies to vehicles with significant (structural) damage, where cost of repairs exceeds book value.

Can be sold for repair but must now have VIC inspection before returning to the road.

Recorded as "Category C" at DVLA. Category C vehicles' V5 documents are returned to DVLA.

You re-apply for registration on the original identity once the VIC inspection has done.

VIC inspection and re-registration removes the Category C classification, but evidence it was at one time Category C remains on the vehicle's record at DVLA (and HPI and AA and the others).

VIC inspection

Straight from VOSA's web site "[The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) carry out the VIC. It’s designed to confirm the car’s identity and helps ensure that the genuine car is returned to the road. It takes around 20 minutes to complete and involves comparing the details on the DVLA vehicle record, against the car presented. The VIC is a check of identity, it doesn’t formally assess the quality of the repair or confirm roadworthiness. If you have any concerns regarding these aspects, you should seek the opinion of an independent expert.

Once a car has passed a VIC the V5C issued will be annotated to show "substantially repaired and or accident damaged; identity checked on dd/mm/ccyy".

To check if a VIC marker is set you can contact VOSA on 0300 123 9000. VOSA can only conduct a VIC on a car that has a VIC marker set against the DVLA vehicle record.

A VIC is available at 57 VOSA locations. You’ll need to complete a VIC1 application form and submit it to VOSA, together with the correct fee. Full instructions and the ‘Terms and Conditions’ are provided on the VIC1 form. You’ll be notified of an appointment once VOSA has processed your application.

VOSA Vehicle Identity Check test stations (VIC): http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Dl1/Directories/UsefulContactsByCategory/MotoringContacts/DG_069953

More info here: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/BuyingAndSellingAVehicle/AdviceOnBuyingAndSellingAVehicle/DG_4022107 ).

Category D

Repairable salvage. Minimal damage, probably not structural, but insurer does not want to repair, even though it might be economic to do so.

Often stolen and recovered after claim has been paid. Or for unusual models or grey imports where the difficulty of obtaining new parts hinders a quick repair.

Does not need VIC inspection to return to road. Recorded with HPI, AA, and the like.

Category X

Insurance-speak for 'Not Recorded', but subject to some claim and sold on by them as repairable salvage.

Not recorded on registers at HPI, AA, .. or known at DVLA.

Very light damage, or vehicle is fairly new. Requires minimal repair work.

"Not Recorded"

Not an official category, this is what you may see in a private advert.

Usually means the owner only had third party insurance and they stuffed it themselves, so can't claim for it.

Naturally, they aren't telling their insurance company - and they haven't told DVLA. Might be a total wreck, might be fixable.

But - since DVLA don't know about it - there is no requirement for any inspection. Buying something like this, you are on your own, and you'd better know what you are doing mechanically.