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Scrap yards must be licensed

In order to scrap and de-pollute cars, scrap metal dealers need to hold an Authorised Treatment Facility (ATF) licence issued by the governing Environment Agency. An increasing number of scrap metal dealers are falsely claiming to have a licence and their adverts are incorrectly displaying an Environment Agency logo and sometimes the DVLA logo. They are acting illegally by doing this.

Many of these illegal operators only display a mobile number, making it almost impossible for the authorities to take action against them.

The effect on the motorist

If they are an illegal operator they will not be able to issue a Certificate of Destruction (CoD) for a vehicle. Without a CoD there is no guarantee that the vehicle has been de-polluted, scrapped and removed from the DVLA database. This could mean that the vehicle may reappear on the road, subjecting the registered keeper to possible enforcement action, including parking fines.

Legitimate Authorised Treatment Facilities

The Environment Agencies of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland publish a list of all Authorised Treatment Facilities (ATF’s). Visit the links below:

• Environment Agency (England and Wales) Opens new window

• Northern Ireland Environment Agency Opens new window

• Scottish Environment Protection Agency Opens new window

Further information

• What to do if your vehicle is scrapped or written off (motoring section)