How do I notify the DVLA that my car has been scrapped?

When you scrap your car, it’s your legal responsibility to notify the DVLA that the vehicle has been dismantled. This ensures you are no longer listed as the registered keeper, and that you’re not liable for future tax, MOT, or fines. Fortunately, DVLA provides two simple ways to report a scrapped vehicle: online or by post. At blackburnscrapyard.co.uk, we recommend completing this step as soon as the car is collected to avoid any delays or potential complications.

Option 1: Notify DVLA Online (Fastest Method)

The quickest and most secure way to tell DVLA your car has been scrapped is via their official GOV.UK online service. This method is free, available 24/7, and instantly updates DVLA’s records.

Step 1: Visit gov.uk/sold-bought-vehicle and choose the option that says you’ve sold or transferred the vehicle to a motor trader, dismantler, or scrapyard.

Step 2: Enter the 11-digit reference number from your V5C logbook (this is found on the front page or inside, depending on the version).

Step 3: Input the vehicle’s registration, the date of scrapping, and the name/address of the Authorised Treatment Facility (ATF) that took the car.

Step 4: Submit the form. You should receive an on-screen confirmation message and, in most cases, a follow-up letter from DVLA within 2–4 weeks.

This online submission instantly de-registers the vehicle and protects you from further legal or financial responsibility. You don’t need to post anything or send the physical V5C if you’ve used this method — you can simply destroy the logbook after completing the online process.

Option 2: Notify DVLA by Post (Traditional Method)

If you prefer or are unable to use the online system, you can notify DVLA by completing and sending the correct section of your logbook by post.

Step 1: Locate the yellow section of your V5C (on newer forms this is section 9, or V5C/3). It’s labelled “Notification of sale or transfer to a motor trader, insurer or dismantler.”

Step 2: Fill in the name and address of the scrap yard or ATF, along with the date you handed over the car. Sign the section.

Step 3: Tear off that section and post it to:
DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1AR

Step 4: Give the remaining V5C to the scrap yard. Keep a photo or copy of the section you sent for your records, and allow 2–4 weeks for confirmation.

Once DVLA receives and processes the slip, they’ll send you a letter confirming that you’re no longer the registered keeper. This confirmation protects you if any disputes or fines arise after scrapping.

Which Method Is Better?

We strongly recommend using the online method wherever possible. It’s immediate, traceable, and avoids any issues with lost post. Plus, you get an instant confirmation message and usually a follow-up letter from DVLA within a few weeks. However, the postal method is still fully valid and acceptable if preferred or if you lack online access.

What If You Don’t Have the V5C?

If you’ve lost your V5C or never received one, you can still notify DVLA by sending them a letter. Include the following details:

Send this letter to the same address as above: DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1AR. DVLA will process it and issue a confirmation that you’re no longer responsible for the vehicle.

After Notification: What to Expect

Once you’ve submitted your notification (online or by post), DVLA will update their records and send you a confirmation letter. This letter usually arrives within 2–4 weeks. It’s an important document — keep it with your vehicle records in case of any future disputes.

If you don’t receive the letter within 4 weeks, it’s a good idea to contact DVLA directly to check. Occasionally, postal issues or system delays can occur, and it’s better to follow up than risk the car still showing in your name.

Why It Matters

Notifying DVLA ensures you are no longer legally responsible for the vehicle. If you don’t inform them and something happens with the vehicle — such as illegal use, abandonment, or tax offences — you could be held liable. Taking five minutes to notify them protects you from these risks and gives you official closure on the car’s history.

Our Process at BlackburnScrapyard.co.uk

We guide every customer through this process. When we collect your vehicle, we’ll remind you to notify DVLA and help you identify the correct V5C section. If you’ve already notified them online, that’s great — we’ll simply take the rest of the logbook and handle the vehicle legally from there. We also issue a Certificate of Destruction when applicable, which further confirms that the vehicle has been permanently dismantled.

We help you identify the correct section of the V5C to send to DVLA.

We’ll confirm our business details so you can enter them accurately for DVLA records.

