Can someone else scrap my car?

It’s important for the authorities to get your vehicle to an authorised treatment facility, and if it has a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN), it must be removed by means of towing or lifting. 

The easiest way to scrap your car is to ask a scrapyard to do all the administration for you, including arranging any paperwork as required by the Driver Vehicle Licencing Agency (DVLA). To get a quote for scrapping your car and/or arranging the paperwork, enter your postcode below and click ‘Get a quote. The price quoted will be based on the make, model, age and condition of your car. Note: an offer will only be given if you give permission for them to inspect and assess your vehicle on-site, which usually takes about 10 minutes.

Many private car recycling companies will pick up an old car that has been declared off the road, but you should always check whether the recycling company offers this service, and if so, whether there is a charge for this service. Otherwise, you can contact a local towing company, and arrange for them to collect your vehicle at a time that suits you. Car towing companies provide different services, so it’s important to ask about any costs before the vehicle is removed from your driveway.

If you bought your car after 1 August 1998, it is required by law to have an insurance-approved SORN. This is because non-roadworthy cars pose a risk to the public as they might not be mechanically sound. But if you need to scrap your SORN car, then you can arrange for it to be collected by someone else known as an ‘inspector’. And what better time than when you need to sell your car?

What you need to do

If someone else were to scrap your vehicle, they’d need to have the car’s logbook or V5C, which they’d then take to the ATF. You’ll need to give them this. Section Five is the part that must be completed by you and the AFT; once completed, the ATF will send this to the DVLA. You’ll also need to inform the DVLA that you’ve arranged for your car to be scrapped at the ATF. If you fail to inform the DVLA, you might be fined up to £1000.

What else do you need to do?

Once your car has been taken for scrap, you’ll need to sign and keep your certificate of destruction for future reference. You’ll also need to cancel any outstanding insurance payments for that vehicle, and you should make sure that the DVLA issues you a refund for any outstanding road tax.

The Government has introduced tighter rules in recent years to ensure that only people with the correct documentation can scrap your car. Visit www.gov.uk for more information.