There are many number of reasons why you might be in the position of having to scrap a car. Often, it’s because the cost of fixing it up and getting it through a MOT inspection is far more than it is worth. Other people scrap a car which has been involved in an accident. Disposing of a car is a little more complex than simply driving it to the nearest scrap yard and handing it over. Some scrapyards will offer you more money than others, so make sure you are getting the best price by using the scrap my car price checker from CheckMOT.

Process for Scrapping a Car

It only takes a few minutes online to arrange for your vehicle to be scrapped at any authorised treatment facility (ATF). Start by gathering the necessary documentation which the scrapyard will ask for. You’ll need to provide them with photo ID like your driving licence and your V5 logbook if available. If your vehicle has a personal number plate, then you will have to apply to the DVLA to have it taken off the vehicle before scrapping it. We can help you eliminate the hard work involved in phoning around the various scrapyards in your area to get the best price by doing it all online for you.

Once you have settled on the best price, book a date to have your vehicle scrapped, either by dropping it off or arranging for your preferred scrapyard to collect it. If your car has failed a MOT, is uninsured, or has no road tax, don’t be tempted to drive it to the scrapyard yourself, as this is illegal. The scrapyard will pay you for the vehicle by either bank transfer or cheque only. Accepting cash for a scrap car in England and Wales is illegal. Within seven days, you should receive the certificate of destruction for the scrapped vehicle in the post.

Completing the Paperwork

If you have the multicoloured V5 registration document, also known as the “log book”, give it to the scrapyard. Keep the yellow "Sell Transfer" section, fill in the details and send it to the DVLA. You can also tell the DVLA online about a scrapped car as long as you have the 11 digit reference number from the log book. If you don’t have the V5 form or a note of the number, you should write to the DVLA with your details, car’s registration number, make, model, scrapyard name and address, and the scrapping date. Failure to inform the DVLA about scrapping can result in fines of up to £1,000.

Other Paperwork Required

When you scrap a car, you’ll always need to provide photo identification such as a valid driver’s licence or passport, and proof of address. Scrapyards must keep these documents for three years, as a deterrent to thieves and car crime.

If you have lost or misplaced keys for the vehicle you wish to scrap then the scrapyard may ask for extra verification to prove that you are in fact the legal owner. If there is any doubt over this, the scrapyard might want to run a HPI check, and deduct the cost of this from the price they offer you.

Getting the Best Price for your Scrapped Vehicle

The value of scrap metal fluctuates and this can make it difficult to work out the best time to scrap your car unless you’re a market expert. To maximise your payment, gather multiple quotes through using the tool on CheckMOT and choose the best one. Often, a local scrapyard will offer the best deal as you will not be paying higher transportation costs.