Selling your car for scrap is, in most cases, a logical step to take. It’s the most efficient means of disposing of a no longer fully functional car. The metal from the vehicle can later be reused for other purposes, while you receive payment for the service, rather than having to pay for it. It isn’t surprising, then, that car scrapping is a very popular option in the UK.
Around one million cars are scrapped in Britain every year. This goes to show that not only do many people believe in the effectiveness of it, but that it’s also fairly easy to wrap your head around. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how you should handle your car scrapping with Simvic.
Getting familiar with the regulations
The process of scrapping a car is, on its own, quite a simple affair. The first roadblock you’re going to face, then, is of a more bureaucratic nature. While handling all the paperwork related to car scrapping might seem like it should be a mere afterthought, it’s actually a very involved process that has great importance and must be taken care of. The regulations are not here purely to make your life more difficult, however – they are designed with the objective of helping the industry work more efficiently and minimising any environmental damage.
The most important legal requirement you need to meet when scrapping a car is that it has to be done by an Authorised Treatment Facility (ATF). When approved by the ATF, you will receive a Certificate of Destruction (CoD) within seven days – this is proof that the vehicle has been handed over and you lose all responsibility for it. Once the vehicle has been accepted by the ATF, you are expected to notice the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). If you don’t do it, you can expect a £1,000 fine.
The V5C Vehicle Registration Form
Arranging things with the ATF and DVLA are one thing, but even if you handle all of that on your own and let those two handle scrapping your vehicle, you still need to complete a form and send it to the DVLA. Namely, you will be filling out section 9 of the V5C vehicle registration certificate. After four weeks, you will receive a response letter with the confirmation. If you don’t, it is your responsibility to follow up on the situation and ensure that your vehicle’s record was updated.
Note that this is something you have to do even if the ATF decides to re-sell your car instead of scrapping it. You fill out the exact same form regardless. But don’t sweat the details, because Simvic can help you fill out all the forms you need!
Insurance write-offs
It might happen that the decision to write off your car didn’t come from you but rather your insurance company. If that’s the case, you will be required to fill out the V5C/3, or “Notification of sale or transfer” part of your registration certificate. As with other forms, you then need to send it over to the DVLA. If the vehicle is written off, it can fall into one of four categories:
- A – cannot be repaired and must be scrapped
- B – cannot be repaired to be roadworthy, shell must be crushed, but other parts may be reused
- C – can be repaired but the cost would be higher than the vehicle’s worth. It can be used again if repaired to legal standards.
- D – can be repaired at a cost lower than the value, but transportation increases the cost beyond the value. It can be used again if repaired to legal standards.
Personalised Licence Plates
If you own a personalised licence plate and would like to reuse it for later vehicles, you need to fill out form V317 as soon as you can – failure to submit the form on time can result in you losing the rights to your registration. If your insurance firm is handling your scrapping, you should let them know that they should not dispose of the vehicle until you have officially transferred your licence plate.
Getting the parts from your vehicle
Not all of your vehicle may have to be scrapped – you may end up able to use certain elements. If you want to ensure that, you should make a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) and notify the DVLA. This lets them know that your car is no longer driven and in this time you can recover any parts that you may wish.
Simvic can help you scrap your car!
Simvic is a company that has been dealing with vehicle scrapping and recycling for years. We offer some of the best prices available on the market, and our level of customer service is leagues above that of many other companies in the field. If you’re thinking about scrapping your car, you couldn’t have come to a better place. Contact us at 07763630404 or via email (info@simvic.co.uk), and we’ll give you a comprehensive quotation, ensuring that you’ll get the best deal, as well as have all your paperwork done for you.