Yes, I remember that car! I'm very sorry to hear it has now been involved in an accident, you haven't been very lucky, I'm afraid.

Cat N is what used to be the old Cat D, I think. I've put a couple of Cat D's back on the road, over the years, and the only thing the insurance companies wanted was a new MOT after the repairs had been carried out, even if there was still a current one in place. I'm not aware of any increase in insurance premiums but this is something you'd be best to check with your own company.

The only way I can see you could lose out is that, in future, your car will always be a Cat N. If it was subject to a total loss insurance claim then you would be paid out less than you would had it not been Cat N. Also, if you ever wish to sell the car then you should be prepared for it to sell for less. Mind you, if you say the Insurance company are willing to pay you more than what you originally paid for the car then I can't really see you being that bothered!

If I were you I would certainly buy the car back from the insurance company, repair it or get it repaired and then put it back on the road.

I really do wish you the very best of luck!

Edited by Galaxy on 09/11/2018 at 18:22

Pretty much what happened to my 9-year-old car a couple of years ago. Third party admitted liability and their insurers offered to write off my car after seeing photos of the damage and an estimate of repair cost. Their offer amounted to the cost of buying an 'identical' car at market price. I chose to have it put together again (bodywork only, no structural damage) and was offered 65% of the earlier offer, not much less than the cost of repair.

After informing my own insurers, no further problems arose. Car still running fine, premiums much the same. Your only problem may come with resale, as the blemish on the record is not easily hidden, but as the value is small that may not matter.

I agree - if it's a good one, get it repaired and back on the road. Any difference in resale value on a 2003 car is going to be minimal.