Having your car recycled is easier than ever, but there are still a few common pitfalls to watch out for. Here are just five things you shouldn’t do when you scrap your car.

1. Agree to Take Cash

We get it – it’s way more satisfying to get a large wad of cash right away instead of a cheque or a bank transfer, and most people assume that cash-in-hand is how car scrapping deals are done. In fact, getting cash is illegal. The Scrap Metal Dealers’ Act has made it a big no-no to accept a cash payment for scrap cars in England or Wales.

2. Not Using an Authorised Treatment Facility (ATF)

Most modern car recyclers pick your car up for you, so you’ll probably never see for yourself exactly where it ends up. That means you have to be vigilant when arranging the recycling pick-up; make absolutely sure your car will be taken to an Authorised Treatment Facility (ATF). It’s only at an ATF that your car can be taken apart and recycled without any damage to the environment.

3. Forgetting to Inform the DVLA

One of the best things about having your car recycled is getting a healthy amount of money back to put towards you new car, so don’t do anything to eat into your makings. If you forget to inform the DVLA that you’ve taken your vehicle to an ATF, you could face a fine of up to £1000. The only exception is when you’re keeping some of the car’s parts yourself.

4. Not Telling the DVLA About Parts 

If you’ve decided to take some parts from your vehicle before it is sent to an ATF, you need to make the DVLA aware of this decision. You also need to keep the vehicle off-road in a drive, garage, or on private land.

5. Forgetting the Certificate of Destruction (CoD)

If you’ve never had a car recycled, you probably haven’t heard of CoDs. They need to be delivered to you within seven working days, so make sure you chase up your chosen ATF to ensure it comes on time.