When the day comes when repairing your car costs more than its actual value, it’s time to think about alternatives to fixing up or selling your wheels, however fond you may be of your old motor. And probably the most obvious, easiest and quickest option is to consider scrapping your vehicle.
Bear in mind that there is a separate process to go through if your car is a write-off for insurance purposes, or if you are scrapping a car in the UK that’s registered overseas.
While this may feel like something of a last resort, especially if you haven’t scrapped a car before, scrapping is a straightforward process that’s easier on both the environment and your pocket than you may have realised.
How can I scrap my car to make as much money as possible?
Sometimes, it can actually be more profitable to sell the most valuable parts of your car separately, rather than the vehicle as a whole – although you do need to know what you’re doing, and understand your way around a car and its various components to do this successfully.
One key thing to bear in mind is that it is illegal to scrap your car anywhere other than an authorised treatment facility, or ATF. (Sometimes also called breaker’s yards or scrapyards.)
Scrapping your vehicle and not keeping any parts
You can keep your registration number if you wish, but you need to apply separately to do this through the DVLA.
Give the ATF the vehicle log book (V5C), but retain its yellow ‘sell, transfer or part-exchange your vehicle to the motor trade’ section.
Then, once you’ve scrapped your motor at an AFT, just let the DVLA know you have done this.
Scrapping your vehicle and keeping parts
You’re perfectly entitled to do this if you want to retain some parts from your car. If you do this, you’ll need to keep your vehicle off the road – e.g. on your driveway, on private land or in the garage. Let the DVLA know your vehicle is off the road.
Again, apply to hold on to the reg plates if you want to do that, then scrap the vehicle at an ATF, remembering to inform the DVLA that you have done so. You’ll also need to give the ATF your log book, retaining the yellow section as described above.
Remember to tell the DVLA
The DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) always needs to know if you are scrapping a vehicle – forget and you could face a fine of up to £1,000.
Consider a charity donation
This is another option you could contemplate. An organisation like Charity Car or Give a Car will come and pick up your car, sort out the paperwork with you and donate the money you would have received to a good cause of your choice. This will no doubt provide the feel-good factor provided, of course, that you can afford to choose this route.
What we do
Of course, there are plenty of car-scrapping comparison websites out there. But if you’re based in the north-west, talk to us at Remove Any Car before you talk to anyone else. We cover huge swathes of our region, from rural Cumbria to major urban centres like Manchester, Liverpool and Preston.
Our extensive network provides a friendly, helpful service and we do what it says on the tin – we’ll remove any vehicle no matter its make, age or condition, and whatever your reason for scrapping. Expect instant quotes for your wheels, and free collection as a standard part of our service. Get in touch and scrap your car with us today.