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Breaking the vehicle up yourself

If you break or destroy the vehicle yourself, you should notify DVLA by completing the 'scrapped' box on the registration document or certificate and enter the date of scrapping. Send the certificate to DVLA, Swansea SA99 1BA.

Selling the vehicle for scrap

Scrap dealers and vehicle dismantlers are now known as authorised treatment facilities (ATFs), they will treat end of life vehicles in an environmentally friendly manner. If you pass your vehicle to an ATF and it is destroyed immediately, hand in your registration certificate. Certain types of vehicles, including cars and vans up to 3,500kgs, will be issued with a certificate of destruction (CoD). If the vehicle is not to be destroyed, you should fill in the V5C/3 section of the registration certificate to transfer keepership to the ATF. Send the V5/3C to DVLA, Swansea SA99 1BD.

If you have third party insurance cover

If you have third party insurance cover on your car and it has received substantial accident damage to the bodywork, you are required on change of ownership to surrender the registration document or certificate to DVLA before disposing of the vehicle. Substantial damage means the cost of commercial repair would exceed the value of the car.

What happens next

You will be liable for the vehicle until you have notified DVLA of the scrapping or sale of your vehicle. Once you have informed DVLA you will receive an acknowledgement letter confirming the discharge of liability of your vehicle. If you do not receive an acknowledgement letter within four weeks please contact 0870 240 0010. Customers with impaired hearing or speech who have access to text phone/minicom should ring 01792 782 756.

Insurance company makes a total loss payment for your vehicle

If your insurance company decides to write off your vehicle, you must hand over the vehicle to them in return for a total loss payment. You will need to:

Under a special arrangement between DVLA and the insurance industry, your insurer may ask you for the whole registration document or certificate, which they will complete for you and send to the DVLA. If you decide to do this you should, in order to discharge your liability, write to DVLA Swansea SA99 1BR giving the date you passed the vehicle to the insurance company and details of their name and address.

Personalised registration mark on the vehicle

In the event of scrapping or total loss and you have a cherished mark you wish to keep, you must transfer or retain it before you dispose of the vehicle. If you do not do this you will lose your entitlement to that number. You will need to ensure that your insurance company does not dispose of the vehicle and it is available for inspection. For more information read booklet INF 46 'Registration numbers and You', available from DVLA.

• Download 'Registration numbers and you' (INF46) (PDF, 334K)

The vehicle has been accident damaged or written off - How to obtain a vehicle identity check (VIC)

Since 7 April 2003, insurers must notify DVLA of all cars ‘written off’ within salvage categories A, B or C. This notification will set a ‘VIC marker’ against the DVLA vehicle record. While a VIC marker remains set DVLA will not issue a registration certificate V5C, or vehicle licence reminder V11. The VIC marker will only be removed when the car passes a VIC.

The VIC is conducted by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA). However they can only conduct a VIC on a car which has a VIC marker set against the DVLA vehicle record. To check if a VIC marker is set contact VOSA on 08706 060 440. To obtain a VIC you will need to submit a completed application form, together with the correct fee, directly to VOSA. You will be notified of an appointment once VOSA has processed your application.

• For more information on the VIC scheme
• Vehicle check services
• VOSA Vehicle Identity Check test stations (VIC)