Disclosure of Cat Car to Customer
Question
Some cars are classified as ‘Cat’ (short for category) by insurance companies, for example following an accident. Sometimes the damage is visible but other times it may not be visible or the car owner may have repaired the car. When selling the car, is it necessary to inform the potential customer that it is a Cat car? Generally, if the damage is not visible, a person would not know that it is a Cat car unless they purchase an online report or get it checked by a dealer.
بسم الله الرحمن الرحیم
Answer
It is necessary to inform potential customers that it is a Cat car. Customers can also be informed of the repairs if any and why the insurance company classified it a Cat car. It is then up to the person to decide if they wish to purchase the car. Honesty and integrity are keys to success and a disclosure is therefore necessary.
The Prophet ﷺ said, “If they (the buyer and seller) tell the truth and make everything clear, they will be blessed in their transaction, and if they conceal and lie, the blessing of their transaction will be erased” (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī). In another narration, the Prophet ﷺ said, “The truthful trustworthy merchant is with the Prophets, the truthful and the martyrs” (Sunan al-Tirmidhī).
عن حكيم بن حزام رفعه: البيعان بالخيار ما لم يتفرقا، فإن صدقا وبينا بورك لهما في بيعهما، وإن كتما وكذبا محقت بركة بيعهما، رواه البخاري (٢٠٧٩ و ٢٠٨٢ و ٢١١٠). وعن أبي سعيد رفعه: التاجر الصدوق الأمين مع النبيين والصديقين والشهداء، رواه الترمذي (١٢٠٩) وحسنه. وقال ابن مازه في المحيط البرهاني (٦/٥٤٢) ونقل بعضه في الهندية (٣/٦٧): قال القدوري في كتابه: كل ما يوجب نقصانا في الثمن في عادات التجار فهو عيب، لأن المالية مقصودة في البيع، وما ينقص الثمن ينقص المالية فكان عيبا، انتهى۔
Allah knows best
Yusuf Shabbir
12 Shaʿbān 1447 / 1 February 2026
Approved by: Mufti Shabbir Ahmed and Mufti Muhammad Tahir
