After following a link on another post ref:- vehicle checks, my coup is being reported as a cat D insurance right off.
I can guess what what this is - there's a repair near the o/s rear lights next to boot. Looks like boot and bumper have been replaced. It has been repaired well.
The car is an R reg and seemingly genuine 88000 miles, and pretty good rust wise - needs some attention towards the back underneath - and has some general age related niggles.
The engine is a peach - starts perfectly in all weathers, sounds brilliant tick over to full on, pulls like mad, is well fast vs estimated bhp, oil pressure spot on. Basically it's a good car that needs some tlc, and I'm happy with what I got for 2 grand. But to find out it's a right off.....
Dunno if I'm moaning or what, just wandered if anyone has any thoughts? The cat D wasn't declared in the ad and I know there's legal consequences for that, but can I be bothered.....?

The seller should have declared it as a cat D - a bit naughty and not fair on you. Suppose they might turn round and say they didn't know either?

If you love the car then I suppose for 2 grand it doesn't matter. But does it bother you? Eventually you will have to spend some money on the car and if it you pains you (because of the cat D issue) then it could be time to let it go and get another one that hasn't been written off. If you're not bothered, then enjoy!

If it's a private seller then you'd need to prove they knew.

Honestly, I'd forget about it. Trying to get something back would add huge stress and may lead you no where.

Really, I'd "write this off" as a lesson learned for myself ... it happened; try not to make the same mistake again.

You've spent 2K, not disastrous, make the most of the car, make it nice and try and enjoy it. If you keep the car and don't sell, you lose nothing.

Most Coupes have a hidden history anyway, I bet many have been repaired and some most likely were kept off the insurance books when doing so.

Best of luck

The seller may have not know just as you didn't know.

But If the cat D was in the sellers ownership which you can tell from the
Log book then he knew and I would take the matter up with him.


Otherwise it's going to be a lot of agro take patch234 advise

If its a private seller there is no legal requirement for the seller to tell the buyer. If its trade then there is a requirement for the trader to disclose all previous known history.

Thanks for the comments, and I tend to lean towards just putting it down to experience.
I went a long way to pick up the car, and the people there made us very welcome. Me and the chap went off for a test drive, while his other half took my other half and the kids into their house for refreshments and a chat, and we completed the deal over a cup of tea. If you need to travel a long way to buy a car then this is what you'd like at the other end.
I sent the chap an e-mail - nothing heavy, just 'this is what I've found have you any thoughts?'. See what happens.
Anyway, I thought that I read that you need to declare a cat D - I didn't anything about private vs trade.

Putting it down to experience includes learning from it. Next time it would pay to do a check first and then you know what you are buying.

I wouldn't worry too much though, as Coupés have been written off for very minor damage. My current Coupé was/is a Cat C, but the damage was merely a wheel, tyre, wishbone and the tiny wing in front of the door. All easily repairable and for not too much money.

Some people will look down their noses at a Cat C or D, but if you know the car and the work's done right, who cares. Only slight issue might be resale value, but I intend to keep mine as long as I am able.

Put it out of your mind and enjoy your Coupé. I'm certainly enjoying mine.

I used to trade in cars about 8 years ago and that was the legal requirement back then I don't think it has since. Coupes tend to be written off now as Cat C as original parts are no longer required. So as far as the insurance company is concerned it falls within the more serious of the categories. Due to costs of sourcing or manufacturing original parts. Most modern cars which are written off are usually classed as a Cat D unless there are serious structural issues.

I once purchased a Cat D Peugeot 306 when it was only 6months old with no previous owners. The dealer salesman had driven it as an unregistered car and rolled it. The car when I purchased was reshelled, back in those days you could get them removed from the register which I did after purchase.