If you’ve lost your V5C, we’ll help you draft a letter with all the required details.

We follow up with customers to make sure DVLA records are correctly updated.

Contact us if you need help notifying DVLA, understanding your logbook, or confirming your vehicle has been deregistered. We’re here to support every step of the scrapping process.

Useful Resources

Still unsure how to notify DVLA? Talk to our experts and we’ll walk you through it with no hassle.

Legal Context

By law, the registered keeper must inform DVLA when a vehicle is sold, transferred, or scrapped. When using an ATF, the ATF’s notification (via the Certificate of Destruction) typically updates DVLA, but DVLA still advises keepers to ensure they’ve received confirmation. The two main methods: Online Notification – DVLA provides an online portal “Tell DVLA you’ve sold, transferred or scrapped your vehicle.” You’ll need your V5C document reference number and the name/address of the scrapyard (which you enter as the trader to whom you transferred the vehicle). This instantly updates DVLA that the car is scrapped. Postal Notification – if not doing it online, fill out the V5C/3 section (the yellow slip) for “transfer to motor trader/dismantler.” Fill in the scrap yard’s details and the date of transfer, detach that slip and mail it to DVLA, Swansea. The rest of the V5C can be given to the scrap yard. Legally, either route satisfies your obligation. Failing to notify can lead to liability or a fine.

Why This Matters

Some assume the scrap yard takes care of everything. While ATFs do inform DVLA electronically, owners are often anxious to personally make sure DVLA knows. A pain point is confusion on the process: “Do I send the whole logbook? Just a part? What if I lost the logbook?” Another is uncertainty if using the online service correctly – e.g., choosing the right option (“scrapped or written off”) and entering the trader’s name. People also worry about evidence: after notifying, they wait for a letter from DVLA and might be uneasy until it arrives. There’s also occasionally postal delays or lost mail when sending the slip, which is why the online method is preferred.

Quick Step-by-Step Summary

  • Online method: Go to the GOV.UK “Tell DVLA you’ve sold, transferred or bought a vehicle” service. It will ask if you’ve sold it to a scrap yard or if it’s been written off – follow the prompts for a scrapped vehicle. Input the car’s registration and the 11-digit V5C number from your logbook. Then enter the date of scrap and the name/address of the ATF (as the party you transferred the vehicle to). Submit the form; you should see a confirmation on screen. This immediately updates DVLA. Postal method: Locate the section of your V5C marked for scrapping – on newer V5Cs it’s section 9 (or V5C/3) “Notification of sale or transfer (or scrap) to a trader/dismantler.” Fill in the scrap yard’s name and address and the date. Sign it. Mail that small slip to: DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1AR. It’s wise to do this as soon as the car is handed over. (If you’re unsure which part, the yellow-colored slip on older V5Cs is the one to send.) Handing V5C to scrapyard: Give the rest of the V5C to the scrap yard. This lets them have the vehicle details. You keep just the notification slip (if posting) or note the reference (if doing online). If you’re doing the online process, you don’t actually need to mail anything – you would just destroy the log book afterwards. Confirmation: After DVLA processes the notification, they will issue a letter to you (the former keeper) confirming you are no longer responsible for the vehicle. For online notifications, this letter usually arrives within 2-4 weeks. For postal, allow a few weeks as well. Save this letter. Follow up: If you don’t get a confirmation letter after about 4 weeks, you can contact DVLA to check. Also, if you continue to receive a vehicle tax reminder or other DVLA correspondence for that vehicle, it may indicate they didn’t receive your notification – reach out to them in that case with details of when/how you notified. No V5C scenario: If you didn’t have a V5C to begin with, you would write a letter to DVLA (as described in a previous answer) giving the vehicle and scrap details. The DVLA will then update and send confirmation.

Sources & References

  • GOV.UK – Tell DVLA You’ve Scrapped Your Vehicle; GOV.UK – How to scrap your vehicle

Helpful External Links

  • https://www.gov.uk/sold-bought-vehicle, https://www.gov.uk/scrapped-vehicle