How to scrap my car legally
Whether it’s a bump, crash or just a failed MOT, it’s always a sad day when you have to make the decision to scrap your car. When that time comes, it’s imperative that you make sure everything is completed correctly and above board. This means you’ll want to know ‘how do I scrap my car legally?’ Here, we answer this question and more.
Where do I start?
A key question is whether you want to take any parts of the vehicle or not. Should you wish to take any piece of the car, you’ll need to inform the DVLA and declare the vehicle as off the road (SORN). You can then dismantle the car as you wish, removing whatever parts you want, and scrap the rest.
If you’ve decided not to take any parts from the vehicle, then you can start looking for an Authorised Treatment Facility (ATF). Such places are more commonly known as breakers or scrap yards. The best place to find a reputable company is on the internet. Just type in your area followed by ATF and you will be given a comprehensive list of companies in your local area who can help.
Many companies today will come to you and take the car away free of charge, paying you for the scrap value of your vehicle. Whoever you decide to use, it’s essential you get the correct papers completed. For example, if the car is to be dismantled for parts, you’ll need to have the logbook (V5) completed, transferring ownership to the ATF you are using.
If the company is taking the vehicle to be totally destroyed, then you’ll require a Certificate of Destruction (CoD). Failure to ensure all this paperwork is completed and correct could result in you receiving a hefty fine from the DVLA. Everything you need to know can be found on the government’s website.
What happens next?
Once the paperwork has been completed, you’ll receive the scrap value of the car as payment. This should be discussed before you go ahead with the transaction. Another option is to donate the money made from the scrappage to charity. There are a number of websites where you can scrap your car and have the payment forwarded to a charity of your choice. These not-for-profit car donation services may offer to collect your vehicle. They’ll then decide if the vehicle is to be auctioned off or scrapped, send the value to your chosen charity and send you a receipt of the transaction so you know that it has been paid – it’s a great way to ‘give something back’.
Don’t forget…
Be sure to remember that you can claim back any unused car tax, and you’ll also want to inform your insurance company straight away to cancel your policy, or get a quote for any new vehicle you might be purchasing to replace the old one. Finally, make sure there are no CDs in the player or items in the glove compartment, and take a good look around the boot before you hand over the keys and documents.
