How can I check if a used car has been written off?

nidirect advises buyers to use a vehicle-history service that can identify whether a car has previously been written off by an insurer. This is different from the ordinary MOT history, which records test results rather than complete insurance-loss history.

A previous write-off is not automatically illegal to buy, but it changes what you should inspect and what the car may be worth. Ask what category it was, what repairs were carried out and whether invoices or photographs of the repair exist.

If the seller avoids the question or the bodywork, panel gaps, airbag history or chassis condition do not make sense, consider an independent inspection. The safest decision is based on both documentary history and the actual condition of the vehicle.

For 'How can I check if a used car has been written off?', keep a written record of the exact vehicle, seller details and checks you relied on before payment. That evidence is far more useful later than relying on memory or verbal promises.