Editorial · About
About WriteOffCars.co.uk
What WriteOffCars covers
The site organises around the six UK insurance write-off categories defined by the ABI Code of Practice V12, the current industry standard for vehicle salvage in the UK.
- Cat A: total destruction.
- Cat B: body shell destroyed, parts salvaged.
- Cat S: repairable structural damage.
- Cat N: repairable non-structural damage.
- Cat C: legacy structural-equivalent marker (pre-October 2017).
- Cat D: legacy non-structural-equivalent marker (pre-October 2017).
Beyond the category pages, the site covers buy-side decisions, sell-side process, EV-specific write-off rules, comparison pages, and the V11-to-V12 Code change tracker. The pillar page What is a car insurance write-off? is the recommended starting point.
Why this site exists
UK write-off coverage is fragmented. The Association of British Insurers updated the Code of Practice in May 2025 (Version 12) with the first explicit rules for electric vehicles, mega-castings, and high-voltage batteries. The industry’s write-off register, MIAFTR, was renamed Vehicle Salvage & Theft Data and migrated to a new platform in November 2025. Both changes are recent, and much of the available consumer coverage predates them.
Cat C and Cat D markers from before October 2017 still appear on history checks every day. Current consumer-information sources cover them to varying degrees; this site treats them as first-class topics.
WriteOffCars brings the four current categories (Cat A, B, S, N) and both retired markers (Cat C, D) into a single regularly maintained reference. Every page cites primary sources only. The list is the ABI Code itself, GOV.UK, the Motor Insurers’ Bureau, Parliament, Thatcham, the IAEA, and primary legislation. Re-verification runs every six months, and a new Code version triggers a full rewrite.
The site explains how the categories work and what to expect at each stage. It does not recommend specific car buyers, insurers, salvage yards, or history-check providers. Decisions sit with the reader.
Who operates this site
WriteOffCars.co.uk is operated by Operator Licence Ltd. The company is registered at Companies House under number 16947808, with a registered office at Barnmeadow House, Southfield Fold Farm, Southfield, Burnley, England, BB10 3RH.
Editorial work is produced under Martyn Logan, who is the named author and reviewer for every page on the site. Research, drafting, fact-checking and re-verification all run against primary sources. No exceptions. Technical content covering the ABI Code, AQP standards, MIB processes and DVLA rules is reviewed against IAEA-trained AQP standards. Insurance and legal content is cross-checked against primary legislation, the ABI Code of Practice V12, and Parliamentary records where relevant.
Sourcing detail, fact-check cadence and the corrections policy live on the editorial standards page.
What’s different about our coverage
Three things shape what makes WriteOffCars different from most UK consumer write-off coverage.
First, primary sources only. The ABI Code itself, GOV.UK, MIB, Thatcham, DVSA, IAEA, the Environment Agency, primary legislation and Parliamentary records are the source list. Competitor buyer sites are not cited. Aggregators and secondary blogs are not cited. The full sourcing policy lives on editorial standards.
Second, a re-verification discipline. Every page carries a ‘last verified’ date and a re-verify cycle in the frontmatter. Pages are checked every six months. A new ABI Code version triggers a full rewrite.
Third, no commercial pressure on editorial in Phase 1. The site doesn’t carry advertising, take affiliate fees, or recommend buyer services.
Editorial independence (Phase 1)
WriteOffCars operates as an editorial site, not a commercial intermediary. There’s no quote form, no insurance comparison engine, no buyer recommendations. The operator doesn’t take advertising or affiliate income from the site in Phase 1.
If commercial features are added in later phases, they will be visually separate from editorial content and clearly labelled. Commercial copy and editorial copy don’t mix on the same page. Editorial decisions about page topics and content are not influenced by any commercial relationship.
For the detailed editorial independence position, sourcing policy, and corrections process, see editorial standards.
How to reach us
Two email addresses route to the editorial team.
Corrections. Email corrections@writeoffcars.co.uk to flag a factual error on any page. Include the page URL, the specific claim that’s wrong, and where possible a primary source that supports the correct version. Substantive corrections get a dated correction notice on the page. Minor errors (typos, broken links) are fixed silently.
Editorial inquiries. Email editor@writeoffcars.co.uk for everything else: source suggestions, expert review offers, content gaps you’d like covered, or general feedback on the site.
FAQ
Who runs WriteOffCars.co.uk?
WriteOffCars.co.uk is operated by Operator Licence Ltd, a UK private limited company registered at Companies House (number 16947808). The registered office is in Burnley, England. Editorial work on the site is produced by Martyn Logan.
Is WriteOffCars affiliated with an insurance company or a car buyer?
No. In Phase 1 the site doesn't carry advertising, take affiliate income, or recommend specific car buyers, insurers, salvage yards or history-check providers. If commercial features are added in later phases, they will be visually separate from editorial content and clearly labelled.
Who reviews the content?
Martyn Logan is the named author and reviewer for every page. Technical content is reviewed against IAEA-trained AQP standards. Insurance and legal content is cross-checked against the ABI Code of Practice V12, primary legislation, and Parliamentary records.
How often is each page updated?
Every page on the site is re-verified every six months. A new version of the ABI Code triggers a full rewrite of every Code-referencing page. Status tracker pages (current Code version, regulatory state) run on a quarterly verification cycle instead.
How do I report a factual error?
Email corrections@writeoffcars.co.uk. Include the page URL and the specific claim you believe is wrong. Where possible, include a primary source that supports the correct version. Acknowledgement comes within five working days. Substantive corrections get a dated correction notice on the page; minor errors (typos, broken links) are fixed silently.
Does WriteOffCars accept guest posts or sponsored content?
No. The site doesn't publish guest contributions or sponsored content. All editorial work is produced in-house by Martyn Logan and reviewed against primary sources.
Why doesn't WriteOffCars recommend specific buyers or insurers?
The site is informational. Naming specific commercial providers would compromise editorial independence in Phase 1 and obscure the underlying process the reader needs to understand. The pages describe how categories of service work (history checks, AQP-led inspections, salvage auctions) rather than recommending a provider.
Does WriteOffCars sell user data?
No. The site doesn't ask for user data beyond the email correspondence a reader chooses to send to the corrections or editorial addresses, and that correspondence isn't shared with third parties.
Where can I find the company details for Operator Licence Ltd?
Operator Licence Ltd's full Companies House record is at find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/16947808. Company number: 16947808. Registered office: Barnmeadow House, Southfield Fold Farm, Southfield, Burnley, England, BB10 3RH.
How can I contact the editorial team?
For corrections, email corrections@writeoffcars.co.uk. For editorial inquiries (source suggestions, expert review offers, content gaps, general feedback), email editor@writeoffcars.co.uk.