Selling scrap metal for cash is illegal. This rule is in place to protect car owners and reduce instances of metal theft crimes. Scrap car parts have high value, and they can make you a lot of money if you have a sought-after car part, make or model. 

If you're looking to scrap your car for cash, you might be wondering how you'll receive your payment. Keep reading to find out, this blog tells you everything you need to know.

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Can I Be Paid in Cash For a Scrap Car?

Authorised Treatment Facilities (scrapyards, vehicle dismantlers, breaker's yards etc.) are legally not allowed to pay cash in exchange for a scrap car. This is to reduce the risk of metal theft which is a nifty way for car dealers to make fast and easy cash. 

If you fail to abide by the law which is set out in the revised Scrap Metal Dealers Act of 2013, you could land yourself a hefty fine of up to £5000. You could also get your ATF scrap metal licence removed instantly.

Why Can't I Get Paid in Cash For a Scrap Car?

The Scrap Metal Dealers Act was revised in 2013 to create strict conditions for scrap car dealers to follow in order to keep keep their trading licences. This was done in an attempt to 'remove the rewards that make metal theft such a low risk criminal enterprise', according to the UK Government. With 30,114 metal theft offences recorded in England and Wales over 2021/22, metal theft crime rates are at their highest ever since 2013/14.

The abolishment of cash payments for scrap cars also ensures that the car scrapping process stays safe and effective. Cash payments are anonymous, untraceable, and leave no trackable 'footprint', so there would be no legal protection available if anything were to go wrong with the transaction as it was done against the law.

You are also not permitted to pay for a scrap car using: 

• Foreign currency (must be legal UK tender)

• Electronic vouchers

• Virtual currencies (such as Bitcoin, Litecoin and XRP)

• Supermarket gift cards

• Postal orders

When we at A&L Scrap Car Dealers pay money for a scrap car (or any other type of scrap metal), we are required to make sure that the transaction can be traced back to both the buyer and seller to legally protect ourselves, and our customers.

What is The Scrap Metal Dealers Act?

The Scrap Metal Dealers Act first came into legislation in 1964, but it was revised in 2013 to add new conditions regarding payment for scrap metal parts. These new revisions stated that it is now a criminal offence to pay for scrap metal in cash.

The legislation states that a scrap dealer can only pay for a scrap car through non-transferable cheque (to ensure that it goes to the correct party) or by electronic transfer via debit or credit card.

How Can I Get Paid for My Scrap Car?

Don't worry - we know that the most important part of car scrapping is getting the money in your hand! 

To get money for your scrap car, simply pop your registration number into the form at the bottom of this page. We will then send you a no-obligation quote which will be tailored to your specific vehicle. It's important to note that your scrap car's value will depend on its age and condition. 

If you choose to accept our quote (don't worry, we won't be too offended if you choose not to!), we will then pay you for your scrap car by cheque or electronic transfer. If you have a preference, simply let us know and we will do our best to accommodate. 

Get Money for Your Scrap Car

We want to make your scrap car sale as smooth as possible, so we do all the heavy lifting for you. We are also heavily committed to responsible recycling, so when you choose A&L Vehicle Recycling, you can rest assured that your materials are being disposed of in a sustainable and responsible way. And, even better, we'll pay you for it!

Contact A&L Vehicle Recycling today, or click the button below to get an instant quote for your unwanted vehicle!

Get a Scrap Car Quote

Every number plate represents a specific vehicle. If that vehicle is destroyed, then the number plate will be destroyed, too. Unfortunately, keeping your number plate is not as simple as taking it off of your vehicle and then sticking it onto another.

If you choose to not tell the DVLA that you'd like to retain your number plate, it will simply disappear along with your vehicle, and there is no way to bring it back into circulation.

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How to keep your car's number plate

If you're having to scrap your car due to unforeseen circumstances, you may be wondering whether you can keep your number plate. Who knows? Maybe you have a personalised number plate that's incredibly special to you, or maybe you've just grown incredibly accustomed to your given vehicle registration number. No matter the reason why, you will be able to keep your number plate if you take action with the DVLA.

You will have to take these steps before your car goes to the scrapyard. These instructions apply whether you have a personalised number plate, or whether you'd like to keep your old number plate.

The first thing to do is apply for the right to retain and transfer the plate. You can do this on the DVLA website or by post!

Before you fill out the application, ensure that your car adhered to the following eligibility criteria. Your vehicle must be...

• Eligible for a MOT certificate (you don't need to have a MOT at the time of application).

• Consistently taxed or declared SORN for the last 5 years.

• Taxed or declared SORN if it is not currently taxed (for cars that have been SORN for 5+ years). 

In some cases, the DVLA may want to inspect your vehicle to ensure that it meets the above criteria. 

