Buying a car that has been written off

As accidents involving cars are at an all time high, the number of vehicles that are being written off is increasing every year. There are four categories that written off cars fall into. A and B category write offs mean that the car is damaged beyond repair and must be crushed. C and D category write offs mean that the car can be driven again if it is extensively repaired to a high standard. Most people who have had cars written off will not have the car repaired, instead they will opt for the value of the car at the time of the write off to be deposited into their account so they can buy a new car. Insurance companies are then able to sell them as scrap metal or in some cases sell the car at a reduced rate to recuperate some losses. This is when car dealers or auctions will buy them and then sell them on to mechanics or individuals to repair.

It is not against the law to buy a category C or D write off vehicle, as long as the MOT has been passed and it is repaired and tested extensively before the car is allowed back on the road. It is however illegal for a private seller or car dealer to withhold this information from you. In most cases the log book will tell you if the car has ever been involved in an accident and it is the responsibility of the seller to tell you the details correctly and tell you what happened and how bad it was.

There are many rogue sellers out there that are hiding this vital piece of information from buyers and getting away with it. The worse thing is that in most cases the previously written off cars that are being re-sold are not repaired properly and are unsafe to drive. Some of these write off cars have been involved in head on collisions that have caused the front half off the car to absorb the impact causing it to look like the ripple effect of a crushed can. Unless you were to look underneath the car or bonnet, you would never know. You should always carry out you own checks and for £20 you can find out the previous history, how many previous owners the car has had and any outstanding finance on it. All you need is the registration number! Don't believe dealers as they'll do anything for a quick sale and once they get your money you'll have a hard time getting it back.

Buyers are only told of this devastating news when the car is due for MOT or has been involved in a minor accident that involved repair. If you were to buy a car that was not as described or had information withheld, you should contact them direct to get your money back. If this fails you should seek legal advice. Always pay by credit card as you have more buyer protection than paying in cash. There are many organisations you can complain to if you feel you have been a victim with most proving successful in getting your money back.