How do I obtain a Certificate of Destruction for my scrapped car?

You don’t apply for a Certificate of Destruction (CoD) — it’s issued automatically by the licensed scrapyard, known as an Authorised Treatment Facility (ATF), after they scrap your vehicle. The CoD is your official proof that the car has been permanently dismantled, removed from the DVLA register, and is no longer your legal responsibility. At blackburnscrapyard.co.uk, we ensure every qualifying vehicle scrapped through our service receives a CoD, and we help our customers access their certificate promptly and with confidence.

What Is a Certificate of Destruction?

The Certificate of Destruction is a formal document created in the DVLA system when an ATF dismantles a car, light van, or qualifying motor vehicle. It contains:

While this is mainly a back-end digital confirmation between the ATF and DVLA, most ATFs provide a PDF or printed version to the last keeper — either at the time of scrapping or shortly afterward via email or post.

A CoD is proof that your car was permanently destroyed and de-registered by DVLA.

Only licensed ATFs can issue Certificates of Destruction — private sellers cannot.

The CoD is typically issued within 7 days of scrapping, often faster.

You don’t need to request a CoD upfront, but you should follow up if it doesn’t arrive.

How to Get Your Certificate of Destruction

1. Scrap Your Car Through an ATF

The first and most important step is to ensure your vehicle is scrapped through a licensed Authorised Treatment Facility. These are government-approved scrap yards authorised to dismantle end-of-life vehicles and notify DVLA of their destruction. Only ATFs can create and issue a CoD. At blackburnscrapyard.co.uk, all our partners are fully licensed ATFs — so you’re always guaranteed a legal process.

2. Provide Correct Contact Information

When arranging your vehicle handover, make sure the scrap yard has your up-to-date contact information. If they send the CoD by post or email, any errors could result in delays or non-receipt. Some ATFs print and hand you the certificate on the spot; others follow up digitally within a few days.

3. Wait Up to One Week

The CoD is typically processed within 1–7 working days of the vehicle being destroyed. Some facilities submit the destruction notice immediately, while others batch paperwork every few days. If you haven’t received anything after a week, it’s a good time to follow up directly with the scrap yard.

4. Follow Up With the Scrap Yard

If a week passes and you’ve received no email, letter, or confirmation, contact the ATF directly. Ask whether the CoD has been generated, and request a copy for your records. In most cases, they can either reprint it, email a PDF, or provide a DVLA reference confirming the vehicle was de-registered. Sometimes, CoDs are issued but the customer’s email ends up in spam or post gets delayed.

What If You Never Receive a CoD?

If your ATF fails to provide a CoD, there are a few possible explanations:

If your car was sold on rather than dismantled, then no CoD will be issued — because the car still technically exists. Instead, the ATF should inform DVLA of a change of ownership. In this case, you should still receive a DVLA letter saying the vehicle has been transferred — but this is not a Certificate of Destruction.

If the car was destroyed and no CoD was provided, the ATF is legally obliged to supply one upon request. A polite follow-up usually solves the issue.

Is a DVLA Letter the Same as a CoD?

No — but it’s related. After a CoD is generated, the DVLA will often send you a letter saying “You are no longer the keeper of vehicle [XYZ] as of [Date].” This is your confirmation that the DVLA records have been updated. While this letter is not the CoD itself, it does serve as official notice that the vehicle is no longer in your name. Many customers treat this as sufficient for peace of mind — though having the CoD as well gives you full documentation.

When Might You Need the CoD?

While you won’t usually need to present the CoD for day-to-day use, it’s a useful document to retain. You may need it if:

At blackburnscrapyard.co.uk, we recommend you always request and save your CoD. It closes the loop legally and gives you complete peace of mind.

What to Do If the Scrap Yard Is Uncooperative

If you cannot get a response from the ATF or the company has closed, and you still show as the registered keeper, you can contact DVLA directly. Provide them with:

DVLA may be able to update their records based on the information you provide — though this is a rare scenario. Working with a reputable ATF prevents this issue in almost all cases.

