A salvage history check searches available auction records linked to a vehicle. It can reveal an earlier listing, recorded damage and photographs showing the car's condition at that time. An auction appearance does not automatically mean the car was written off or seriously damaged.
Enter the UK registration above to start your vehicle check. Salvage history is included in our paid full vehicle report. Review the report options and current price before purchase, then use any returned auction information alongside the seller's paperwork. Records and photos depend on the data available for that vehicle.
When a matching auction record is available, the salvage section can include the following details. Not every listing contains every field.
Find the recorded listing date and compare it with ownership, repair and MOT paperwork. A listing is not proof that a sale completed.
View photographs retained with an auction listing, where available. They show the vehicle at that time and may help identify areas to inspect.
Read the damage description supplied with the listing. It may identify affected areas, but it is not a complete engineering assessment.
Compare the listing's recorded mileage with dated MOT readings. Investigate discrepancies and check whether the figures use miles or kilometres.
Where vehicle identifiers are supplied, compare them with the car and its documents to help establish that the record relates to the right vehicle.
Some records contain photos and detailed notes; others contain fewer details. No matching record does not prove a car has never been damaged.
See the auction location where supplied. This identifies the listing location, which may differ from where damage occurred or repairs took place.
Read any category supplied with the record alongside the report's insurance write-off result. Auction labels and insurance categories are not interchangeable.
The UK insurance write-off categories are A, B, S and N. Auction operators may also use labels such as U and X. These describe different things and should not be treated as a single scale from minor to serious damage.
| Category | Meaning | Can It Return to the Road? |
|---|---|---|
| Cat A | Vehicle designated for complete destruction. | No. The entire vehicle must be crushed; parts must not be reused. |
| Cat B | Vehicle cannot be repaired for road use; some parts may be salvaged. | No. The body shell must be crushed. Some parts may be reused but the vehicle cannot return to the road. |
| Cat S | Structural damage, but repairable. | Yes, if repaired to a roadworthy condition. The category alone does not establish repair quality. |
| Cat N | Repairable non-structural damage. This can still involve safety-critical components. | Yes, if repaired to a roadworthy condition. Non-structural does not mean minor or purely cosmetic. |
| Cat U | An auction label. Copart uses U for vehicles not categorised as insurance write-offs. | Depends on the vehicle's condition and history. A U listing can describe an ordinary used vehicle or a damaged one. |
| Cat X | An auction label. Copart uses X for stolen/recovered vehicles with minimal damage. | Assess the specific listing and vehicle condition. Check the auction operator's definition rather than assuming the label guarantees no damage. |
Category definitions: GOV.UK explains A, B, S and N; auction operators define their own additional labels. Older records may use C or D. Neither an auction label nor a clear write-off result guarantees that a car has no damage history.
The two terms are often used interchangeably, but they describe different things and understanding the distinction matters when assessing used car risk.
An insurance write-off record identifies a vehicle recorded as a total loss. Its category helps explain whether it must be destroyed or may be repaired. Check the report's insurance result rather than relying only on an auction description.
An auction record documents a listing. It may concern a damaged car, a theft recovery or an ordinary used vehicle. Some listings have an insurance write-off category and others do not. Review the description and photographs in context.
A vehicle's current appearance may not show its earlier condition. Auction records can help you ask specific questions about previous damage and repairs. They are evidence to investigate, rather than a verdict on whether the car is safe to buy.
Use the results to investigate these points before agreeing a purchase:
The insurance category, roadworthiness and the individual insurer's terms matter. An auction listing by itself does not settle these questions.
Category A and B vehicles must not return to road use. Category A requires the whole vehicle to be crushed; Category B requires the body shell to be crushed, although some parts may be salvaged.
Category S and N vehicles may return to use if repaired to a roadworthy condition. Repairs do not turn the original write-off event into a vehicle with no recorded history.
Insuring a Category S or N vehicle requires checking the specific insurer's acceptance criteria and quote. Provide accurate answers about the vehicle and ask what repair documentation is required.
On resale, describe the vehicle's known history accurately and retain supporting documents. Do not describe it as accident-free on the strength of a clear report alone.
DVLA paperwork differs by category. GOV.UK says an owner retaining a Category S vehicle must send the log book to the insurer and apply for a duplicate using form V62. An owner retaining a Category N vehicle can keep the log book. Follow the current guidance for the specific situation.
Use the auction information to guide a physical inspection. A professional assessment can investigate issues that are not visible in listing photographs or a routine viewing.
When inspecting a car with known or suspected salvage history, look for:
Compare the vehicle's identity with the available record before interpreting its history. Where a VIN is shown, check it against the car and the V5C log book. A registration number alone may not resolve every question about a vehicle's identity.
If identifiers do not match, ask the report provider to investigate. Possible explanations include an entry error or a record-matching problem; do not assume fraud from a mismatch alone. An engine replacement does not by itself change a vehicle's VIN.
Check the identifiers before relying on photographs, mileage or category information. If a record cannot be confidently linked to the car, resolve that uncertainty before proceeding.
Compare dated auction entries with the available MOT results and mileage readings. MOT history records test outcomes; it does not document every repair or establish the quality of previous bodywork repairs.
A gap in MOT records can have several explanations, including a period off the road. It does not establish deliberate concealment. Likewise, a consistent mileage timeline does not prove that repairs were carried out correctly.
Our salvage history check is included in the paid full vehicle report. You can review available auction information alongside other checks, including:
Read each section separately: no matching salvage record does not cancel a finance or write-off alert. Check the current report options and price before purchase. Data availability varies, and no vehicle history report can establish a car's present mechanical condition.
Yes. Enter the UK registration in the form on this page to start a vehicle check. Salvage history is included in our paid full vehicle report. Results depend on matching records being available for the vehicle.
No. A write-off check looks for recorded insurance total losses; a salvage check looks for available auction listings. A vehicle can appear in one source without appearing in the other. Our paid full report includes salvage history alongside the insurance write-off check.
Salvage history is included in our paid full vehicle report. Enter the registration and review the current report price and included checks before purchasing. Starting a registration lookup does not mean the full salvage report is free.
Where photographs are retained in a matching auction record, the report can show the vehicle at the time of listing. Not every record includes photos. Images may help identify previous damage, but they cannot confirm the quality of later repairs.
No. It means no matching salvage record was returned from the data searched. Damage may never have led to an auction listing, and some listings may be unavailable. Review the report's other checks, ask for repair paperwork and inspect the car.
If you believe a record relates to the wrong vehicle or contains an error, contact the report provider with supporting evidence and ask it to investigate with the data source. Repairing a vehicle does not erase a genuine historical event, but suspected data errors should be investigated.
It can affect both, but the impact depends on the vehicle, recorded damage, repairs and insurer. Obtain an insurance quote and compare similar vehicles before buying. An auction listing alone does not establish a fixed loss in value or a particular insurance premium.