Drivers issued urgent warning of £1,000 DVLA fine for mistake when selling cars to be scrapped
Drivers are being urged to follow guidelines when looking to scrap their vehicles
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Experts have called on motorists to follow steps when recycling their cars or they could be hit with a huge fine from the DVLA.
The British Metals Recycling Association said it was "essential" for the automotive industry to make changes to ensure scrapped cars are recycled in an efficient manner.
New data has found that three popular car models are the most scrapped vehicles, namely the Ford Focus, Vauxhall Corsa and Ford Fiesta.
Depending on location and when they sell the vehicles, drivers could sell their vehicles for scrap for more than £200.
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The Ford Focus is the most scrapped vehicle in the UK
PAWhile average prices fluctuate frequently, Ford Focus owners can get between £280 and £313 for their older vehicle, while prices range from £215 and £232 for the Corsa and £234 and £296 for the Fiesta.
Research from CarTakeBack shows that the average price paid for a scrapped car in May was £250, an increase in cost compared to April.
When scrapping a vehicle, the Authorised Treatment Facility (ATF) disposing of the car will issue the motorist with a Certificate of Destruction through the DVLA.
This confirms that the vehicle was properly "depolluted or destroyed" and can help the driver avoid being penalised or facing fines.
Drivers should give the ATF the vehicle V5C log book but keep the yellow "sell, transfer or part-exchange your vehicle to the motor trade" section from it.
They will need to tell the DVLA if they have taken their vehicle to an ATF, with drivers facing a £1,000 fine if they fail to tell the DVLA.
Drivers in England, Scotland and Wales are also being warned about scrapping their vehicles in a sensible manner, or they could be breaking the law.
Under the terms of the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 in England and Wales and the Air Weapon and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2015, no one should be paid in cash for the vehicles.
Experts identified this as a "red flag" for unlicensed scrap yards to offer to pay in cash, with proper protocol outlining that they will be paid by electronic bank transfer or cheque in England, Scotland and Wales.
Similarly, drivers looking to sell their cars for scrap should do so when the value is at its highest, especially given that scrap car values can fluctuate regularly.
Experts from CarTakeBack said drivers should not leave it too long to scrap their vehicles, as this will devalue an old car in the long term.
James Kelly, CEO of the British Metals Recycling Association, is looking to raise awareness of car recycling to help the industry achieve net zero emissions and reduce waste from vehicles.
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On average, drivers will receive £250 for scrapping their vehicle
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He said: "As the voice of the UK metals recycling industry, and with many ATFs and vehicle recyclers in membership, BMRA is delighted to support car recycling and its goal to improve regulations and increase awareness of responsible car recycling.
"It is essential that, as an industry, we continue to strive to implement the most efficient ways to recycle cars and raise awareness of the de-pollution of both traditional as well as electric cars as more reach end-of-life.
"Recycling cars helps to conserve precious natural resources and will be key in the drive to net-zero, not just in the UK, but across the globe.”
The majority of scrapped vehicles can be recycled, with around 65 per cent of cars made up of steel, which can be recycled. Car parts including interior fabric and leather, dashboard plastics, batteries, catalytic converters and glass can all be recycled.
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