CARCHECKHQ REPORT GUIDE
Car write-off check: Cat S, Cat N and recorded damage
A write-off check looks for recorded insurance information. It can help you question a car's past, but it cannot uncover every accident or assess the quality of a repair.
Current coverage
The report can show a supplied write-off marker and category. Auction evidence is a separate source. An unknown category, unavailable source or missing record is not proof that the vehicle has never been damaged.
How to interpret coverage and missing informationRead the category and the evidence together
Category S describes repairable structural damage; Category N describes repairable non-structural damage. The category describes the recorded insurance classification, not the car's condition today. GOV.UK explains the different treatment of categories A, B, S and N.
CarCheckHQ does not infer accident dates, repair costs or damaged components from a generic insurance-history count. If a source supplies only a marker, the report cannot turn that into a detailed accident account.
A missing write-off record is not an accident-free certificate
Not every repair or incident produces an available insurance record. Auction descriptions and photographs, where separately supplied and licensed, may add context but do not establish the completeness or quality of repairs.
Ask for repair invoices and supporting photographs. Have concerns about structure, safety systems or workmanship assessed by a suitably qualified independent professional before deciding to buy.
Before you make a decision
- Read the write-off marker, category and source notes.
- Ask which repairs were made and request supporting documents.
- Arrange an appropriate inspection; do not judge repair quality from a category alone.
Common questions
Does Cat N mean only cosmetic damage?
No. It describes non-structural damage, not a promise that the damage was minor or that repairs are safe. The actual vehicle still needs assessment.
Can CarCheckHQ prove a car has never been in an accident?
No. The report shows available records and their limits. Unreported incidents and information outside connected-source coverage may not appear.
Further guidance
These links provide independent guidance. The coverage statement above describes what CarCheckHQ currently supplies.
Related reading
See how the report presents the evidence
The sample shows the layout and source notes, including unavailable sections. Its gallery illustrations are labelled; they are not real historical photographs.