Insurance Glossary

Write-off

Last reviewed 25 July 2026 · by the Savvy Insurance editorial team

What is write-off?

A write-off (or total loss) is when a vehicle is damaged beyond economical repair, or stolen and not recovered. The insurer pays out the insured value rather than repairing the car.

Example

If repairs would cost more than the car is worth, the insurer declares it a write-off and pays you out.

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