‘Write-offs being scrapped unnecessarily’, survey claims

20 February 2026  

More than a third of ‘written-off’ Cat N vehicles were scrapped unnecessarily last year, according to latest industry analysis.

The Cat N classification can be applied when an insurer deems a car to be uneconomical to repair after the vehicle has sustained non-structural damage in an accident.

However, research by Revive! Auto Innovations indicates nearly 35% of Cat N vehicles could have been repaired using modern ‘SMART’ (small-to-medium area repair technique) processes.

Revive! said its research follows a freedom of information request to the DVLA and analysis of the salvage vehicle marketplace. The findings indicate that of the 262,339 cars written off in 2025, nearly 92,000 were scrapped unnecessarily by insurance firms rather than being repaired using the brand’s services.

‘Overestimate’

Many insurance assessors overestimate the various factors that go into repairing a vehicle, including the cost of repairs, availability of parts and the significance of the damage incurred to the vehicle, according to Revive!

A number of the vehicles assessed by Revive!’s team had only minor scrapes and dents that could have been easily repaired by the company’s network of over 250 IMI accredited technicians, the brand said.

“Instead, the vehicle was written off leading to a dramatic reduction in value should the car be resold following repairs. In many cases repaired categorised vehicles are valued at up to 50% less than undamaged models. There has been a dramatic increase in the number of categorised vehicles on sale, currently there are over 13,500 on Autotrader alone, with vehicles ranging from entry level Vauxhall Corsas to high end Lamborghini Huracans.”

Revive! MD Mark Llewellyn said: “It’s surprising to see the sheer number of vehicles sent to salvage auctions that Revive! could have repaired saving both the insurer and the owner a significant amount of financial and mental distress.”