How to scrap a car

Time to bid farewell to your car? If your car's seen better days, it might be ready for a trip to the scrapyard. But how easy is it really to scrap a car?

If the costs to repair your car are more than it's worth, you may want to scrap it. We'll walk you through what you'll need to bring with you, and how your insurance may be affected.

Side view of cars parked in a row

If you decide to scrap your car, there are laws in place to make sure it's done responsibly. Here are your next steps:

  • Find an authorised treatment facility: There are a number of Authorised Treatment Facilities (ATF) that can scrap your car responsibly. They're sometimes referred to as scrap yards or breakers' yards, and are approved by the government's Environmental Agency. It's against the law to scrap your car anywhere else, as an ATF will ensure your car is dismantled safely. An ATF will usually offer to collect your car for free, but you can also drop it off directly.
  • Get a Certificate of Destruction (CoD): The ATF will give you a Certificate of Destruction when you scrap your car. This is your proof that your car has been scrapped and can't be driven again. Without a CoD, you may still be liable for Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) and any penalties if the car is involved in a traffic offence.
  • Tell the DVLA: You'll be fined £1,000 if you don't tell the DVLA that you've taken your car to an ATF. You'll need to give the ATF your V5C vehicle log book and keep the yellow ‘sell, transfer or part-exchange’ section. You should use the ATF's name as the trader you sold your car to, even if you're not getting any money for it.
  • Reclaim any remaining tax or car insurance: When you have your CoD and have told the DVLA that your car's been scrapped, they'll refund any road tax (VED) left on the car. Your insurer may give you a refund on any remaining insurance, so contact your provider to check. Sometimes you can use it as credit towards another policy if you buy a new car.
  • Make a SORN: If you're breaking your car down for parts before you scrap it, you'll need to make a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN). You'll also need to do this if you take your car off the road and stop using or taxing it. You can apply for a SORN online for free if you're the registered owner at GOV.UK.

The price you get for scrapping your car depends on the make, age and model of your car.

Weight is also a factor. You'll be paid for your car's worth of recycled metals and the value of its parts. The price can change year to year, depending on the current market for scrap metal.

The scrap dealer might also reduce the final payment if they have to travel and pick up your car. If possible, choose a local ATF so you can avoid being out of pocket.

It's illegal to pay cash for scrap cars in England and Wales under the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013. Payment must be made via bank transfer or cheque.

To scrap a car in the UK, you'll need:

  • V5C: This is your vehicle's registration document, also known as the log book.
  • Photo ID: This could be a valid driver's license or passport.
  • Proof of address: A utility bill, bank statement, or council tax statement.

You might also need to provide:

  • Part or full service history.
  • Permission to scrap the car if you're scrapping it on behalf of someone else.

The Scrap Metal Dealers Act requires scrap metal dealers to verify the identity of sellers. This is to stop thieves from stealing cars and selling them for scrap.

Once you've scrapped your car, the ATF should issue you a CoD within seven days. At this point you should notify the DVLA that you've scrapped the vehicle. Failing to tell the DVLA that your car's been scrapped could result in a £1,000 fine.

If your car is a write-off the process for scrapping it is slightly different. Usually your insurance provider will deal with getting the car scrapped.

You'll need to send your V5C log book to your insurer. Remember to keep the yellow ‘sell, transfer or part-exchange your vehicle to the motor trade’ section. You also need to notify the DVLA.

When you get rid of your car, you should notify your insurance company and cancel your car insurance. You might be able to get a refund for any time remaining on your policy.

If your car is written off

If your car is written off it's likely that you'll have to pay your premium until the end of your contract.

You may also pay more for your car insurance when you get a new policy.

If you sell your car

If you decide to sell your car, you should notify your insurance company and cancel your policy. You might be able to get a refund for any time remaining on it.

It's worth noting that you can still be liable for claims made on your policy until the day it's cancelled.

If you scrap your car

You can cancel your car insurance once your car has been scrapped and you've returned the V5C log book slip to the DVLA.

Check with your insurer if you're entitled to a refund, or if you can transfer your cover to a new car.

You might also want to consider gap insurance. This protects you from financial loss if your car gets stolen or written off. We don't offer this type of insurance, but it's worth looking into.

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