We know that scrapping your car can help to reduce pollution, landfill waste and greenhouse gas emissions; however, how can we prove that the hazardous materials found in our vehicles are disposed of safely? This is where the Certificate of Destruction (COD) comes in.
What is a Certificate of Destruction?
A Certificate of Destruction (COD) is a formal document that proves that a vehicle is no longer on the road, has been disposed of properly and is therefore no longer the owner's responsibility. The certificate is generated when the Authorised Treatment Facility scrapping your car officially reports your vehicle's destruction.
What is an Authorised Treatment Facility?
An Authorised Treatment Facility is any kind of site that is permitted to carry out treatment on electronic waste, these sites are usually known as scrapyards or breaker’s yards. Scrapping your car at an Authorised Treatment Facility ensures that your ELV (end of life vehicle) will be recycled and disposed of in the most environmentally-friendly way possible and in-line with the End of Life Vehicle Regulations.
Legally, all cars recycled by an ATF must be issued with a Certificate of Destruction within 24 hours after they have been destroyed.
What Information Is on a Certificate of Destruction?
A Certificate of Destruction records important details regarding the vehicle’s registration, make and model. It should also include a unique 12-digit certificate number, information on the time and place where the service took place, alongside information about the ATF that provided the service and any witnesses to the process.
Why is a Certificate of Destruction Important?
Environmental Protection
The primary reason for issuing a COD is to ensure that the vehicle is disposed of responsibly and safely without polluting the environment. When you go to an Authorised Treatment Facility to scrap your car, the facility has a legal obligation to invest in environmentally-friendly drainage and disposal systems. The ATF will drain all toxic fluids from the vehicle before dismantling and recycling it. This ensures that the hazardous materials found in cars, such as lead and mercury, are disposed of safely and therefore will not contaminate surrounding water or soil sources.
Legal Compliance
If DVLA records are not updated correctly when you scrap your car, you could be fined up to £1000. A COD can provide you with peace of mind that your vehicle has been processed and recycled in accordance with the law, thus preventing you from facing any fines or legal action.
How Do I Get a Certificate of Destruction?
Certificates of Destruction can either be collected in person (depending on the ATF) or they can be posted out to you which usually takes around 7 days from the point of destruction.
To avoid fines, you must notify the DVLA immediately after you have sold your car to a VTF, even if you have not yet been issued a COD.
Check out our blog on what documents you need to scrap your car for more information.
We also recommend you have a read of our Scrap Car FAQs where we detail everything else you need to know about the scrapping process.
Scrap Car FAQs
