Wondering whether you can scrap an abandoned car you found? Although scrapping an abandoned vehicle may seem like a quick way to make some cash, there are a number of legal and logistical steps involved that make it more complex than it seems. This blog will go over what you need to consider before scrapping an abandoned car so that you can avoid any legal repercussions.
1. Determine Legal Ownership
Scrapping a car that isn’t legally yours can get you in trouble with the law. Even if the car appears to be abandoned, it will be registered in someone else’s name – and scrapping it without permission is considered theft.
To determine who legally owns the car, you will need to contact your local authorities or the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). They will use the vehicle’s registration number to find out whether the car has been reported as lost or stolen or if there is an owner looking for it.
You may want to take photos of the vehicle that show its condition and location at this stage in case you need evidence to support any further actions.
2. Notification Period
If the car is on public land, the council will need to find the registered owner and give them seven days to respond. If the owner doesn’t respond during this time period, the council can remove the car to scrap or sell.
If the car is on your private property, you can use the Torts (Interference with Goods) Act 1977 by downloading a free Tort notice and placing it on all four sides of the car. If the car is still abandoned after 28 days, you can pay a recovery company to remove it.
3. Obtain Ownership Documentation
Interested in scrapping the vehicle yourself? First you will need to obtain legal ownership! This can be tricky to do, especially if you have not been able to get in contact with the original owner.
In order to scrap the car you will need to provide proof that you have permission to do so; this could be in the form of the filled-out V5C logbook or a letter from the owner. If the owner has passed away, you may need to provide a copy of the death certificate.
Alternatively, if the owner cannot be found or fails to comply with a notice to collect the vehicle, the council or authorities can either sell the car at auction or scrap it themselves. If they sell the car at auction, you can then purchase it and scrap it yourself.
4. Find an Authorised Treatment Facility
Once you have obtained legal ownership of the vehicle, you need to find an authorised treatment facility that will scrap it – like us here at A&L Vehicle Recycling! When you scrap a car with us at A&L, we will issue a Certificate of Destruction that is registered online with the DVLA. This will instantly mark the vehicle as scrapped and permanently close the vehicle record - any money you make will then be yours to keep!
If you have any questions regarding our services, please don’t hesitate to contact us and a member of our team will be happy to help. Alternatively, check out our Scrap Car FAQs for more information.
Scrap Car FAQs
