Can you collect my car if it’s full of rubbish?

Our scrap partners will not remove a car that is full of rubbish or personal belongings – so, to make sure they don’t make a wasted journey, we would ask you to make sure the car is empty before it’s collected.

Don’t worry; we don’t expect the car to be valeted and looking like new! We appreciate that your car isn’t going to be in showroom condition – but our partner scrap yards simply do not have the means to empty waste or owner’s items from the car. 

What can you collect?

Since our scrap partners specialise in car parts, it’s usually okay if any of the components from the car are inside the vehicle – for instance, it’s not uncommon for wheel trims or spare wheels to arrive loose in the boot! If your car has been involved in an accident, you may end up putting bits of damaged bodywork in the car too – which is also fine. Generally speaking, if a component or part was originally supplied with the car, then it’s okay to stow it in the car when it makes its journey to the scrap yard.

Is it okay if the car comes with aftermarket components still installed?

In some cases, people fit aftermarket components and accessories to their car – but choose not to remove them when it’s time to have the car scrapped. Again, this is fine – but supplying the car with aftermarket components is unlikely to increase the price you’re quoted. 

What can’t be in the car?

Although no one will mind if there’s an odd carpark receipt still in the car when it’s collected, we do ask that you try to remove any rubbish – i.e. cans, coffee cups, food wrappers – as well as emptying the ashtrays. It’s worth checking the car for personal items too – as it’s not uncommon for our dismantlers to find phone chargers, sunglasses, and even the occasional sat nav that’s been overlooked! 

It might sound like our scrap partners are being fussy – but emptying the rubbish out of each car they receive would take a long time; increasing their running costs and reducing the amount they can offer for our customer’s vehicles. If you can quickly clear the rubbish from your car, we can make sure we continue to provide the very best prices for all scrap cars. 

Avoid wasted collection journeys

In the rare instance that someone does leave a lot of rubbish or personal belongings in the vehicle, our collection drivers may refuse to take the car – and may also charge for making a wasted journey. Many of our specialist scrap recovery partners are willing to travel for the makes and models they specialise in, so wasted journeys can be costly for all involved. 

Other related FAQs

Looking for more related content to this? We’ve picked a selection of related topics that you may find helpful

When a car is scrapped, any hazardous materials are removed, along with any parts considered harmful to the environment. Tyres will be removed for recycling, the car will then be crushed and separated into plastic, fibre and metal, and recycled.

No problem. A Certificate of Destruction (COD) can be issued to you when your car is scrapped, but you need to make us aware of this prior to collection.

When a car is no longer roadworthy, it still has some value. An Authorised Treatment Facility (ATF) will pay you the scrap value of your car, which could be well over a hundred pounds, depending on the model.

If you’re entitled to any unused road tax when you scrap your car, you should get in touch with the DVLA to reclaim it. Since tax discs were phased out, this can no longer be done at a post office – so you’ll need to contact the DVLA directly, either on the phone, by post, or using their website.

Yes. Vehicle tax is no longer transferable from owner to owner – so, if you’re scrapping your car, we recommend that you get in touch with the DVLA soon after collection to reclaim any tax that may be owed.

Yes – it’s important that you inform the DVLA when you scrap your car, as you could be liable for any on-going charges relating to it if you don’t. The quick and easy way to inform the DVLA is by completing and returning section 9 (or section 4 on post-April 2019 documents) of the V5C log book form.

Someone else can scrap your car for you but they must take it to an authorised treatment facility (ATF) and hand over all appropriate paperwork for it to be done legally.

Yes, you can. Before your car is collected, you’ll need to ‘retain’ your registration with the DVLA; either online or through the post. Your registration will then be held on a retention certificate, ready to transfer to another car.

End of Life Vehicle (ELV) is the term used to describe a car that is no longer suitable for use – either through wear and tear or damage. ELVs must be recycled at authorised treatment facilities.

The answer unfortunately is no. Once your MOT has expired you must get it renewed immediately. If you’re found to be driving without a valid MOT certificate, you could be fined up to £1,000.