Owning a car can be a real hassle. You have to worry about fueling it, taxing it, insuring it, keeping it all in working order and praying that it passes its annual MOT test. So, it’s understandable that motorists might at least want to have a stress-free time when it comes to getting rid of the vehicle, but is that always the case? If you’re trying to scrap your car but you’ve lost the paperwork required, how can you salvage the situation and offload your vehicle to an Authorised Treatment Facility that’s looking to buy it? Let us explain.
Prefer to get info about scrapping your car over the phone, or want an immediate price in the form of a no-obligation quote? Give the Scrap Car Comparison sales team a call on 03333 44 99 50 or use our scrap car price calculator to find out what your vehicle could be worth today! We work with ATFs positioned all over the UK, so we can get you a quote for your car wherever you are. We even include free collection as standard for every customer! The value of scrap metal changes daily, so don’t delay – get a quote now!
Is Paperwork Required To Scrap A Car?
The honest answer is no, but having the correct paperwork to hand makes the whole process go much, much smoother. If you don’t have the correct documentation, you could find that certain buyers won’t take your car, with private motorists likely to steer clear entirely.
If you don’t have the paperwork that you’re supposed to have you’ll either need to get it sent out to you again, which is a common occurrence when talking about vehicle log books (V5Cs), or you’ll have to produce a written list of all of the information required and send it off to the DVLA.
Why Is It So Important To Have All Of The Required Paperwork?
The reasoning behind this requirement is to protect both buyers and sellers of cars in the UK. When all of the paperwork is present and recorded accurately, it prevents any mistakes being made (accidentally or deliberately) regarding who the vehicle belongs to. If you’re buying a car, you should always ensure that the correct documentation is present so that you have all the information required to tell the DVLA you’re the new owner. This will stop you from getting into trouble further down the road; driving in an unregistered vehicle is a serious offence.
Also as a buyer, seeing that the seller has the proper paperwork offers a degree of certainty that the vehicle is being sold legitimately. Without these requirements, it would be incredibly easy for stolen cars to be sold to unwitting buyers without them ever knowing. In fact, this is exactly why it was made illegal for scrap metal to be bought and sold with cash money in 2013.
The need for documentation helps protect the seller of the vehicle, too. If you were to sell your car to a private buyer, or even a less reputable scrap or salvage company, there’s no way of knowing what they might do next with it. Should the paperwork not be completed correctly, they could be driving it around untaxed and uninsured, getting snapped by speed cameras and running red lights, all while you are still the registered keeper!
What Happens If I Don’t Have All The Required Paperwork?
If you’re missing some paperwork, it’s possible that you could end up with a reduced offer for your car. This is because the history of the vehicle could still be in question, and anybody who’s ever purchased a car before knows just how important it is to know the ins and outs of any car’s backstory before putting down your hard earned cash.
If you don’t have the V5C, there will also be certain buyers who won’t consider purchasing your vehicle. This is an extremely important document that every car owner should keep track of so that the registered keeper of the vehicle can be identified. If you’re missing this, it’s often easier to simply pay for a new one; it’ll set you back £25.
What Paperwork Do I Need To Scrap My Car?
Now, allow us to summarise the documents you’ll need in order to scrap your car:
- V5C – Otherwise known as the vehicle’s log book, this document identifies the rightful registered keeper of the vehicle.
- V5C/3 – This is part of the same log book document that will be required when you sell the car as scrap.
- MOT history – Detailing the history of the vehicle’s MOT successes or failures will be important for any potential buyer.
- Photo ID – Not paperwork as such, but photo ID will be required to confirm that you are the registered keeper of the car.
Ready to scrap your car? Get a price now from Scrap Car Comparison and we’ll find you the best prices offered by registered Authorised Treatment Facilities in your local area. With a network of buyers that stretches across the UK, we can get you a deal wherever you are in the country and will even include the free collection of your car as standard! Give us a call on 03333 44 99 50 or use our scrap car price calculator to find out how much your car could be worth today!
