WHY CATEGORY?
Why choose a Category Approved Car?
A Category car is simply a vehicle that has previously been involved in an insurance claim and was deemed uneconomical for the insurer to repair at the time.
This doesn’t mean the car was beyond repair. It simply means that, based on their own costs and policies, it wasn’t financially viable for the insurance company to carry out the work.
There are two main categories:
Category N
Non-structural damage such as body panels, trim, or cosmetic parts.
Category S
Structural damage that has since been professionally repaired.
In both cases, the vehicle can be safely repaired and returned to the road when the work is carried out to the correct standard.
Why do insurance companies write cars off?
Insurance companies don’t always write cars off because they’re unsafe. They write them off because of cost.
When an insurer assesses a damaged vehicle, they must factor in: Labour at main dealer rates, Genuine parts pricing, Hire car costs, Storage fees, Administration and claim handling, Potential depreciation costs
When all of this is added together, it can quickly exceed the value of the car.
At that point, it becomes cheaper for the insurance company to pay out and sell the vehicle on rather than repair it themselves.
The car is then repaired independently, outside of those inflated insurance costs, and returned to the road safely.
How Common are Category Vehicles?
A large proportion of vehicles on UK roads will have been involved in some form of accident during their lifetime.
Many of these are repaired quietly with no category record at all.
Category vehicles are simply the ones where the insurance company formally recorded the decision not to repair due to cost.
So in reality, many cars on the road have had similar or even more extensive repairs, just without the label.
What are the benefits of buying a Category Car?
Buying a Category Approved Car means you can enjoy:
✔ Significantly lower purchase price
Often thousands less than a standard retail equivalent
✔ Access to better cars for your budget
Newer models, higher spec, lower mileage
✔ Fully inspected and prepared vehicles
Every car is checked thoroughly before sale
✔ Full transparency
No hidden history, everything clearly explained
✔ Warranty included for peace of mind
Comprehensive RAC cover as standard
The Category Approved Standard
At Category Approved Cars, we don’t just sell category vehicles.
We approve them.
Whether we have carried out the repairs ourselves or are supplying a vehicle already professionally repaired, every car we sell is:
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Thoroughly inspected
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Fully HPI checked
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Supplied with a fresh MOT (where applicable)
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Accompanied by a detailed condition report
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Covered by a comprehensive RAC warranty
We only offer vehicles we would be happy to put our own families in.