Right,
when shops Categorise bikes as B or C or D…what does that mean?m
just been looking in the classifieds and someone was asking what Cat it is, C or D and the seller repsonded about it being downgraded because the guy in the store wanted it…what’s that all about?
Anyone?
Its salvage categories, if a vehicle is cat A it must be destroyed cat B it can be stripped for spares, cat c Moderate damage nothing dangerous structually, cat d light damage but more expensive to repair with new bits then vehicles worth.
If the bike is a write off there are 4 catogires if that is what u are reffering to:
A - to be scrapped and never seen a again
B - Frame damaged other bit can be used for parts
C - beyond economic repair
D - beyond economic repair (cosmetic only)
I think at least!
Muchos obliged dudes!
Actually one more question…
Who decides the Cat, is it official, or just up to the garage, or up to the insurer who takes a gander?
Cos that’ll certainly be useful to know for deciding on future purchases…
An inspecting engineer decides.
Im Barro,s Bikes case he came in a Hearse and was dressed as an Undertaker !! 
Don’t shoot the messenger Barra,
Just do everyone on here a MASSIVE favour:
Make the Black Cab driving bum PAY THROUGH THE NOSE!!!
FOr all of us, Make his insurance claim so high that he feels sick if he ever does a Blackie Yewie in the middle o Oxford Circus again without first checking then re-checking then checking again for any and all forms of two wheeled transport.
See the future with Barra on a new machine! Paid for completely and utterly by a cabbie…what a pleasant thought!
This is something I posted on another forum a while back. Can’t remember where I originally got it from.
UK Insurance Write-Off Categories
Considering buying a salvage write-off and fixing it up ? Tempting, if you are handy with the spanners. So what does “Cat C total loss” mean…
Briefly:
Category A - Must be crushed. All of it.
Category B - Vehicle may not be returned to road. Parts may be sold.
Category C - Repairable. Possibly structural damage. Cost of damage (at dealer prices and labour rates) is more than book value of vehicle.
Category D - Repairable. Probably non-structural damage. May have been economic to repair, but insurer doesn’t want to.
Category X - Repairable. Minor Danage.
In more detail:
Category A - May not be resold. Must be crushed. Total burnout or flood damage (salt or foul water). Severely damaged with no serviceable parts, or already stripped out shell. DVLA require “Notification of Destruction”.
Category B - May not be resold. Damaged beyond economical repair, usually with severe structural damage. DVLA require “Notification of Destruction”. Parts can be removed and sold.
Category C - Repairable salvage. Usually applies to vehicles with significant (structural) damage, where cost of repairs exceeds book value. Can be sold for repair but must now have VIC inspection before returning to the road. Recorded as “Category C” at DVLA. Category C vehicles’ V5 documents are returned to DVLA. You re-apply for registration on the original identity once the VIC inspection has done. VIC inspection and re-registration removes the Category C classification, but evidence it was at one time Category C remains on the vehicle’s record at DVLA (and HPI and AA and the others).
VIC inspection - Straight from VOSA’s web site “[The VIC] will involve comparing the vehicle presented against information held by DVLA, such as the vehicle identification number, make, model, colour and engine number. The VIC will also compare the record of previous accident damage with evidence of damage repair as well as checking other components to confirm the age and identity of the vehicle.”
Officially, the VIC does not check roadworthiness. If any significant defects are present, they can prevent it being used, but it is not a check of vehicle condition or roadworthiness. VIC tets centres in major towns, list on VOSA’s site. It costs £35 (early 2005).
Category D - Repairable salvage. Minimal damage, probably not structural, but insurer does not want to repair, even though it might be economic to do so. Often stolen and recovered after claim has been paid. Or for unusual models or grey imports where the difficulty of obtaining new parts hinders a quick repair. Does not need VIC inspection to return to road. Recorded with HPI, AA, and the like.
Category X - Insurance-speak for ‘Not Recorded’, but subject to some claim and sold on by them as repairable salvage. Not recorded on registers at HPI, AA, … or known at DVLA. Very light damage, or vehicle is fairly new. Requires minimal repair work.
“not recorded” - Not an official category, this is what you may see in a private advert. Usually means the owner only had third party insurance and they stuffed it themselves, so can’t claim for it. Naturally, they aren’t telling their insurance company - and they haven’t told DVLA. Might be a total wreck, might be fixable. But - since DVLA don’t know about it - there is no requirement for any inspection. Buying something like this, you are on your own, and you’d better know what you are doing mechanically.
This page is only a summary of the regulations and not a definitive statement of law. For the full story, see VOSA. This is the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency, formerly known as the Vehicle Inspectorate.
Cheers for that mate…
Cheers afroR6
Nice one!
