Every year, thousands of damaged cars pass through salvage auctions and end up back on UK roads. Understanding this process helps you avoid buying a car with hidden damage history.
What Are Salvage Auctions?
Salvage auctions are where insurance companies sell vehicles they've written off. Major salvage auction companies include Copart, IAA, and ASM Auto Recycling.
When a car is written off, the insurance company:
- Pays out the claim to the policyholder
- Takes ownership of the damaged vehicle
- Sells it through a salvage auction
Who Buys at Salvage Auctions?
Buyers at salvage auctions include:
- Breakers/dismantlers – Buy for parts
- Repair specialists – Fix and resell
- Export companies – Ship to countries with lower standards
- Traders – Buy low, repair cheaply, sell on
- Private individuals – DIY repairs or projects
How Salvage Cars Return to the Road
Cat S and Cat N Cars
Category S (structural) and Category N (non-structural) write-offs can legally return to the road after repair. There's no mandatory inspection requirement – the repairer decides when it's roadworthy.
The Repair Process
- Car bought at auction (often for 20-40% of pre-accident value)
- Repairs carried out (quality varies enormously)
- New V5C obtained from DVLA
- MOT obtained (tester may not know full history)
- Car sold to unsuspecting buyer
The Problem: Undisclosed Damage History
Here's where it gets concerning:
Standard Checks May Miss It
Basic vehicle history checks only show cars that were formally written off by insurance. But many salvage auction cars weren't technically "written off" – they may have been:
- Sold as "salvage" without formal write-off classification
- Bought back by owners who then sold them
- Damaged but not claimed through insurance
Quality of Repairs Varies
Without mandatory inspections, repair quality depends entirely on the repairer. Some are professional; others cut corners to maximise profit.
How to Check for Salvage Auction History
This is where Green Flag's vehicle check provides unique value. Unlike many competitors, we search salvage auction records – not just insurance write-off databases.
Our check reveals if a car has been through salvage auctions, even if it wasn't formally classified as a write-off.
Warning Signs of a Former Salvage Car
- Price too good – Significantly cheaper than similar cars
- New panels – Recently painted or replaced body panels
- Panel gaps – Uneven gaps suggest replacement panels
- Paint overspray – Evidence of repainting
- Mismatched paint – Different shades under certain light
- New interior parts – Fresh carpets, seats, or dashboard in older car
- Missing history – Gaps in service records
- Recent V5C – New registration document for established car
Questions to Ask Sellers
- Has this car ever been damaged or repaired?
- Was it ever an insurance claim?
- Why is the price lower than similar cars?
- Do you have records of any bodywork?
- Can I see receipts for repairs?
Protect Yourself
Before buying any used car, run a vehicle history check that includes salvage auction data. It's the only way to know if a car has hidden damage history.
Check any car's salvage history for just £9.99 – only Green Flag includes comprehensive salvage auction checks.
