Scrapping a car legally takes five steps and costs you nothing. The vehicle must go to an Authorised Treatment Facility, the DVLA must be told, and you should receive a Certificate of Destruction. Get any of that wrong and you remain the registered keeper, still liable for tax and any fines the vehicle picks up.
The five steps
1Check the yard is an Authorised Treatment FacilityOnly an ATF can legally scrap an end-of-life vehicle and issue a Certificate of Destruction. They hold an environmental permit and are listed on the Environment Agency's public register. Handing your car to an unlicensed collector does not end your responsibility for it.
2Get a price and arrange collectionConfirm the price is guaranteed before you agree. Collection should be free, including for a car that does not run. Nothing should be deducted on the day for a missing logbook.
3Hand over the vehicle and the V5CGive the ATF the V5C if you have it, keeping the yellow section for selling or transferring a vehicle to the motor trade. Take off your private registration first if you want to keep it, because once the car is scrapped the number is gone for good.
4Make sure the DVLA is toldThe ATF notifies the DVLA electronically when the vehicle is depolluted or destroyed. You should receive confirmation from the DVLA that you are no longer the registered keeper. If it does not arrive, chase it. Failing to notify the DVLA can carry a fine of up to £1,000.
5Keep the Certificate of DestructionFor a car, light van or eligible three-wheeler, the ATF should issue a Certificate of Destruction within seven days. It is your proof the vehicle was legally destroyed and your protection against any later claim. Keep it. You do not need to send it anywhere.
Cash payment is against the law in England and WalesUnder the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013, a scrap metal dealer cannot pay cash for a vehicle. Payment must be traceable, by bank transfer or cheque. An operator offering you notes on the driveway is breaking the law, which tells you something about how they will handle the rest of the process.
What you need
Less than most people expect. You need the vehicle, proof of your identity and address, and your bank details for payment. The V5C is useful but not essential. Any DVLA forms you might need are on our downloads page.
Scrapping a car without a V5C
You can. The DVLA does not require the logbook to scrap a vehicle, and no deduction should be made for its absence. If a company quotes you one price and then takes money off on collection day because you cannot produce the logbook, that is a known trick rather than a legitimate charge.
The full detail is on our page about the vehicle registration document.
Is scrapping the right choice?
Not always. If the car is damaged but repairable, or an insurer has written it off, it is often worth more as salvage than as scrap. If it still runs and someone would buy it, selling it beats scrapping it. And if you were hoping for a government grant, there is currently no national scrappage scheme.
What you should be paid
Across the 11,412 vehicles we collected in the three months to August 2026, the average payment was £226, with most falling between £154 and £302. Weight is the biggest factor, then the metal market, then how far the car has to travel to reach a recycler.
You are paid for the complete vehicle, so removing parts beforehand lowers the offer by more than the parts are worth to you. See what scrap cars are currently paying for figures by model and age.
What happens to the car afterwards
It is depolluted first: fuel, oil, coolant, brake fluid, battery and airbags are removed and handled separately, which is what the environmental permit exists to govern. Anything with resale value, such as a working engine or catalytic converter, is usually taken off before the shell is shredded and separated by metal type.
Common questions
Does it cost anything to scrap a car?
No. Collection should be free and you should be paid, not charged. If someone wants a fee to take a complete vehicle away, go elsewhere.
Can I scrap a car that has failed its MOT or does not start?
Yes. Neither affects your ability to scrap it, and non-runners are collected on a flatbed at no extra cost.
Do I get my road tax back?
Yes. Once the DVLA is notified, you are refunded automatically for each full remaining month. The refund goes to the registered keeper at the address the DVLA holds, so check that address is current.
What if I still owe finance on the car?
You cannot scrap it. A vehicle on outstanding finance is not yours to dispose of until the agreement is settled. Speak to the finance company first.
Can I scrap a car that is not registered to me?
Only with the registered keeper's authority. The ATF will need to be satisfied you have the right to dispose of it.
Do I need to SORN the vehicle first?
No. Scrapping it at an ATF closes the DVLA record. A SORN is for keeping a vehicle off the road, not for disposing of it.
How long does the whole process take?
Collection is often arranged within a day or two. The Certificate of Destruction should follow within seven days.
Find out what your car is worth
A guaranteed price in under a minute, free collection anywhere in the UK, and a Certificate of Destruction as standard.
Get my priceThe Certificate of Destruction is a legal requirement under section 17A of the Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) Regulations 2002 as amended, and the End of Life Vehicle Regulations 2003 as amended (DVLA INF251). Cash payment for scrap vehicles is prohibited in England and Wales by the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013. Authorised Treatment Facilities are listed on the Environment Agency's public register. Payment figures cover 11,412 vehicles collected between 20 May and 20 August 2026. Last checked 28 August 2026. See also Certificate of Destruction, the Million Car Study and where we collect.
