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Written-off car check — Cat A/B & UK Cat S/N.

A written-off car can be repaired and sold on looking spotless. Check the VIN against write-off and accident records — Irish categories and the UK Cat S / Cat N markers seen on GB imports — before you pay a deposit.

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Written-off car check Ireland — Cat A/B and UK Cat S/N by VIN

Carlytics is a write-off and accident-history check for Irish used-car buyers. A written-off car can be repaired and sold on looking clean. Carlytics cross-references a car's VIN against write-off, insurance-loss and accident records where available — including the UK Cat S and Cat N markers commonly seen on GB imports — alongside mileage history, a stolen-vehicle check, recalls and the import trail. Full reports from EUR 8.90, one-time payment.

What this check is — and isn't. A write-off check relies on the damage having been reported and recorded, so a clean result is a strong positive sign but not an absolute guarantee — a crash repaired privately without an insurance claim may never have generated a marker. Pair the history check with an in-person inspection: the report catches recorded write-offs, a mechanic catches unreported repairs. We require the car's 17-character VIN and are not a registration-plate lookup.

A Write-Off Can Look Perfect in the Photos

When an insurer writes a car off, it does not always end at the scrapyard. Repairable write-offs are bought, fixed and sold on all the time — and a good body shop can make serious accident damage disappear from view. What survives the repair is the record: the marker logged against the vehicle when the insurer declared it a total loss. That record is exactly what a VIN history check is for, because it is the one thing a fresh respray cannot hide.

Irish Categories vs UK Cat S / Cat N

Ireland grades write-offs by severity, from cars that should never return to the road down to lighter, repairable damage. But because so many Irish used cars are GB imports, you will frequently meet the UK's labels instead. Cat S means repairable structural or chassis damage; Cat N means non-structural damage such as panels, lights or electrics; older imports may still carry Cat C or Cat D. A structurally repaired car (Cat S) demands far more scrutiny than a cosmetic Cat N — knowing which marker a car carries tells you how hard to look.

What a Write-Off Record Means for the Price

A recorded write-off does not automatically make a car a bad buy, but it should always change the price. A properly repaired, lightly graded write-off can be sound value if it is sold as such and priced below a comparable undamaged car. The trap is paying full undamaged money for a car whose history you never checked, or buying a structurally repaired car that was patched up cheaply. The record lets you negotiate from facts and insure the car correctly rather than discovering the truth at claim time.

The Full Picture, Not One Field

A write-off is rarely the only thing worth checking on an import. The full Carlytics report (EUR 8.90, one-time) pairs the write-off and accident check with mileage history and rollback detection, a stolen-vehicle database check, open safety recalls for your exact make and model, and the import and registration trail. A crash- damaged car is quite often a clocked car too — seeing both in one report is how you avoid buying someone else's problem.

What we check for when preparing a report

Carlytics is the largest online database of used vehicle records. It contains more than a billion data points from all over the world.

Damage

Damage

We check if the car has been in any accidents or had serious repairs. Damage can lower the car's value and cause safety problems. Our report helps you avoid cars with hidden damage that sellers might not tell you about.

Mileage rollbacks

Mileage rollbacks

We look for signs that the mileage might have been changed. Some sellers lower the mileage to make the car look newer. We check mileage records from different databases to make sure the numbers are honest.

Specs & equipment

Specs & equipment

We list the car's original features and equipment. This helps you see if anything is missing or changed. You'll know exactly what the car should have when it left the factory.

Safety

Safety

Manufacturers typically issue safety recalls to fix harmful defects. Make sure your car doesn't have any before taking it on the road and also learn its general safety rating.

Natural disaster

Natural disaster

Check if the vehicle has been damaged in floods, hurricanes, or other natural disasters.

Stolen car database

Stolen car database

We check police and insurance records to see if the car has been reported stolen. Buying a stolen car can lead to big legal and financial problems. Our report gives you peace of mind.

Photos

Photos

If available, we include old photos or auction pictures of the car. <br />These photos can show past damage, repairs, or changes that you might not notice in person.

Market value

Market value

We compare prices from many sources to show the car's fair market value.<br />This helps you know if the price is good or too high, so you can make a smart deal.

