Cat A and Cat B explained: the cars that never come back

Category A and Category B are the two write-off categories you must never buy to put back on the road. Here is exactly what they mean and why.

BASICS · 3 min read

Category A: scrap only

Cat A is the most severe. The entire vehicle must be crushed, including every part. Nothing can be salvaged or reused, not even a wing mirror. These usually appear after severe fires or catastrophic damage. You will not see Cat A cars sold for repair, and you should never try.

Category B: body shell destroyed

Cat B means the body shell must be crushed, but some parts can be removed and reused in other vehicles. A Cat B car can never legally return to the road as a whole car. Breakers buy them for parts. If a seller offers you a Cat B to rebuild and drive, walk away, it is illegal.

How to spot them at auction

Copart and other UK salvage sites label the category clearly on the lot. Cat A and Cat B lots are typically listed as parts or non-repairable. If the title status says non-repairable or Certificate of Destruction, that is your signal to only consider it for parts, if at all.

Why this matters for buyers

People occasionally buy a cheap Cat B thinking they can rebuild it. You cannot register it, insure it or MOT it as a road car. You would be left with an unregisterable shell. Stick to Cat S and Cat N for anything you intend to repair and sell.

The safe rule

Only Cat S and Cat N cars go back on the road. Cat A gets crushed whole, Cat B gets crushed after parts are stripped. If you are flipping, filter these out before you even open the Analyzer.

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