Once you complete the application, you should have a V317 document, V750 document of entitlement (if you have bought your personalised number plate) or a V778 retention form (if you're taking a number plate from the vehicle you owned beforehand). 

If you're assigning a number plate to someone else's vehicle (for example, if you've bought a personalised number plate as a gift for someone), then you will need to add them as a 'nominee' on section 2 of the V750 or V778. 

How to transfer a car's number plate

After two weeks, you will receive the above documents in the post so you can transfer your car's number plate on the government website between 7am and 7pm. 

You will need the following documents to hand: 

• Your private registration number

• Your completed V750 or V778 forms

• The 11-digit reference number from the car's V5C log book

• The keeper's postcode (in the V5C)

If you do not have your vehicles log book, you will need a green 'new keeper' slip with a completed V62 'application for a vehicle registration certificate V5C'.

What happens after I transfer my number plate? 

Once the transfer is complete, you will receive a new V5C logbook.

You must put the new number plates on the vehicle before you drive it, and you will be able to keep the original registration number and number plates as they will be assigned to the vehicle when you take off the private number. 

Important Note: You must not sell or get rid of a vehicle until you get the new V5C log book. 

Can I keep my number plate if my car is written off? 

If your vehicle has been written off, the number plate will be written off at the same time. 

If you want to reclaim your plate, then you will have to put an instant request in with the DVLA and your insurance provider. 

This is quite a time-consuming process which involves lots of paperwork, and it may result in you having to buy the number plate back from your insurance provider. 

Scrap your car with A&L Scrap Car Dealers...

We want to make your scrap car sale as smooth as possible, so we do all the heavy lifting for you. 

Not only that, but it can be a harm to the environment around you. We are committed to responsible recycling, so when you choose A&L Vehicle Recycling, you can rest assured that your materials are being disposed of in a sustainable and responsible way.

Contact A&L Vehicle Recycling today, or click the button below to get an instant quote for your unwanted vehicle!

Request a free, no-obligation quote here

Everything that we one will one day come to the end of its life, but parting with things can be difficult - especially if you're conscious of the impact you're having on the environment. When it comes to cars, there are so many things that can go wrong that can cause your car to be no longer road-worthy. When this happens, you have two options, repair the car, or send it to the scrap yard. But is scrapping your car bad for the environment?

Today we're going to look at what happens to cars that go to the scrap yard to determine whether the process is eco-friendly or not. So, if you've been thinking about scrapping your car, but want the low-down on the environmental impact, just keep reading. 

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What happens to cars at the scrap yard?

According to data gathered by Compare the Market, "The target for end-of-life vehicles is 95% recovery and 85% recycling by average weight of each ELV." There are lots of different parts of vehicles that can be stripped down and recycled including, but not limited to:

• The catalytic converter
• Fabric from the interior and seats
• Plastic elements from the dashboard
• Car batteries
• Rubber from the tyres
• Metal from the chassis
• Engine oil

Second-hand parts

Another great way that car parts can be recycled is in a breaker's yard. There are lots of examples of cars that come to the scrap yard that has sustained some damage, but still contain a lot of working parts. These cars can be useful for people who are looking to replace a particular part of their car but don't want to fork out for a brand-new item. Being able to break down and reuse parts from old cars is beneficial for the environment, and it stops perfectly good working parts of cars from sitting in the scrap yard for the rest of their lives!

What can recycled parts be turned into?

Wondering what happens to all the parts that can be recycled? They go on to become a huge range of different things - some things that you might not expect. Once parts have been removed from a car, they basically become raw materials again, which means the fabric that's stripped from your car seats, might end up as part of someone's sofa! Let's take a look at some more things that your car parts go on to create. 

• Windscreens and windows - can be turned into glass bottles, fibreglass insulation, ornaments, drinking glasses, and more...

• Scrap metal - like steel and aluminium can be melted down and re-purposed into all kinds of things!

• Precious metals - that are commonly found in catalytic converters can be taken out and turned into jewellery or used to create sophisticated medical devices. 

• Car tyres - can pollute our air if they're burnt rather than recycled. If they're recycled, they can be turned into asphalt for paving/roads, rubber chippings for surfaces and more...

• Plastics - can be turned into garden furniture, household bins, carpets, clothing, pipework etc. It's often melted down to make it more versatile!

• Fabric - including the mats and carpets from the interior of your car might end up in cushions, mattresses, sofas, chairs, and more...

So, if you've been thinking about scrapping your car but have been worried about the impact it has on the environment, hopefully this puts your mind to rest. If you'd like to scrap your car, we can provide you with a quote free of charge! Simply put your registration number and postcode into our website and we'll provide a quote instantly! For more information, get in touch. 