Trusted in 30+ countries worldwide

Carlytics aggregates vehicle data from 35+ European countries, pulling from national registries like Finnish Traficom (5M vehicles), Dutch RDW, Czech ISTP, and Danish DMR. Combined with NHTSA, EU Safety Gate recalls, and 348,000+ real listings, the database covers 900M+ vehicles.

Access data from national registries,
insurance databases, law enforcement and more.

Trusted Worldwide

Why Run a VIN Check Before Buying a Used Car?

An estimated 30-50% of used cars sold cross-border in Europe have tampered mileage. Carlytics catches odometer rollbacks, undisclosed accident damage, stolen-vehicle flags, and open safety recalls by scanning 900M+ records across 35+ countries -- all from a single 17-character VIN, starting free.

Don't risk thousands on a used car with hidden problems. A free VIN check takes seconds and can save you from costly surprises.

Detect Odometer Fraud

An estimated 30-50% of used cars in Europe have tampered mileage. A VIN history check reveals odometer rollback and mileage discrepancies that sellers try to hide.

Uncover Hidden Accident Damage

Structural damage from past accidents may not be visible during a physical inspection. A vehicle history report shows collision records the seller may not disclose.

Verify Stolen Vehicle Status

Over 600,000 vehicles are stolen in the EU each year, many resold across borders. Our stolen car database check confirms the vehicle is legally clear before you buy.

Check Cross-Border Import History

Vehicles imported from abroad may have different specs, undisclosed damage, or missing service records. Trace the full registration and import history with a VIN check.

Ready to check your vehicle?

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does it mean when a car is written off?
A car is written off when an insurer decides it is not economical or not safe to repair after damage — usually a crash, but also fire, flood or theft recovery. The insurer pays out and records the vehicle as a total loss. Crucially, a written-off car can still be repaired and put back on the road, which is how a car with a serious accident in its past ends up in a showroom looking clean. The write-off record is the paper trail that survives the repair.
What are the Irish write-off categories?
Ireland uses a category system to grade the severity of a write-off. The most severe grades cover cars so badly damaged they should be destroyed or stripped for parts and never returned to the road, while lesser grades cover cars that were repairable and can legitimately be driven again once fixed. The category tells you how bad the original damage was — a lightly graded write-off that was properly repaired is a very different proposition from a severely graded one, and you want to know which you are looking at before you buy.
What are UK Cat S and Cat N — and why do I see them on Irish cars?
Because so many used cars in Ireland are imported from Great Britain, you will often meet the UK's markers rather than Irish ones. Under the current UK system, Cat S (structural) means the car suffered structural or chassis damage that was repairable, and Cat N (non-structural) means the damage did not affect the structure — think panels, lights, electrics or cosmetic parts. Older UK write-offs may still show as Cat C or Cat D. A Cat S or Cat N car is legal to drive once repaired, but the marker stays on its history and affects its value and insurability.
Is it ever safe to buy a written-off car?
Sometimes — but only with your eyes open. A car with a lighter, non-structural write-off that was repaired to a proper standard can be a reasonable buy at the right (lower) price, and many are. The danger is buying one without knowing: paying full non-damaged money for a car that was quietly repaired, or buying a structurally repaired car that was bodged. If a car has a write-off record, insist on the repair history, have it inspected by an independent mechanic, and factor the marker into the price.
How does Carlytics check for write-offs?
A Carlytics report cross-references the car's VIN against write-off, insurance-loss and accident records where those records are available — including markers recorded against GB imports. Alongside the write-off check the report covers mileage history with rollback detection, a stolen-vehicle check, open safety recalls and the import trail, so you see the full risk picture rather than one field in isolation.
If the report shows no write-off, is the car definitely clean?
A clean result is a strong positive sign, but it is not an absolute guarantee. Write-off records depend on the damage having been reported and recorded — a crash that was repaired privately without an insurance claim may never have generated a marker anywhere. That is why a history check should sit alongside an in-person inspection: the report catches recorded write-offs the seller hopes you will not find, and a mechanic catches signs of unreported repairs.
How much does a write-off check cost in Ireland?
EUR 8.90 for the full report — one payment, no subscription, generated in about 60 seconds from the car's VIN. The free VIN check for basic specifications and active safety recalls is always available. Against the cost of unknowingly buying a badly repaired write-off, it is money well spent.