Cat N write off

[Modmytop]

2003 Multispace, 2.0 HDi, 170k+ miles.
Got hit up back, slow speed. Damaged rear bumper only.
Long story short, her insurance settled. Offered £830 pre accident (probably fair). Said we could keep it, if they kept scrap value, 76 quid!
We did, but they declared it Cat N (non structural)) write off, as beyond economic repair.

When we looked at new ish car they tried to value Bingo. Offered £100 as Cat N. What is law about insurance write offs. I could have replaced bumper, but car would still have Cat N against it?

[cancunia]

AFAIK the Cat N will stay with the car, but it's perfectly legal to use it with valid MOT etc. As you've found out, the Cat N will will mean a lower value for resale / trade-in & insurance claims, maybe higher premiums for insurance as insurance companies seem to use any excuse possible to hike prices.
Sounds like you've not done too badly if the insurance gave you what you consider fair value & the trade-in is more than you paid for it.
I have heard of cars being re-classified but I'm not sure how easy that would be to do.

Looks like there are some people in business that will re-classify, if there's one, there are probably others too.

https://www.autolign.co.uk/

[ffrenchie]

You could sell it privately for more than the £100 you were offered with no legal problems. You are supposed to notify any buyer of it's status. If you have had your money out of it and are not bothered you could let it go for the £100, they will most likely scrap it or put it through auction to get rid of it.

[polar]

when you have a can N you have a keeper, its worth very little.

I did the same some years ago with a Xantia and kept it for 6 years with what was at the time a cat C the old cat N. I gave it my mate in the end with 250k on the clock, he kept it for another 2 years before it was a scraper.

Just keep it.