Our Guarantee at Blackburn Scrapyard

We make obtaining your CoD simple. When you scrap your car through blackburnscrapyard.co.uk, we:

Only work with licensed ATFs that issue Certificates of Destruction for eligible vehicles.

Ensure the CoD is submitted to DVLA and a copy is available within 7 days.

Send a PDF or printed version to customers who request it.

Support you with follow-ups or verification if delays occur.

Get in touch if you’ve scrapped your car and haven’t received a CoD. We’ll help you track it down, verify it was submitted, and ensure you have all documentation in place.

Useful Resources

Need your CoD confirmed or resent? Contact our team now — we’ll handle it quickly and professionally.

Legal Context

The Certificate of Destruction is generated via the DVLA’s online system which ATFs use. As soon as the vehicle is scrapped and logged, DVLA is notified and the CoD is produced. Only licensed ATFs have access to create CoDs. There is no form for a vehicle owner to fill out to get a CoD; it’s a back-end process between the ATF and DVLA. Regulations require the ATF to either give the CoD to the last keeper or at least make it available. The CoD should be issued within 7 days of the vehicle being fully scrapped. If an owner hasn’t gotten it, legally the owner can request it from the ATF – ATFs are obliged to provide confirmation of destruction. If the scrap yard fails to provide it in a reasonable time, one possibility is that the vehicle wasn’t actually destroyed yet (some yards might hold the vehicle or decide to resell it – in which case, as noted, no CoD would come because it’s not destroyed). Legally, if no CoD, the vehicle remains active on DVLA records unless they were otherwise informed.

Why This Matters

After scrapping, people eagerly await some proof. If a week or two passes with no CoD, they get anxious: “Do I call someone? Did something go wrong?” It can be confusing that the owner doesn’t “get it themselves” but must rely on the scrap yard. Another issue is misunderstanding – some might think they have to request the CoD from DVLA, but DVLA will actually refer them back to the ATF. The process is a bit opaque for the average person, who just wants evidence their car is off the books. Also, not all ATFs automatically send a physical certificate; many now will email a PDF if you ask. The owner might have to chase it.

Quick Step-by-Step Summary

  • Use an ATF: Ensure you scrap the car at an Authorised Treatment Facility – only they can issue a CoD. If you use an ATF, you are in the system for a CoD automatically. Provide contact details: When you scrap the car, give the scrap yard your correct address or email. They will either hand you the CoD on the spot (some ATFs can print it immediately) or send it afterward. Timing: Wait up to a week after scrapping. Many ATFs process the paperwork within a few days. The CoD might arrive by mail or email (some might give a reference number by phone if asked). Follow up with the scrapyard: If a week passes and you have no CoD or DVLA letter, call the ATF. Politely ask for a copy of the Certificate of Destruction. They can re-print or email it to you. Sometimes it might have been sent but got lost in spam or post. Check DVLA confirmation: As an alternative confirmation, you may receive a letter from DVLA saying “You are no longer the keeper of vehicle X as of [date].” This often happens when the CoD is issued (DVLA updates the record and generates a letter to the keeper). If you got that letter, you effectively have proof. Still, the CoD is nice to have for your records. If no CoD provided: In the rare case the ATF does not issue a CoD because they chose a different route for the vehicle (e.g., resale/export), then they should have informed DVLA of change of ownership rather than destruction. You won’t get a CoD then, but you should receive a notification that the vehicle was transferred. If you expected a CoD and didn’t get one, clarify with the scrap yard what happened to the vehicle. DVLA contact if issues: If the scrap yard has shut down or refuses to help and you still show as owner, you can contact DVLA with proof that you handed the car over (receipt, etc.). DVLA can then update their records, though this is an extreme scenario. Generally, dealing with a reputable ATF prevents this problem.

Sources & References

  • GOV.UK – After you scrap your vehicle; RAC – What to do if you haven’t received your CoD

Helpful External Links

  • https://www.gov.uk/scrapped-vehicle, https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/know-how/how-to-scrap-your-car/