Buying a CAT-D car

[Grub2000]

I am looking at getting a roller that turns out to be a Cat-D write off.

Can this happen due to an engine failure?

What is involved in registering a Cat-D for road use?

Is the Cat-D rating ever lost? (i.e. will it devalue the car regardless of repairs?)

[rx-dave]

A Cat d car will have been damaged / repaired.
You\'ll need to MOT, insure and road tax and that\'s all. If there\'s no V5 you\'d need this to tax so build in a possible 6 week wait for the new V5.
Cat d remains with the car forever.
If it\'s a bargain and repaired to a decent standard it\'s all down to the buyer but will also be worth around 30% less. Also be aware that it\'ll cost the same as a straight car to insure but you\'ll get around a 50% lower payout if you are unlucky enough to crash it or it gets stolen.
Dave.

[Grub2000]

OK thanks.

I guess the main issue is being able to find out what the damaged was.

[rx-dave]

To be honest a Cat D may be very little if the garage based an estimate on new Mazda supplied parts. If it\'s a rolling shell it\'ll be worth holding out for a straight one as there are usually a few good ones available on here. Have a look over it and make your decision on the quality and the price :chat
Dave.

[Grub2000]

I decided not to bother. For the price I could get one that isn\'t cat d.

Thanks for the help rx-dave.

FWIW its one listed by rx_spares on eBay. I will see if they edit their listing before reporting it.

[Mir]

Hi Mate

How did you find out that, it was a CAT D car? Actually, I just a bought a car, which I was told to be a CAT-D, but when I checked the Log Book, there was nothing mentioned to effect that.

I am going to do a HPI check today to find out the reality.

Just sharing my experience.

Cheers
Mir

[Grub2000]

Just spent £15 on an RAC HPI check.

[rx-dave]

I\'ve dealt with that seller and to be fair to him he\'s a decent guy and never once sold me any bad bits so he may not know. If he\'s only selling a shell I\'m not sure you\'d need to declare this as it\'s not technically a car as it\'s only parts.
Dave.

[Grub2000]

That\'s fine. He did seem genuine and said he didn\'t know. That said any future purchasers should know. Especially as it states it\'s got no crash damage.

[Grizzly]

Just out of interest, where on the log book would it say if its Cat C/D etc? I understand that if a Car is written off by the Insurance even if you buy it back they retain the Logbook (they don\'t pay out until they have it in there possession), So in theory if you buy a car and it has a log book then it is transferred over and there is no Cat C or D on it how does that stand? I know cat C needs to be tested etc but does that mean a cat D can be put back on the road without any test or check?

Personally i have always done a HPI check on any cars i buy and for what it costs (£6 or some thing like that) you don\'t get any Nasty surprises, but it does Interest me as i used to Work in a Bodyshop and saw my fair share of cars go to the Salvage Auctions so i know the score to that point but i never attempted to buy one myself..... I do know that allot of cars like FD\'s will get written off very easy and once on that list i think its there for good.

[RobMatthews]

It might not necessorily be damaged car, could have been stolen or involved in flood damage, still as said it devalues the car and there are plenty about

[Grizzly]

The other thing you might find is a number of Insurance company won\'t cover Total loss cars on the list and the ones that do often want more money or an Engineers report or Both.

[Natthapon]

Just to note the log book won\'t mention CAT- D on it.. I had a CAT-D M3 and log book doesn\'t state it..
 
Mir if its the purple Single turbo you bought recently then yes that car is a cat-d don\'t waste your money HPI..