CAT D/ confusion ....help!

Sorry if wrong section or even wrong website     
Hi
Recently a mate of mine rang me up to say he had seen this Focus that had slight damage to the front. In hindsight now I so wish I had gone with him and feel very guilty about it
Anyway.
He went to purchase the car and bought it for ?400 (2000 zetec) . The log book was with it but no service history etc.
We worked on it for a few days and after a week apart from the odd dent which was very minor it was ready for its MOT.
DISASTER!
The damage underneath was severe with arms bent, steering rack + the whole exhaust was wrecked. It looked to me and the MOT inspector that it had mounted a high curb or something similar and just bent the whole underside. Whether this had been in the crash or not I do not know but I suspect so.
The damaged parts will come to around ?300, but a huge amount of labour is required. With ?250 spent already + ?300 needed on top of the ?400 we are now on ?950 and re spray still needs to be done + all four wheels are borderline and front pads too but they did pass.
The damage was so severe I checked with the DVLA and surprise it was a CAT D. There was no evidence to support this that was given to him all he got was a ?Sold as seen? receipt and a log book but no mention of a CAT D.
So it seems my mate in one way or another has been sold a ?Dog?.
Now this is my question to you guys as I keep getting conflicting views on a CAT D. It seems that it?s the lowest form of damage that could be finance as to give the customer a hire car exceeds the damage repair etc so it?s more of a finance write off if you see what I mean. Does it still need a VIC?
Can it be driven once an MOT has been passed and/or if not can it be advertised on E-bay etc but description as a CAT D but has been repaired?
Some say NO, as long as it passes it?s MOT on a CAT D it is as if it?s a normal car and a VIC is not needed…Some say YES a VIC is needed and it must be described as a CAT D and if to be sold on from the owner needs another test a very detailed one (the name escapes me) before it can be sold on.
Can anyone enlighten me on this?  ops:

I have put this on several web sites to get views

http://www.datachecks.…surancelosscategories.htm

Cat D is fine, repair Mot and use.

But once repaired MOT etc can it be sold on in the normal manner without cat d on log book etc.

When you apply for the log book it should say Cat D on it and will always come up on an HPI check.  Cat D is usually a cheap way of getting a not too bad car e.g. stolen/recovered etc.
If it still works out cheap once the repairs have been done just drive and enjoy cheap motoring.

I believe that for about ?100 you can get it inspected and the cat D removed from HPI.

Didn't think the log book had cat d put on it.

*Removed*

That is fantastic. And thanks very much.

One more thing if i may.

I have a Cat C but it is MOT'd and VIC tested as Fine, however being a C is it legal like a Cat D to sell it on with no other investigations needed?

Thanks

lhasadreams said

I believe that for about ?100 you can get it inspected and the cat D removed from HPI.

Didn't think the log book had cat d put on it.

yes but this is a fine tooth comb job. i was told they inspect the vehicle for 4 Hours!!!!!
Anything and i mean anything it can fail on which is why on a D it is not compulsary as the MOT is ample due to it having light damage.

In fact i have heard that perfectly almost un-damaged cars will be written off due to finance.
Further investigations i have found that in one case a smashed headlight but no other damage (probably vandals) was enough .

great bargains to be had under a Cat D i think

JackAttack said

In fact i have heard that perfectly almost un-damaged cars will be written off due to finance.
Further investigations i have found that in one case a smashed headlight but no other damage (probably vandals) was enough .

great bargains to be had under a Cat D i think

Very true, there was a salvage dealer I found a while ago had 4 BMW's in BRAND NEW unregistered, delivery mileage.  There had been a fire in the adjoining warehouse and they had 'smoke damage'.  Not a single flame touched them but ash had fallen on them, they still looked immaculate and had no paint damage but were cat D as no-one wanted to buy a 'new' car like that.  

Crazy really.  Do you wonder why our insurance premiums are so high  :roll:

surely you would want them to look over it with a fine tooth comb to make sure that the car is 100% A ok, it seems as though you are wanting to just bodge the car so that its looks ok when really there are more problems with it that would only come up with a detailed check.

Its things like this that give accident damaged cars a bad name.

Personally I repair everything that is wrong with them and if all you are after is advise on how to con people and get away without telling them its a write off you should be ashamed.
 
From what you have said this is the impression I get, I am sorry if i have got the wrong end of the stick, but i have seen so many people bodge cars in the past and ive had many innocent people come and have to spend alot more money on the cars buying parts from me to fix it due to people being inconsiderate and bodging cars to look alright when really they arent.

R11ysf said

When you apply for the log book it should say Cat D on it and will always come up on an HPI check.  Cat D is usually a cheap way of getting a not too bad car e.g. stolen/recovered etc.
If it still works out cheap once the repairs have been done just drive and enjoy cheap motoring.

Im currently dealing with a 'staged accident'deception involving 2 cars that were written offin a previous crash. Neither had any 'condition alerts' is Cat D or C on them and after consulting DVLA they didn't have a record of them being written off either. It could have been a simple error by a clerk but it highlights that the Cat system isn't infalable.

Dano said

Not all damaged cars are recorded as damaged. cat d ususally is stolen insurance paid out and recovered at a later date cat c is beyond economical repair which will also include hire car fees etc so its not just down to the damage sustained by the car

TopCAD51 said

surely you would want them to look over it with a fine tooth comb to make sure that the car is 100% A ok, it seems as though you are wanting to just bodge the car so that its looks ok when really there are more problems with it that would only come up with a detailed check.

Its things like this that give accident damaged cars a bad name.

Personally I repair everything that is wrong with them and if all you are after is advise on how to con people and get away without telling them its a write off you should be ashamed.
 
From what you have said this is the impression I get, I am sorry if i have got the wrong end of the stick, but i have seen so many people bodge cars in the past and ive had many innocent people come and have to spend alot more money on the cars buying parts from me to fix it due to people being inconsiderate and bodging cars to look alright when really they arent.

What the Hell are you on about me trying to con people. What a remark to make…..Incredible


Wrong end of the stick indeed. In fact wrong end of the Tree!

  

ye sorry sort of went off on one there didn't I.