Selling a CAT B car

[va1o]

Keeping it short and simple, am I right in thinking that its illegal to sell a CAT B car?

Reason been this popped up on eBay - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...

ETA - Keeping with the Golf TSI theme, is it just me or does this also look like its been written off - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2008-VOLKSWAGEN-GOLF-MATCH-T...

Has the wrong wheels, its far too cheap and theres writing on the windscreen

Edited by va1o on Friday 24th July 00:36

[AndrewW-G]

From the pictures my guess is that the seller has his cat's mixed up and that its either c or d, cat b on a nearly new golf would be quiet a bit worse than the car in the pics

[Stedman]

The eBay man said:

with a bit of a bite.... 122 bhp....

Corr blimey, that sounds fast

[va1o]

Anyone else find it a little worrying that cars like this can be sold with 'unrecorded damage' to your average man at the pub and repaired poorly and sold on, and it will never be picked up in a HPI check to a prospective buyer?

Look at this one for instance http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2008-VW-Golf-GT-Sport-2-0-TS... or even worse this - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ALFA-ROMEO-BRERA-3-2-SV-DAMA...

I'm getting more and more scared of buying another used car, looking at the above two really makes me feel sick....

Edited by va1o on Friday 24th July 01:08

[Nolar Dog]

va1o said:

Keeping it short and simple, am I right in thinking that its illegal to sell a CAT B car?

Yes.

[hornetrider]

Nolar Dog said:

va1o said:

Keeping it short and simple, am I right in thinking that its illegal to sell a CAT B car?

Yes.

Even to a breaker?!

[80quattro]

You can legally sell a Cat B car but only suitable for spares (Cat A is shell should be crushed). You would have to disclose this to a buyer if you were a trader. The onus is really on the buyer to HPI a car prior to purchase - someone would be mad not to, unless they are happy for their family to ride around in some peice of st that would fold up like a tin of beans if it was pranged again.

[b4bby]

First golf could have been flood damaged as well as the damage seen to make it a cat b.

You cant tax a cat b car so it wouldnt legally get back on the road.

Second golf will be an insurance write off as well just might not be recorded.

[dudleybloke]

the dents in the rear upright on that first golf could affect the structural strength in a crash. i wouldn't touch any of them.

[deviant]

va1o said:

Anyone else find it a little worrying that cars like this can be sold with 'unrecorded damage' to your average man at the pub and repaired poorly and sold on, and it will never be picked up in a HPI check to a prospective buyer?

Look at this one for instance http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2008-VW-Golf-GT-Sport-2-0-TS... or even worse this - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ALFA-ROMEO-BRERA-3-2-SV-DAMA...

I'm getting more and more scared of buying another used car, looking at the above two really makes me feel sick....

Edited by va1o on Friday 24th July 01:08

How can those things NOT be written off?!?!

I'm guessing a HPI check is only any good if an accident or repair is reported?

[paoloh]

Nolar Dog said:

va1o said:

Keeping it short and simple, am I right in thinking that its illegal to sell a CAT B car?

Yes.

I am afraid you are wrong.

It is only illegal to sell a car that has had a destruction notice issued.

If the breakers yard buys a cat B from an insurance company and sells it on, he is breaking his contract with the insurance company and not breaking the law as long as destruction notice has not been issued.

[paoloh]

deviant said:

va1o said:

Anyone else find it a little worrying that cars like this can be sold with 'unrecorded damage' to your average man at the pub and repaired poorly and sold on, and it will never be picked up in a HPI check to a prospective buyer?

Look at this one for instance http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2008-VW-Golf-GT-Sport-2-0-TS... or even worse this - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ALFA-ROMEO-BRERA-3-2-SV-DAMA...

I'm getting more and more scared of buying another used car, looking at the above two really makes me feel sick....

Edited by va1o on Friday 24th July 01:08

How can those things NOT be written off?!?!

I'm guessing a HPI check is only any good if an accident or repair is reported?

HPI does NOT include accidents.

Only accidents that have resulted in cars been "written off"

[Nolar Dog]

I stand corrected.

[Daston]

The only real way of being sure is to use a paint depth gauge when buying, if some panels have much thicker paint than others its a good bet they have been resprayed at some point and you should start asking questions

[Tino]

Daston said:

The only real way of being sure is to use a paint depth gauge when buying, if some panels have much thicker paint than others its a good bet they have been resprayed at some point and you should start asking questions

+1, but you can become overly sensetive. I've seen brand spanking new cars with pait repairs, it even happens at factory.
Repairing smashed up cars has been happening since before the model T.

[gavin877]

hey i am an in house assessor for an insurance company

this seems to be a CAT C however total loss departments in insurance companies are idiots and the minute they see somewhat structural damage like this they C it


the reason it was wrote of may be because its a third party vehicle and they would have been entitled to a new vehicle

as i said the CAT B was a reaction to the severity of the damage but its easily repairable

and CAT B's can be put back on the road with an independant assessment from an IAEA approved assessor post repair

[gavin877]

as for this damage turning me off this car, it wouldnt

VW themselves have procedures for repalcing these body sides as long as its done right it would be grand

[GC8]

Nolar Dog said:

va1o said:

Keeping it short and simple, am I right in thinking that its illegal to sell a CAT B car?

Yes.

That simply is not true. An ABI category does not have any legal standing. A CatB car will require a vehicle identity check, but thats all.

[va1o]

deviant said:

va1o said:

Anyone else find it a little worrying that cars like this can be sold with 'unrecorded damage' to your average man at the pub and repaired poorly and sold on, and it will never be picked up in a HPI check to a prospective buyer?

Look at this one for instance http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2008-VW-Golf-GT-Sport-2-0-TS... or even worse this - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ALFA-ROMEO-BRERA-3-2-SV-DAMA...

I'm getting more and more scared of buying another used car, looking at the above two really makes me feel sick....

Edited by va1o on Friday 24th July 01:08

How can those things NOT be written off?!?!

I'm guessing a HPI check is only any good if an accident or repair is reported?

Accidents probably never got recorded, as the owner for whatever reason didn't make a insurance claim.

It is quite a nasty loophole in the system the way cars like that slip through the net, and in a few weeks time will end up for sale on AT with poor repair work.

GC8 said:

Nolar Dog said:

va1o said:

Keeping it short and simple, am I right in thinking that its illegal to sell a CAT B car?

Yes.

That simply is not true. An ABI category does not have any legal standing. A CatB car will require a vehicle identity check, but thats all.

I thought it was only CAT C that required a VIC?

[gavin877]

trust the person that is dealing with this stuff everyday


B's can go back on the road with an assessors report and a quick letter to the dvla

that first golf would be fine to go back on the road dont forget the diminution of value on it too, a complete body side a few hour on a chassis jig and it would be fine (if bought at the right price)