CARCHECKHQ BUYING ADVICE

Salvage and auction history: what a basic check can miss

Why auction records and photos matter when buying a used car.

Insurance write-off categories such as Cat S and Cat N appear on many checks, but a car can also pass through salvage auctions with damage photos that a basic check never shows.

Auction records can show the recorded damage, the sale date and the mileage at the time of sale.

Missing photographs do not prove an absence of damage or even an absence of an auction record. Records may contain no images, the licence may restrict them, or the source may be unavailable. Read the coverage status in the report.

Compare any auction photos with the car in front of you. Look at panel gaps, paint colour, warning lights and the areas shown as damaged.

Use this guidance alongside the report coverage and limitations. See the sample vehicle report and report prices before choosing a check.

Further reading: GOV.UK checks when buying a used car.