Can I scrap my car without a V5C logbook?

Yes. You can scrap a car without its V5C logbook, as long as you can show us who you are and that the car is yours to get rid of. At Motorspot we accept photo ID and proof of address in place of the logbook, and because we are an Authorised Treatment Facility we still notify the DVLA and issue your Certificate of Destruction ourselves.

Why does a scrap yard normally ask for the V5C?

The V5C is the DVLA's record of the registered keeper. When a car is scrapped, the yard uses it to check the details match the car on the trailer and to tell the DVLA the vehicle has been destroyed. The DVLA's own guidance says to hand the V5C to the treatment facility and keep the yellow "sell, transfer or part-exchange your vehicle to the motor trade" section for yourself.

It is a useful document, but it is not the only way to prove the car is yours. Logbooks go missing all the time: lost in a house move, thrown out with old paperwork, or never sent on by a previous owner.

What do I need to bring instead?

When you book with us, have these ready for collection day:

• Photo ID, such as a driving licence or passport
• Proof of address, such as a recent utility bill or bank statement, ideally matching the address the car is registered to
• The registration number and, if you can, the VIN (usually stamped at the base of the windscreen and on a plate in the door frame)
• Any keys you still have

If the car was bought recently and never registered in your name, tell us when you book. A purchase receipt or messages with the seller can help show how the car came to you.

Should I order a replacement logbook first?

Usually there is no need if you are scrapping the car. A replacement V5C costs £25 from the DVLA (form V62) and takes time to arrive, which is money and waiting you can skip if the car is going for scrap anyway.

It can be worth getting one if you would rather sell the car privately, because private buyers will expect to see it. If you are unsure which route suits your car, our guide on deciding whether to sell or scrap may help.

How does the DVLA find out the car has been scrapped?

As a licensed treatment facility, we report the destruction to the DVLA using the car's registration and identification details. We then issue the Certificate of Destruction, which is your proof that the car has been legally scrapped and that you are no longer responsible for it.

Keep that certificate safe. The DVLA's guidance says that without it you could still be held liable for vehicle tax or traffic penalties linked to the car.

Is there anything a yard without a V5C cannot do?

There are a few situations where we will need more information before we can collect:

• The car is not registered to you and you have no paperwork linking it to you. We may ask for written permission from the registered keeper.
• The registered keeper has died. That is fine, but there are a couple of extra DVLA steps; see our guide on scrapping a car for someone who has died.
• The car is still on finance. The finance company owns it until it is paid off, so it is not yours to scrap yet.

Any licensed scrap yard has to check who it is buying from. That protects you as much as us: it stops a car being scrapped by someone who had no right to it.

Do I still get paid without a logbook?

Yes. The missing logbook does not change how we pay. We pay by bank transfer on the day we collect, never cash, because cash payments for scrap vehicles are against the law. Collection by our own drivers is free.

Quick answers

Is it legal to scrap a car without a V5C? Yes. The car must go to an Authorised Treatment Facility, which can still scrap it and notify the DVLA without the logbook, provided it can check your identity.

Will I still get a Certificate of Destruction? Yes. We issue it ourselves as the treatment facility, whether or not you have the logbook.

Do I need to tell the DVLA myself? We report the destruction to the DVLA for you. The DVLA's online service for keepers asks for the logbook reference, so if you have no V5C and want to check the record yourself, contact the DVLA with the registration and the date we collected the car.

What if I find the logbook after the car has gone? Hold on to it with your Certificate of Destruction. It does not need to be returned to us.

Lost your logbook? Get a quote with your registration and postcode and tell us when you book.