Contact A&L Car Scrap Dealers >

If you're looking to scrap your used car, then you should always start by getting a scrap car quote to see what your car is worth. Thankfully, at A&L Scrap Car Dealers, we offer free, no-obligation quotes that will be instantly available to you via email link. 

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Simply head over to our homepage and provide your car's registration and your postcode to find out the scrap value of your car. It really couldn't be easier than that!

Get a Free Scrap Car Quote Today

Why Scrap Your Car With A&L? 

When you scrap your car with us, you will be getting a professional and reliable service that you can trust. We have more than 10 years experience in the scrap car and recycling industry, and we know how important it is to get the best value for money. 

We pay top prices for car parts, copper, lead, brass and many other metals that you may have sitting around your garage. Recycling is also hugely important to us too, and we always dispose of any excess materials in a sustainable and responsible way. 

For your peace of mind, our car scrap yard is registered with Natural Resource Wales (permit number: AP3095FU). We will also issue a Certificate of Destruction which will be registered with the DVLA to instantly mark your car as scrapped. 

READ MORE: Scrap Your Van

Will I Need to Pay for My Scrap Car Quote? 

You will never need to pay for your scrap car quote with A&L Vehicle Recycling. Most importantly, there's no obligation to accept our quote, either. Your quote will be available for 7 business days for you to make a decision. After the 7 day period, you will need to submit another quote request for your scrap car if you wish to.

We understand that scrapping your car involves research, and we're more than happy to aid you on your car scrapping journey - even if you choose to scrap your car elsewhere!

Why Do You Need My Registration and Postcode? 

We ask for these pieces of information so we can find out what type of car you have and its location. 

The make and model of your car is an important indicator of value, but many people are not aware that the location of the vehicle also plays a key role in determining scrap car value. 

For example, the location of your car will determine how easy it is for us to collect your car and transport it to our facility, which has an impact on how much we pay for your car.

What Are the Minimum Requirements for Receiving a Scrap Car Quote?

We will provide you with a free, instant quote for your scrap car depending on the following minimum requirements:

• You can provide photographic ID and proof of address

• Your vehicle is free of all finance charges (e.g. hire purchases & loan agreements)

• Your vehicle is free from waste, rubbish and litter

• Your car or van has no more than 9 seats

• Your car is accessible for collection (parked on solid ground with inflated tyres)

If any of the above criteria cannot be met, the initial quote provided to you may need to be re-evaluated. Just get in touch with our team if you require any further assistance!

For more information about scrapping your car, head over to our Scrap Car FAQs to find out all about how we determine your quote and pay you for your used car.

[Image Source: Unsplash]

If you own an electric car, then you may be wondering if it will have any scrap value when it is no longer usable. This is a frequently asked question, so we've put together a simple resource to help you find out the answer to What is the Scrap Value of an Electric Car?

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What is an Electric Car's Scrap Value?

The short answer is that the scrap value of an electric car depends on many things, similar to any other conventional vehicle. Including the car's: 

• Weight
• Model
• Age
• Condition

At A&L Scrap Car Dealers, we offer a quick registration and postcode check for an instant FREE no-obligation quote on the value of your vehicle. If you have more questions about scrapping an EV, take a look at our FAQ section.

After that, feel free to get in touch with us to scrap your car and we can offer you the top prices for your car disposal.

What is the Most Valuable Part of an Electric Car? 

Copper

An EV (Electric Vehicle) has almost three times as much copper as a conventional car, with a majority of it being found in the EV motor. Without copper, an electric vehicle would be completely unable to run.

Copper is an extremely ductile metal which allows it to be easily shaped into wire. These wired connections allow an electric car to run efficiently and smoothly by converting electrical energy into mechanical energy. 

Copper is currently valued at around £3.50 per kilo, and the average battery-electric vehicle requires 83 kilos of copper. 

This amount of copper could bring in £290.50 of value for scrapping your electric vehicle!

Batteries

An EV battery has incredible scrap value. Due to the limited supply and high demand, manufacturers sell EV batteries for a lot of money to ensure they don't make a loss. 

EV batteries are made from lithium which needs to be mined from salt-flat brines in a vigorous process of evaporation and chemical recovery. As you can imagine, this is an extremely expensive process.

Only a handful of companies produce lithium-ion batteries, so EV batteries have a high scrap value due to the increase in demand for electric vehicles.

As of December 2022, the average EV battery costs £5,378.43 in the UK!

Scrap Your Electric Car with A&L

At A&L Vehicle Recycling scrap yard, we are proud to be an Authorised Treatment Facility (ATF). We have been licensed and registered with the DVLA for over 10 years. We are the car scrappers you can trust.

For your peace of mind, our car scrap yard is registered with Natural Resource Wales (permit number: AP3095FU). We will also issue a Certificate of Destruction which will be registered with the DVLA to instantly mark your car as scrapped. 

Scrap Your Electric Car