Safe and Legal Disposal of Scrap Cars in Eastbourne
If you have recently had to call on breakdown recovery Eastbourne services because your car’s been involved in an accident or suffered some kind of fault that’s brought your journey to a halt, there’s a chance that your car can’t be repaired and will need to be scrapped. You can’t just leave it at the roadside and you certainly won’t want it on the road outside your house, because then you will still be liable for road tax, insurance and so on for a car you can no longer use. So how do you safely dispose of a vehicle that’s outlived its useful life?
The Rules on Scrapping A Car
To protect the environment, and to prevent the thriving illegal trade in scrap metal that existed a few years ago, new directives were brought in under EU legislation on the disposal of scrap cars. Here’s what you need to know:
- You need to legally relinquish responsibility for the vehicle, otherwise you’re still liable for any fines and penalty points that may be racked up using the car, even if it’s not in your possession. To do this, you need to send a Certificate of Destruction (a CoD) to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (known as the DVLA). You can only get one of these if you use an authorised scrap car recycling centre. Identify these by looking for proof that they are an Authorised Treatment Facility (an ATF).
- When you take your car to an ATF to be disposed of, you’ll need to prove your identity, as well as showing proof that you can sell this car, so take along a photo ID like a passport in your name or your driver’s license. You will also be asked for proof of address, so take along a recent utility bill. It’s worth remembering that the information you provide will be stored on file for three years, so the more reputable the scrap dealer, the better.
- Sort the tax and the insurance on the car that’s being scrapped. You can reclaim a proportion of the road tax you will have already paid by making sure the DVLA is notified that the car has been destroyed. You’ll usually get any full months outstanding at the time the car is scrapped. Speak to your insurance company about cancelling your car insurance; you may be able to get a refund or transfer the credit across to a new vehicle, if you’re getting one.
Who Can Help Scrap My Car?
It is still possible to get some money back towards the cost of your next car by finding a suitable deal from a scrapyard, breaker or dismantler of unwanted vehicles. But remember, it’s illegal to scrap your vehicle anywhere other than with a registered/ licensed Authorised Treatment Facility, so make sure you check your scrap merchant’s credentials carefully before you hand over your car.
If you need breakdown recovery in Eastbourne, Polgate or Hailsham, or help with scrapping cars that have outlived their useful life, you can call on ARS Recovery. We’ll help you solve the problem safely and legally.