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[jonnycool]

My wife has just received an email from Axa Insurance,

A routine audit check on your policy has highlighted that the vehicle you currently have insured with us, <describes car> was previously declared an insurance Category D write off on 20/09/2008. This information is recorded on the HPI website.

A vehicle is often declared a write off when an Insurance Company decides the vehicle is damaged beyond economical repair. There are 4 write off categories, Category A and B vehicles should be scrapped as they are no longer roadworthy and Category C and D vehicles can be repaired and placed back on the road.

As detailed in the Terms and Conditions, your vehicle is unacceptable for cover and we will be unable to continue to insure this vehicle due to it’s history. Your policy will be cancelled in 7 days with effect from 23:59 on 11/07/2012 unless a change of vehicle is made on your policy.

What do we do now?    Do I just re-insure it, declaring that it has previously been written off??

[Entwood]

2 questions instantly come to mind ...

1) Was it written off to your knowledge ??

if Yes

2) Did you inform the insurers when you insured it

If you did not know it was written off AND there is nothing on the V5 (logbook) saying it has been .. then you have much scope for an argument !!!! 

If you knew and it is on the V5 but you just didn't tell them, they are completely within their rights, and could actually "have you" for fraud if they so wished ......

[horsecow]

If its category D it basically means it could have been fixed but insurer decided not to. As far as I know it just needs a new MOT to get it back on the road, some insurers ask for a more advanced MOT test but should still be fairly simple. Some insurers will refuse to insure it though even if its classed as roadworthy and you may find that your premium will be more than it was. Ask AXA what you need to do they will tell you exactly what they need to continue insuring it.

[05omegav6]

You could try, but tbh the way that reads is that they choose not to insure cat c or d right offs. If it had been declared prior to the policy being taken out, they might not have offered the insurance in the first place

If they covered the car when it was written off, then they should have been aware of the cars status when they renewed the policy.

Doubtless someone wiser and better looking will be along shortly

[jonnycool]

No, I would never knowingly try to insure (or buy, for that matter) a car that I knew to be previously written off - just off to find the V5......

No, I didn't do a HPI check either 

[Entwood]

No, I would never knowingly try to insure (or buy, for that matter) a car that I knew to be previously written off - just off to find the V5......

No, I didn't do a HPI check either 

If you didn't know, and there is nothing on the V5, then AFAIK it has not been "written off" according to the DVLA ... might be worth contacting DVLA to confirm ... and then contact insurers and point out that it is NOT written off and they have no reason to cancel the policy. If they try tell them you will issue proceedings in the county court.

It might well be worth a quick phone call to the insurers to check you have not been spammed as well ... e-mails being notoriously unreliable ...... actually .. the more I think on it .. I doubt they can legally cancel your policy by e-mail.

I would be ringing the insurers PDQ to ensure it is correct

[jonnycool]

Where on the V5 would it indicate that it has been written off? There's nothing on it to indicate this as far as I can see 

[Entwood]

See my above comments typed at the same time .... I really think you may have been spammed .... phone the insurers.

[05omegav6]

Where on the V5 would it indicate that it has been written off? There's nothing on it to indicate this as far as I can see 

In the box at the bottom of the front page mine, by way of example, says: Category C recorded, Substantial damage/repair to OSR quarter

[jonnycool]

See my above comments typed at the same time .... I really think you may have been spammed .... phone the insurers.

It does seem to be genuine - I've just done a cheap HPI check which confirms that it has been stolen and recovered, and written off. The only thing I can find on the V5 is 'validation character - D'. Is this telling me that it's a category D write off, or is it coincidence?

Edit: just read Taxi Al's reply, no - it doesn't say anything in the box on the front page other than it was declared new at first registration

[Kevin Wood]

If it does turn out to have a history, think carefully about whether it was misrepresented when you purchased it, especially if you bought from a trader.

[jonnycool]

If it does turn out to have a history, think carefully about whether it was misrepresented when you purchased it, especially if you bought from a trader.

It was from a trader actually, and there was no mention of it being written off

[jonnycool]

Where on the V5 would it indicate that it has been written off? There's nothing on it to indicate this as far as I can see 

In the box at the bottom of the front page mine, by way of example, says: Category C recorded, Substantial damage/repair to OSR quarter

So you had this re-MOT'd and reinsured, yes?

[albitz]

Cat D doesnt appear on V5. Trader would almost certainly have HPI checked the car and should have known.

[05omegav6]

Yup

Had to go to VOSA for a Vehicle Identity Check as well, just to confirm that it was the same single car

No issues with reinsuring it either still insured through the same broker.

Cat D cars are new Mot only afaik

Fwiw my insurance remained in force and valid.  Car was only able to be driven to place of repair/mot/VOSA.