I've seen a cheap Octavia which is Cat C damaged. The sale includes all the parts to fix it apparently. What's involved in buying a Cat C car? Any problems with insurance?

What is it that you've seen Martin? Are you going to come into the light from the dark side and drive a petrol?

will need a vic check and mot once fixed

it will also req this new vin check done by dvla

insurance premuims are higher

need to go have a good look at it make sure nothing twisted!!!

got any pics of said car??

What is it that you've seen Martin? Are you going to come into the light from the dark side and drive a petrol?

The Verso has to go...its costing a fortune to run (in terms of PETROL! ) and the bloody radio doesn't work. However I could still get £2500 for it. I'd like to buy a cheap Octy diesel estate. I've seen a great looking one with some superficial damage, but wondered what problems there might be with a car that's been technically written off.

Swmbo won't drive it until its fixed though...and doesn't really want another car as large as the Octavia. Fabia diesels in our price range are rare indeed, she'd rather have a bloody petrol Fabia than a diesel Octavia.

Ideally she'd like a Fabia diesel vRS but that's more than twice our budget, even used.

pics are on their way Clive....just uploading now.

Damage appears to be just the driver's door and the offside front wing. Doesn't look anything major.

You will need a VIC inspection before it can go back on the road and even then only the VIC marker is removed. The Cat C marker cannot be removed so it may be difficult to sell on.

Cat C means that it can be safely repaired - it's just not economic to do so.

It may need rejigging as well as parts replacing. Unless you are in a position to assess the damage, then walk away.

Insurance is not a problem but you must inform your insurer. You can insure the vehicle for whatever value you like, but you have to remember that in the event of a claim you will only get the market value. A repaired Cat C will be worth less than the equivalent non-Cat C car and is far more likely to be written off if it is in an accident.

Well if I understand correctly, it could be VIC inspected as it stands, as it actually doesn't seem to need any repairs, the damage is cosmetic isn't it?

Vehicle Identity Check = VIC, they don't inspect the quality of the repair, just that the car has not been ringed or repaired with stolen parts, that looks like it could be VICd as is. Get receipts for everything you replace, inspect the wishbone on that side, drive around in circles (left and right) will help confirm the steering is as it should be.

Check the fuel tank connections as they drain fuel out and sometimes don't put the lines back as they should....................

easy reapir wouldnt have bent anything door and wing from scrappy for £50

if your going to keep it well worth it as it wont be easy to sell on

if its really cheap then do it ;-)

easy reapir wouldnt have bent anything door and wing from scrappy for £50

if your going to keep it well worth it as it wont be easy to sell on

if its really cheap then do it ;-)

It's better than that Clive, the parts required to repair it are included in the sale!

How much does the check cost before I can put it back on the road?:wonder:

How much does the check cost before I can put it back on the road?:wonder:

IIRC, It's about £40

IIRC, It's about £40

That's great, thanks!

Does not look too bad but will be hard to resell.

Does not look too bad but will be hard to resell.

If he takes pics of the before and after damage I doubt anyone here would care, plenty of these cars had similar damage much earlier in there lives and have no V5 marker simply because they have a higher market value at the time. Also bear in mind the owner didn't want to sell at the time of the accident and therefore the running gear should be in better condition than something partex'd because its racking up big bills.

Make sure when you view the car that the seller hasn't already replaced suspension components with used to cover up more extensive damage. Personally I'd rather buy from the salvage auctions direct, as apart from the fuel drain issues previously mentioned what you see is what you get, you buy them as they arrive at the auction house. Some people buy from the auction and give the chasis a pull and sell on quickly just needing panelling up, take a really good look!

If it's cheap enough and your gonna keep it then do it. As said before it'll be hard to sell on and won't be worth a lot as it'll state on the log book that it's been a cat c write off.

Well it looks like this is a no go. Trying to explain it all to SWMBO last night. She won't drive it, and doesn't like driving mine ("too masculine"! FFS ) I'd have been happy to pootle round in it...:yes:

Says it's not safe because it's written off, despite my explaining it's just a door and a wing.... It was advertised for £1395, including the parts to fix it, and I was hoping to haggle that down a bit.

However, she was happy to look at an identical spec car which was a year older, with 100k more on the clock, for £1995!

It transpires what she really wants is a smaller car like a Fabia. I want it to be diesel so that it's worth the bother of changing over (saving money on fuel costs etc) but she won't have anything older than an 02, and diesel fabia in this range under £2k are like hen's teeth. Oh, and it can't be tatty with worn seats, and no dents or scratches etc.

I give up! :p

I give up! :p

Time for a wife upgrade

Time for a wife upgrade

I did that about 8 years ago! Cost me more than any bloody car I've ever had!

It was a good try...nevermind...she is your SWMBO

52 plate fabia TDI? Should be relatively common on Ebay and similar?

52 plate fabia TDI? Should be relatively common on Ebay and similar?

Not for circa £2k with 100k miles or less, that's not tatty/dented. Or at the other end of the country.