Free call0800 058 8087Get a quote
Call freeGet a quote

Car scrapping

Car scrapping: how it works, step by step

Scrapping a car means more than towing it away. Done properly, it’s a short legal process that ends your responsibility for the car and makes sure it’s recycled, not dumped.

Get a quote
Call 0800 058 8087
A recovery truck carrying a dark hatchback along a motorway in bright sunshine

The process

Six steps from offer to certificate

  1. 1

    Get an offer

    Enter the registration and postcode. A licensed buyer covering your area reviews the details and contacts you with an offer.

  2. 2

    Prepare the car

    Remove personal belongings, deal with any private number plate, and find the V5C logbook if you have it.

  3. 3

    Collection

    The car is collected free at the agreed time. Payment is made by bank transfer or another traceable method, never cash.

  4. 4

    Destruction at an ATF

    An Authorised Treatment Facility makes the car safe, removes reusable parts and destroys the shell.

  5. 5

    Tell the DVLA

    Report the car as scrapped (online or using the V5C), which also triggers any refund of vehicle tax.

  6. 6

    Certificate of Destruction

    The ATF issues a Certificate of Destruction: the formal proof the car has gone for good.

Key points

  • Collection is free and arranged around you
  • Payment is never in cash
  • Only an ATF can issue a Certificate of Destruction
  • Tell the DVLA once the car has gone

Want the paperwork in more depth? Read our step-by-step guide to scrapping a car.

Why do it properly

Scrapping legally protects you

A car handed to an unlicensed collector can resurface: sold on, dumped or used with your name still on the record. Using an Authorised Treatment Facility, and telling the DVLA, closes the chapter cleanly.

It also matters for the environment. Engine oil, coolant, brake fluid, refrigerant and batteries all need careful handling, and that is exactly what an ATF is licensed and inspected to do.

What we scrap

Scrapping a car in a particular situation

Choose the situation closest to yours for what to expect.

MOT failuresWhen the repair list costs more than the car is worth.Insurance write-offsCategory A, B, S or N, with or without the insurer's paperwork.Accident damageDented, crumpled, flooded or fire-damaged cars.Mechanical failureEngines, gearboxes and electrics past economic repair.Non-runnersCars that won't start, won't move or have been off the road for years.Salvage carsCars worth more for their parts than as a whole.Old and unwanted carsThe car that has simply reached the end of its life.VansSmall and medium vans, in any condition.

Questions

Scrapping questions

Straight answers to what people ask before scrapping a car.

Can’t see your question? Read every answer or call 0800 058 8087.

Will I be paid in cash?

No. Since the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013, scrap metal dealers in England and Wales can't pay cash for scrap vehicles. Payment is made by bank transfer or another traceable method.

What paperwork will I receive?

The Authorised Treatment Facility issues a Certificate of Destruction once the car has been destroyed. It's the formal record that the car has been scrapped.

What happens to my vehicle tax?

The DVLA refunds any full months of tax left once it knows the car has been scrapped. You don't need to apply separately.

Can I keep my private number plate?

Yes, but you must transfer it or put it on retention with the DVLA before the car is collected, or it may be lost.

Ready to scrap your car?

Get an offer from a licensed local buyer in minutes, with free collection whenever suits you.

Get a quote
Call 0800 058 8087