Important - Are you actually insured?

Do yourself a favour, go online and check your landy is not Cat C, S, etc, etc. Pretend you are buying it and do an insurance check.

Brief background - While selling my Landy, Autotrader flagged it as Cat C, even though I was not aware. On digging I find that it should show on my V5 - it doesnt. (Nor did it when I bought it, or when it was updated, changed address a couple of times). I spent all morning talking with all and sundry on this, trying to find out why. I'm not concerned re the value, more why its not on the V5.

Whilst I'm still trying to find out why, it struck me that for the past 8 years I've probably been driving an effectively uninsured vehicle - from the point of view that if I didnt declare that its a Cat C, if it was stolen, written off, my insurers may have a loophole to refuse the claim. (I'm sure they wouldnt do that!). While I have a valid defence, it may have cost a lot to prove it in court.

Turns out it was possibly written off in either 1997, or 2004. (?)
DVLA relies on being supplied info from the Motor Insurers Database to put Cat C (or any other catagory) on your V5.
M.I.D. relies on info from the insurance company concerned. M.I.D. also supplies that to Experian, who then provides that info to the likes of Autotrader.

Back in 97 (or 2004) I guess info exchange was not as good as now and it got missed.

Conspiracy theory hat on. Its actually in the Insurance industries interest to not always pass this on. I expect in my case its a genuine mistake, but still worth checking.

Lots of Landys are old, from the era where information exchange was not good, yours could have been written off and you'd never know.

It takes 5 mins to check.....do it now!

Note - if it is Cat C it will cost more to insure!

Aww I thought you were going to tell us how to check for free ?

You're right. No easy free check.
I only found out by starting advert on Autotrader - that didnt cost me anything!

Ahh ok so you can with https://www.autotrader.co.uk/selling/advert

You dont even need to enter your email for them to spam you for eternity. Just created first step in an advert as well.

Vehicle basic check​

5 checks passed​

• Not recorded as stolen
• Not recorded as scrapped
• Not an insurance write off
• Not imported
• Not exported

Insurance categories

We use data from the Motor Insurance Anti-Fraud and Theft Register (MIAFTR) to check whether the vehicle was recorded as being written off as part of an insurance total loss claim at the time the advert was placed. We provide write-off category labels (Cat C/D/S/N) for your assistance, but the presence or absence of a label does not guarantee the vehicle’s status. Data can change, so you are strongly advised to obtain a full vehicle history check before making an offer on a vehicle.
Vehicle checks

Vehicle checks are provided by Auto Trader (using data provided by Experian) for information only and to the extent permitted by law. Neither Auto Trader nor Experian will be liable for any inaccuracies or for any loss you suffer if you rely on it as detailed in our terms of use.

Cool.

You can also get back basic status (free) from your insurance company, dvla, and experian, by talking to them. But its a huge pain, you have to be insistant, and be prepared to work through the maze of call centre options, and be on hold for ages...

So, your Land Rover is classed as a Cat C but no one can actually tell you when or why?
Maybe they should supply some actuall proof, otherwise suggest it's taken off the list.

Believe me, I've been trying to get that info all day. Basic response is "the computer says no".
Interestingly, Experian and Insurance company say they only retain records for 6 years. I pointed out that most cars last at least 10 years, mine is 35 years old and retaining these records for that short a time is virtually criminal.
I've registered a few complaints with various organisations to get some response....
However, I think the words head and brick wall will become applicable.

I dont care about the Cat C thing really, its more the potential refusal of any claim I could have been subjected to, if I needed to make one.

Or, if your landy is an unknown Cat C, what costs you could be subjected to.....

if its not on the v5 and nobody can substantiate anything then it's a mistake that needs correcting

Thats my argument. If they cant prove its my vehicle, it should come off the database. I have high level manager from insurance due to contact me to discuss.

Maybe it's not on any database? Maybe it's an autotrader glitch?

Oh, its on the database. But no-one can give any evidence as to why.
Spoke with my insurance, Experian, DVLA, and NFU. (Original insurer of when it was written off).

