Selling or disposing of your vehicle

If you are registered as the keeper of a vehicle with the DVLA you must tell the DVLA when you sell on the vehicle. This will ensure you are not liable for any costs for the removal and disposal of a vehicle you may previously have sold if that vehicle is later dumped or abandoned.

Follow these steps to avoid becoming a victim of crime when selling your vehicle.

• Make sure you complete the relevant section of the V5C log book and send it to the DVLA when you sell your vehicle. Never let the buyer send the V5C to the DVLA. The DVLA will write back to confirm that you are no longer the registered keeper.
• Never give your vehicle away even if it’s just for parts without filling in the V5C and sending it to the DVLA.
• Make sure your vehicles road tax is always up to date.
• If you have cause to SORN your vehicle, make sure it is parked off-road on private land where you have permission to park it otherwise it could still be removed.

Disposing of your vehicle

When you need to dispose of your vehicle, follow the government advice for scrapping your vehicle to ensure it is disposed of correctly.

Free disposal of your vehicle is guaranteed as long as the vehicle is largely complete, for example still has its engine, gearbox, bodywork, wheels, and if appropriate a catalytic converter and is free of additional waste.

Vehicles must get scrapped at an Authorised Treatment Facility (ATF) and you should keep the Certificate of Destruction they give you.