Can I scrap a car that’s not registered in the UK?
Yes, our network of scrap yards and dismantlers can handle vehicles that are not registered in the UK – but you’ll need to make sure you follow the process expected by the governing body in the country the car is from.
Usually, you’ll be required to complete the registration document; completing it to indicate the car has been scrapped, before sending it back to the issuing authority. The scrap yard you deal with will be happy to issue a notification to say they have disposed of your car. In some countries, you are expected to return your number plates too – so it’s important to check you have everything you need to meet the appropriate requirements before the car is collected.
How can you tell if your car is registered in the UK?
If you’ve imported your car, you’ll usually have been through a detailed process to do so. There are strict laws that surround bringing cars into the UK. If you’ve imported a car, you would need to begin the official process by telling HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) that you’ve brought the car into the country.
HMRC will decide whether you are required to pay VAT and duty on the car. When your business with HMRC is settled, you may then need to get the vehicle approved by the government’s Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) service.
The next step involves registering the vehicle with the DVLA – and, when this is complete, it will result in the issue of a V5C log book – often called a ‘registration document’. This document will assign a registration mark to the car, so you can have official UK number plates made.
With such an in-depth process, it’s likely that you will be aware if your car is imported but is now considered a UK car.
It’s worth noting that companies that commercially import vehicles have a slightly different process – so if you’ve bought an imported vehicle from a specialist supplier, they should have made it clear that the car has met the standards required by HMRC and the DVLA.
Scrapping a ‘temporary import’
The DVLA provides detailed rules about driving cars with foreign number plates without registering or taxing them in the UK. Generally, if you’re visiting and do not plan to live in the UK, you will be able to use the car for a total of 6 months on UK roads; as long as it’s taxed and registered in its home country.
If you have an accident in your car during this time – or you simply decide that you want to scrap it, our network of scrap yards will be able to help. We’ll do our very best to find you an outstanding price for your car – but you must be certain that you’re meeting the scrapping requirements of the governing body in the car’s country of origin.