But my main point is that if I can be unaware of a Cat C on my vehicle, any of you can be in the same situation, as its probably down to a paperwork glitch in the system, in the late 90's. DVLA only add this to your V5 when they are told to by motor insurance database. (Miastra i think it is now). If that fails, DVLA dont recheck, so your V5 never shows it. But, you'll always be on the database. Then , if you have an accident/stolen vehicle, your claim may be declined - unless you fight it in court, I guess.

jimleshed said:

Oh, its on the database. But no-one can give any evidence as to why.
Spoke with my insurance, Experian, DVLA, and NFU. (Original insurer of when it was written off).

But my main point is that if I can be unaware of a Cat C on my vehicle, any of you can be in the same situation, as its probably down to a paperwork glitch in the system, in the late 90's. DVLA only add this to your V5 when they are told to by motor insurance database. (Miastra i think it is now). If that fails, DVLA dont recheck, so your V5 never shows it. But, you'll always be on the database. Then , if you have an accident/stolen vehicle, your claim may be declined - unless you fight it in court, I guess.

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Might be able to work out the year from the mot history as if it was written off it should have had to be re-moted.

kevstar said:

Might be able to work out the year from the mot history as if it was written off it should have had to be re-moted.

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That will prove nothing. They need to prove it was written off and its not a mistake.
Let's just thing one moment about DVLA getting their information correct and insurance companies.
I have had endless issues with insurance companies not actually putting on the policy what I told them on the phone.
To the OP you probably have free legal cover on your insurance policy. Speak to them about legal advice and the detrimental affect on the value of your Land Rover.

jimleshed said:

Thats my argument. If they cant prove its my vehicle, it should come off the database. I have high level manager from insurance due to contact me to discuss.

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Exactly they need to prove it isn't a mistake, you don't need to prove it wasn't a right off.
Keep us informed if you don't mind.

Good thought Anaconda, re insurance cover. No idea how affect on value could be calculated though.
Should have high up from NFU getting in contact in a couple of days. NFU were original instigators of the write off, probably in 1997 - although i have been given 4 dates that it occurred. (3 in 1997 and one in 2004)
my direct insurer is Adrian Flux, will chase them up after NFU get in contact.

Short update. Legal cover from Adrian flux does not cover this type of problem.
Could be insurers covering themselves, I have definately learnt the ramifications of the insurance industry today. AF Legal side is suplied by Auxilis (?), but not for this. They pointed me at Trinity Lane. Who dont cover this - try another part of Auxilis. Spoke with them, they passed me on to another part of Auxilis (owned/associated by Sainsburys) - who stated that the policy does not cover this. Waste of a morning!

Still nothing back from NFU.

Of the various companies I spoke with, Trinity lane was most helpful. Adrian Flux was by far the worst, in fact at times very ....adversarial!

Are you in the AA?
You can use their legal advice for anything, wills, probate, dispute with neighbours etc.
The legal cover should be completely separate and actually nothing to do with your broker or insurance company.
To me if the insurance company can not provide proof then they cannot list it as a write off. Trouble is finding out how to remove it.
I'm afraid AF have a bit of a reputation of being useless.

Interesting note.
Part of conversations with AF resulted in questions on where vehicle is kept. I answered as truthfully as I could. She kept pushing the point, even asking what if my ex-partner moved the vehicle. I said she wouldnt, even though she is insured to drive it.

Turns out AF was looking on streetview to see if my answers matched the property layout! That felt very intrusive for some reason.

jimleshed said:

Interesting note.
Part of conversations with AF resulted in questions on where vehicle is kept. I answered as truthfully as I could. She kept pushing the point, even asking what if my ex-partner moved the vehicle. I said she wouldnt, even though she is insured to drive it.

Turns out AF was looking on streetview to see if my answers matched the property layout! That felt very intrusive for some reason.

Click to expand...

I always presumed that is what insurance brokers do.

Update.
The original insurer has been able to dig up the report from when my vehicle was written off.

Turns out it was a different make/model so mine is not a Cat C.

Yay! So glad I made a pain of myself to progress this through the various parts of the insurance system!

Its currently on autotrader anyway.