How much does a write-off marker knock off a car's value?
A Cat S or Cat N marker reduces resale value, but by how much? Realistic percentages by category and how to price your exit.
SELLING · 3 min read
The headline numbers
As a rule of thumb, a repaired Cat N sells for around 75 to 85 percent of a clean equivalent, and a repaired Cat S for around 60 to 75 percent. The exact figure depends on the model, the quality of repair and how strong demand is for that car.
Why the discount exists
Buyers price in three things: the stigma of a write-off, the risk of a hidden or poor repair, and the harder insurance and finance that comes with the marker. The bigger those frictions, the deeper the discount, which is why Cat S runs lower than Cat N.
What moves the discount
Desirable, in-demand models hold value better because buyers are willing to overlook the marker. Rare or slow-selling models get discounted harder. A clean, documented repair with an MOT lifts the price toward the top of the range. A tatty rebuild drags it to the bottom.
How to price your exit
Do not guess. Find sold examples of the same model with the same category, ideally completed eBay or Autotrader sales, and anchor to those. The Analyzer does this for you, setting the projected resale from real salvage-history sold comps rather than clean-car prices.
The flipping angle
The discount is only a problem at resale. At the auction, the salvage discount is often deeper than the resale discount, and that gap is your margin. Buy well below the rebuilt resale value and the marker works in your favour.