Every car eventually reaches the end of its life. In the UK that has to be done properly, at an authorised treatment facility (ATF), and the car's record is updated to show it has been scrapped.
How scrapping works
- The owner takes the car to an ATF, or arranges collection through one.
- The ATF issues a certificate of destruction (CoD) and tells DVLA the vehicle has been destroyed.
- The owner tells DVLA using the V5C and gets a refund of any remaining vehicle tax.
Scrap metal dealers aren't allowed to pay for scrap vehicles in cash. Payment has to be by bank transfer or cheque, which helps stop stolen cars being scrapped for quick cash.
What a certificate of destruction means
The certificate is proof that the owner handed the car over to be destroyed and is no longer responsible for it. Once a vehicle has a certificate of destruction, it should never be on the road again.
Why a scrapped marker matters when buying
If a car for sale shows as scrapped on its record, something is seriously wrong. Possible explanations:
- The identity of a scrapped car has been given to another vehicle, often a stolen one (see cloned cars).
- The car was rebuilt illegally instead of being destroyed.
- In rare cases, a recording error, which the seller should be able to prove with DVLA paperwork.
Don't buy a car recorded as scrapped unless DVLA has corrected the record.
Scrapped isn't the same as written off
A write-off is an insurer's decision about a damaged car; Cat S and Cat N cars can be repaired and used again. A scrapped car has been destroyed and its record closed.
Check before you buy
A certificate of destruction check shows whether a vehicle is recorded as scrapped. It's included in the full report with the write-off check, salvage auction records and theft checks.
Key points
- Cars must be scrapped at an authorised treatment facility, which issues a certificate of destruction.
- A car recorded as scrapped should never be for sale.
- Always check the scrapped status before buying an older or cheap car.