The short answer: Yes, you can scrap a car with fuel left in it.
Here’s why…
Safety
Authorised treatment facilities – like us at A&L – are equipped to handle and dispose of flammable liquids like fuel safely. We have equipment that can drain and store the fuel in a controlled manner, preventing fire and explosion risks.
Emptying your car’s fuel tank yourself ahead of scrapping can be incredibly dangerous, both for you and for the environment. Plus, if you attempt to empty your fuel tank and the car starts leaking, your car will not be able to be collected as removing a car that is leaking petrol or diesel is illegal.
Environmental Regulations
Scrap yards are licensed to safely remove and dispose of hazardous fluids like fuel and are required to adhere to environmental regulations. Attempting to remove the fuel yourself and disposing of it incorrectly can lead to the fuel contaminating local soil and water supplies which can have catastrophic effects for the environment.
No Impact on Scrap Value
Scrap car value is typically based on the weight of the car and the market price of the materials it’s made of, so the fuel remaining in your car is unlikely to make a difference to the overall market value. You will also not be charged extra for any fuel removal.
However, considering the price of fuel these days, it is recommended that if you know you’re about to part ways with your car, maybe don’t fill it to the brim with fuel. That being said, if you have described your car as starting to the salvage yard, you will need to make sure the fuel tank isn’t completely empty!
If you have any further questions regarding the scrap car process, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at A&L and a member of our team will be happy to help.
If you want to know how much you can get for your vehicle, use our free no-obligation quote generator today by clicking the button below. Simply enter your reg number and your postcode to get a instant quote.
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