How to scrap your car When you have an unwanted vehicle or you have an end of life vehicle, you must get it scrapped by an authorised treatment facility (ATF) or a scrap car dealer working on behalf of an authorised treatment facility (ATF) who has a licence for scrapping cars. All authorised treatment facilities must have a licence issued by the Environment Agency or Scottish Environment Protection Agency to ensure that scrapped vehicles don’t harm the environment If you have a private car registration plate on your car and you want to keep it you will need to apply to the DVLA by using one of the following methods Retaining your private number plate online Retaining your private number plate by post To find scrap dealers, you can either: search online, ask friends and family for recommendations, or look up local businesses in the phone book. Once you have a list of potential salvage buyers, contact multiple scrap yards in your area and ask for an instant quote using your vehicle’s details. When you’ve agreed on the best price, you can book your vehicle in to be scrapped at an exact date & time. If you still have valid insurance, tax and mot you can drop your car off at the scrap car dealer but if you do not you should arrange for them to collect it from you. Most scrap car dealers will provide this service for free. Once the scrap your car collection team has arrived, you will need to give them the V5 registration document. However, you should retain and complete section 9 of the V5C document (or section 4 on V5Cs issued after April 2019) and send it to the DVLA. If you have lost your logbook and don’t have your vehicle registration number, you will need to write to the DVLA and inform them that your car has been scrapped. Don’t forget to provide your contact information, along with your used cars registration number and the car manufacturers make and model. Additionally, you need to include the name and address of the scrap car dealer who scrapped your vehicle as well as the date of scrapping. Following these steps is necessary as it’s against the law not to notify the DVLA of your scrapped car; fines of up to £1000 could result. The scrap car dealer will then pay you the guaranteed agreed price for your car, but it is important to only accept payment by bank transfer or cheque. It is against the law to accept cash payments for a car scrapping in England and Wales. Once you have sold your car, the ATF will send you a Certificate of Destruction within seven days. This certificate is proof that your car has been scrapped and is no longer roadworthy. Once you have this certificate, you can then cancel your car insurance and MOT. If you have any remaining months of tax these will be refunded to you Selling your own car can be a quick and easy way to get rid of an old car that you no longer need.