How the law affects you

If you have your registration certificate (V5C), you should keep the yellow section and hand over the rest of it to the CarTakeBack branch along with your keys. You'll need to fill in the branch's name and address, to notify the DVLA, but don't worry, they'll help you with this. 

What if I don't have my registration certificate?

You'll need to notify DVLA when you sell your car with us. You can do this either online or via post. Our Customer Services Team and local branch can help with any paperwork queries you may have.

Find out how to notify DVLA >

When you sell your car with us, you'll need to notify DVLA using one of the following methods. The CarTakeBack branch will be able to help you with this.

If you have the registration certificate (V5C)

You can notify DVLA using the Gov.uk website, where you will need the name and address of the CarTakeBack Branch (which will be shown on your confirmation email), your car registration, the 11 digit reference number from the latest vehicle registration certificate (V5C), the date you sold or disposed of your car.

You can fill in the yellow ‘sell, transfer or part-exchange your vehicle to the motor trade’ section of your registration certificate, and send the perforated section to DVLA - DVLA, Swansea SA99 1BD. If you notify the DVLA via the Gov.uk website, you do not need to send the yellow section off.

If you do not have the registration certificate (V5C)

You should write to DVLA, Swansea SA99 1BD, giving your name and address, your car registration, the make and model, the date you sold or disposed of your car to us, the name and address of the CarTakeBack Branch (which will be shown on your confirmation email).

You’ll be sent a letter and an email confirmation (if you gave your email address using the Gov.uk website) confirming you’re no longer the registered keeper of the car, and a refund cheque for any full months left on your vehicle tax, calculated from the date DVLA gets your information - if you pay by Direct Debit, it’ll be cancelled automatically.

A Certificate of Destruction is an official DVLA document which is issued by a CarTakeBack branch when they recycle your scrap car, using our electronic link to the DVLA's vehicle registration database. The certificate proves that you've disposed of your car correctly and prevents you from being penalised.

You should sign the certificate within the 'Holder/Owner' section, as soon as you receive it and keep it for your records.

An official DVLA Certificate of Destruction has:

• the DVLA logo at the top;

• 'Certificate of Destruction' written underneath the logo;

• a unique 12 digit certificate number (Certificate No);

• the date that the certificate was issued (Date of Issue); and

• the signature of a representative of the CarTakeBack branch (Issuing Establishment) which accepted your car.

You should sign the certificate within the 'Holder/Owner' section, as soon as you receive it.

DVLA Certificate of Destruction issued by CarTakeBack.  Click the image to view it full size in a new window. 

If your car is to be scrapped, the CarTakeBack branch will request a Certificate of Destruction from the DVLA online to issue to you. However, sometimes it will not be possible to issue a Certificate of Destruction and you will need to get in touch with DVLA yourself.

No, a Certificate of Destruction can only be issued by a scrap car recycling centre holding an Authorised Treatment Facility permit.

All CarTakeBack branches have an Authorised Treatment Facility permit. This means they've been licensed by the Environment Agency in England & Wales, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency in Scotland or the Northern Ireland Environment Agency in Northern Ireland, to depollute scrap cars to standards set by DEFRA (the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs).  Only these sites are permitted to issue you with a DVLA Certificate of Destruction. 

We'll send you a copy of your certificate by email.  Please check that emails from info@CarTakeBack.com don't get caught in your spam or junk folder.

If you don't have an email address we'll post it to you.

If your car is being scrapped, We'll usually email your Certificate of Destruction within 24 hours of your car being recycled.

If it doesn't arrive within 24 hours, you should post the completed section 9 (V5C/3) of your registration certificate to DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1BD.

If you need to notify DVLA but haven't got the registration certificate, instead of using the yellow section 9 of your registration certificate (V5C/3), you should write to DVLA telling them that you no longer own the car.

We recommend that you use our template letter to DVLA, where you should include the name and address of the CarTakeBack branch, make and model of your car, the registration and the date of sale.

If you've received a Certificate of Destruction, you won't get any additional form of confirmation from DVLA.

However, if you've been in touch with DVLA yourself, you should get a letter from them confirming that you're no longer responsible for the car. If you don't receive this letter within four weeks, you should contact DVLA.

If DVLA records are not updated correctly when you sell or dispose of your car, you could get an £80 fine, be liable for any traffic offence penalties carried out in it, well as for paying tax in arrears, County Court Judgements, a fine of £1,000 and even be liable to prosecution.

The Certificate of Destruction from CarTakeBack and written confirmation from DVLA (which you should receive if  You've notified DVLA yourself) are both proof that DVLA have been notified correctly.

If you sell a car as a scrap car in England, Wales or Scotland, we have to confirm your identity. All you need is a current photocard driving licence, as this confirms your name, date of birth and residential address.

Don't have a photocard driving licence?

If you don't have a photocard driving licence, you can instead show another form of photo ID from list 1 below, along with separate proof of address from list 2 below.

1. Accepted forms of photo ID: 

• a valid UK passport

• a valid passport issued by a European Economic Area state, or

• a valid UK biometric immigration document.

2. Accepted proof of address (which must not be older than 3 months): 

• a bank or building society statement

• a credit or debit card statement

• a council tax statement or demand letter 

• a utility bill (e.g. gas, electricity, water), but not a mobile phone bill.

Proving your identity is a requirement of The Scrap Metal Dealers Act in England and Wales and The Air Weapon and Licensing Act in Scotland.

The Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 was introduced to combat metal theft and fraud and applies to England and Wales.  The Act:

• means that you can no longer be paid in cash when you sell your car for scrap; and

• means that you need to prove your identity.

View the full Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 on the Gov.uk website

View the Prescribed Documents and Information for Verification of Name and Address on the Gov.uk website  

The Air Weapon and Licensing Act (Scotland) 2015 was introduced to combat metal theft and fraud and applies to Scotland.  The Act:

• means that you can no longer be paid in cash when you sell your car for scrap; and
• means that you need to prove your identity.

View the Air Weapon and Licensing Act (Scotland) 2015 on the Gov.uk website 

View the Prescribed Documents and Information for Verification of Name and Address on the Gov.uk website 

If you have a personalised registration (also known as a private plate or cherished plate) that you wish to keep, you must transfer or retain it before you sell your car, otherwise you'll lose it. 

Step by step guide on how to transfer or retain your private plate 

Download a copy of DVLA's leaflet about keeping personalised registrations

Download a copy of form V317 - 'Application to transfer or retain a vehicle registration number' 

When you sell your scrap or used car, if there’s still some road tax left on your car, after you've notified DVLA, they will refund any complete months that remain.

The car tax refund will be automatically triggered when either:

• you notify DVLA of the sale using the yellow section 9 of your registration certificate (V5C/3); or
• the recycling centre issues your Certificate of Destruction.

DVLA will post a cheque to the registered keeper shown on the registration certificate (V5C) within 6 weeks.

If you don't get your refund within 6 weeks, contact DVLA.

Visit the DVLA website for more information on car tax refunds

Step by step guide on how to tax your car online