What Car? Q&A - What does Cat D mean?

Q: Please could you tell me what Cat D means in a used car advert?
Howard Clewes

A: It means the car has been written off in an accident.

A Category C or D write-off is one that insurers consider unecomonical to repair but one that could, given enough time in the workshop, be repaired and returned to the road.

Category A and B should never be returned to the road. A Category B write off is one that is so badly damaged it can only be used for the salvaging of spare parts, while a Category A is one that is sent to the crusher.

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