How to check a salvage car before you bid

Step 1: Read the listing properly

• Write-off category. Copart and IAA show it on the lot. Cat N and Cat S can go back on the road once repaired. Cat A and Cat B can't, ever (see Cat N vs Cat S).
• Keys and V5C. "No keys" means a locksmith or dealer bill. A missing log book means applying to DVLA for one before you can sell it smoothly.
• Start/drive status. "Runs and drives" usually only means it moved under its own power on the day. It isn't a promise that it's roadworthy.
• Every photo. Look for deployed airbags, warning lights on the dash, uneven panel gaps, water lines (flood damage), and missing parts such as catalytic converters, wheels or headlights.

Step 2: Run the free government checks

Our free car check does most of this in one place. You can also go straight to the official services:

• MOT history (DVSA): on GOV.UK. Every test result, the recorded mileage, failures and advisories. A mileage reading that goes down between tests is a red flag. Repeated advisories for corrosion often mean the damage isn't just the crash.
• Tax status and vehicle details (DVLA): on the vehicle enquiry service. Check the make, colour, engine size and date of first registration match the listing. A mismatch can mean a cloned or wrongly described car.
• Safety recalls (DVSA): use our recall search or the DVSA recall checker. Outstanding recalls are normally fixed free by a franchised dealer.
• Low Emission Zones: if you'll sell in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen or Dundee, run the reg through the Scottish vehicle emissions checker. Petrol cars need Euro 4 and diesels Euro 6 (see LEZ and resale).

Step 3: Decide if a paid history check is worth it

For a salvage car you're serious about, usually yes. A paid check costs roughly £10–£20 and looks for:

• Outstanding finance. A car with finance owing can belong to the finance company, not the seller.
• Stolen markers on the police national database.
• Previous write-offs. A car being sold as Cat N might have an earlier Cat S on record, which changes its value.
• Plate and colour changes, and mileage records from other sources, which help spot clocking and cloning.

Auction houses vet their stock, but a history check is still your own protection, and buyers will ask to see one when you sell. Keep the PDF and show it in your advert.

Step 4: Know the Cat S and Cat N paperwork

• Since 26 October 2015 there's no Vehicle Identity Check (VIC). A repaired Cat S or Cat N car doesn't need a government inspection to go back on the road. It does need to be roadworthy, with a valid MOT if it's three years old or more.
• DVLA records the write-off category on the V5C. For a Cat S car kept by its owner, the full log book goes to the insurer and the keeper applies for a free duplicate on form V62.
• Cat S and Cat N have been used since 1 October 2017, under the insurance industry's code of practice for salvage categorisation. Older cars may show Cat C or Cat D instead.
• Check the VIN on the car (windscreen base, door pillar or floor) matches the V5C and the listing. Use our VIN decoder to make sure it describes the right car.

Step 5: Check you can insure it

Get an insurance quote for the exact car before you bid, and tell the insurer about the write-off category. If you're asked and don't disclose it, a claim could be refused or the policy cancelled. Some insurers charge more for Cat S and Cat N cars and a few won't cover them, and your future buyers will run into the same thing, which is part of why categorised cars sell for less.

Step 6: Price the repair and the resale, then set a max bid

• Price the parts from the photos: headlights, sensors, airbags and radiators add up fast.
• Use real sold prices for the same model and category, not asking prices for clean cars.
• Put it all into the profit and max-bid calculator and don't go a pound over the max bid it gives you.

Quick checklist

1. Category, keys, V5C and start/drive status read
2. All photos checked for airbags, lights, flood and missing parts
3. MOT history and mileage checked
4. DVLA details match the listing
5. Recalls and LEZ checked
6. Paid history check run (finance, stolen, write-off history)
7. Insurance quote obtained
8. Max bid set in the calculator

Sources: GOV.UK "Scrapping your vehicle and insurance write-offs" (categories A, B, N and S; V62), DfT/DVLA announcement ending the VIC scheme (26 October 2015), ABI/LMA code of practice for the categorisation of motor vehicle salvage (categories S and N from 1 October 2017), DVSA MOT history and recall services, and mygov.scot Low Emission Zones guidance. Checked 28 October 2026. This is general guidance, not legal or financial advice.