Scrapping a car - legally/safely

[Deleted User]

Hi guys,

As above, I'm in the throws or scrapping a car. It drives but is SORN. The outfit collecting it are putting it on a low loader as far as I'm aware.

As the current owner, what else do I need to do? Do I pass the V5 onto the scrap yard or is it just taken for granted that the car is no longer going with us once at the yard... I ask because I while ago an elderly neighbour scrap an uneconomical repair, sold the scrap to a man in the local paper who then proceeded to dump in at a local beauty spot where it was set fire to

My neighbour then had to then pay for the removal of the burned out carcass! The people I'm dealing with "appear" a bit more professional but you never know. Once my car is gone, I wan that to be the end of it:cool:

Thanks.

pogofish

You hand over the V5, yes - but you retain the yellow tear-off slip which has a declaration that you complete, detailing the trader/dismantler you sold it to and the collection agent/driver co-signs - You then send that to the DVLA.

And if you still have any insurance running on this vehicle, you cancel it immediately.

[Deleted User]

pogofish wrote: »

You hand over the V5, yes - but you retain the yellow tear-off slip which has a declaration that you complete, detailing the trader/dismantler you sold it to and the collection agent/driver co-signs - You then send that to the DVLA.

And if you still have any insurance running on this vehicle, you cancel it immediately.

Thanks! Interesting you say about cancelling the insurance, why's that? I have still got insurance on the car. More so to be able to drive other vehicles, third-party. I guess that'll be void soon anyway won't it, once the car is gone...

takman

pogofish wrote: »

You hand over the V5, yes - but you retain the yellow tear-off slip which has a declaration that you complete, detailing the trader/dismantler you sold it to and the collection agent/driver co-signs - You then send that to the DVLA.

And if you still have any insurance running on this vehicle, you cancel it immediately.

But i would recommend doing it online once you have the yellow slip rather than post it to the DVLA.

pogofish

Yes, you could do it online - just personally I prefer to keep my dealings with the DVLA fully on paper.

I'd also be taking an image/scan/copy of any form, with both signatures and getting proof of postage, just as belt and braces as my faith in officialdom is pretty low.

The insurance - Your insurance remains in force till cancelled. Well, its a slim chance certainly but if after you dispose of your vehicle it is still possible for you to still be held liable if someone drives it and has an accident.

Here's one case local to me but there have been a few others discussed on this board if you want to search:

http://www.visordown.com/news/general/biker-may-be-forced-to-pay-thousands-after-banned-new-owner-has-fatal-crash

Ectophile

slipd wrote: »

Thanks! Interesting you say about cancelling the insurance, why's that? I have still got insurance on the car. More so to be able to drive other vehicles, third-party. I guess that'll be void soon anyway won't it, once the car is gone...

If the car runs, then there's always the possibility that someone might decide to take it for a drive, and then have an accident. If the car is still insured by your insurer, then they could end up with the bill. If you haven't told them that you are not the owner, they may then sue you for the losses you caused them.

Norman_Castle

https://www.gov.uk/scrapped-and-written-off-vehicles/how-to-scrap-vehicle

takman

pogofish wrote: »

Yes, you could do it online - just personally I prefer to keep my dealings with the DVLA fully on paper.

I'd also be taking an image/scan/copy of any form, with both signatures and getting proof of postage, just as belt and braces as my faith in officialdom is pretty low.

It's far better to do it all online because you get an instant email confirmation that it has been done and you get to keep the original paperwork.

If you send it in the post there is a good chance it may get lost and not processed, it takes longer for them to process and you won't know until a few weeks if it hasn't been done correctly. You then have to chase it up by ringing them.

With an automated system there is far less that can go wrong!.

pogofish

takman wrote: »

With an automated system there is far less that can go wrong!.

Have a look at the DVLA's record for technology/IT failures and try saying that with a straight face!

DVLA have been highlighted as about the worst of all UK public bodies for IT issues - and that's despite some very stiff competition from the NHS and DSS.

takman

pogofish wrote: »

Have a look at the DVLA's record for technology/IT failures and try saying that with a straight face!

DVLA have been highlighted as about the worst of all UK public bodies for IT issues - and that's despite some very stiff competition from the NHS and DSS.

So you think sending a document to the DVLA for someone who works there to manually enter the details into the computer system is better than doing it yourself online which links to exactly the same system?.

So if you do it yourself online you still have the original document plus an email to confirm it has been done if there is an IT failure.

If you send the documents in the post you have nothing to prove you sent it if there is an IT failure. So to get any proof you have to go to extra effort of photocopying it before you send it and going to the post office to proof of postage.