AI DamageA start status records a single event: what happened to the car on the day it was checked into the yard. It is not a diagnosis and not a guarantee. Weeks pass between check-in and collection, and the car may have been started with a booster.
Three levels of status
| Status | What was checked | What was not checked |
|---|---|---|
| Run and Drive / Run & Drive | The engine started, a gear was engaged and the car moved a few metres under its own power | Brakes, steering, the gearbox under load, cooling, electronic fault codes |
| Engine Start / Starts | The engine started | Whether a gear engages and whether the car moves off |
| Stationary / does not start | No start, or the start was not checked | The reason: flat battery, missing key, mechanical fault or immobiliser lock |
Where the status misleads
- Started with a jump pack: a flat or damaged battery does not show in the description.
- A few metres with no load will not reveal gearbox slip, a broken driveshaft or overheating.
- After a frontal impact the radiator and condenser may be punctured: the engine will start, but without cooling it will not run for long.
- After water damage a car may start, while connector corrosion shows up weeks later.
- Hybrids and EVs show "Ready" even when the high-voltage battery is in limp mode.
What to read alongside the status
The status only makes sense next to the other lot page fields: primary and secondary damage, keys, mileage and its note, plus photos of the interior and engine bay.
- Keys: No. Even a Run and Drive car without a key means paying for a key and possibly an immobiliser module.
- Odometer: Not Actual or Exceeds Mechanical Limits. The mileage is not confirmed.
- Photos of the instrument cluster at start-up: SRS, ABS and Check Engine lights show more clearly than in the text.
- Signs of leaks under the car in the yard photos.
How to factor the status into your bid
Run and Drive lowers the "engine and gearbox" risk, but it does not remove the cost of bodywork and hidden components. So we count it as a discount on uncertainty, not a discount on the repair.
For a Stationary car, plan for a scenario with a replacement engine or gearbox, or at least diagnostics and a tow truck. The reason is often visible in the photos: an impact into the engine bay, water in the cabin, fire. How to read the damage labels themselves is covered in How to read a damage description, and risks outside the frame in Risks behind the outer panel.