If repairs to your old vehicle cost more than a new car, bringing it to a scrap yard is your best bet. After your van has been scrapped, you should receive a Certificate of Destruction. If you’re wondering, what is a Certificate of Destruction, can a Certificate of Destruction be reversed, or how to produce a Certificate of Destruction for vans? – keep reading for in-depth answers.
What Is CoD And What Does CoD Stand For?
A Certificate of Destruction also referred to as CoD, is an official document issued by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). Simply put, it’s a document proving that your vehicle was scrapped according to government policies and outlying relevant details such as the destruction date.
A Certificate of Destruction is necessary for a simple reason – it proves that a vehicle is no longer on the road, and you aren’t in charge of it. For instance, your insurance company may request the Certificate of Destruction for documents when you call them to cancel your old vehicle coverage. The vehicle destruction certificate contains your name, address, signature, and scrap yard contact details.
The DVLA Certificate of Destruction isn’t mandatory – it’s necessary for your own peace of mind. If you fail to obtain a vehicle destruction certificate and the DVLA database is not updated correctly, you may be mistakenly charged for traffic offences committed in the vehicle. Furthermore, while the vehicle destruction certificate isn’t mandatory, you’re legally obliged to inform the DVLA that you no longer own the vehicle.
Can a Certificate of Destruction Be Reversed?
If you’re wondering, “can a Certificate of Destruction be reversed?” the short answer is no. The DVLA Certificate of Destruction can’t be reversed once it is issued. This document proves that a vehicle is no longer on the road and can’t be insured or registered to a different owner. Therefore, scrap yards only issue the certificate after a vehicle has been destroyed. In rare cases of human error, the issue is resolved through the courts.
How to Produce a Certificate of Destruction for Vans?
Some scrap yards issue a vehicle destruction certificate by default, while others require you to contact the DVLA yourself. The good news is that you don’t have to worry about “how to produce a Certificate of Destruction for vans?” if you opt for We Scrap Any Van services. We issue a DVLA Certificate of Destruction for any scrap vehicle within two weeks of it being taken out of commission. You can’t receive the certificate before the vehicle is scrapped for legal reasons. If you need a Certificate of Destruction for documents, We Scrap Any Van may issue you an intention letter and a sales contract, but the certificate will follow within two weeks.
Should I Contact the DVLA?
After your vehicle is scrapped, you should notify DVLA. Scrapped vehicle registration will remain unchanged until the owner informs the organisation personally. You should contact the DVLA regardless of whether you want to receive the vehicle destruction certificate. On the day your van arrives at the scrapyard, you must fill in Section 4 of the V5C form and send it directly to the DVLA to inform them that you’re no longer the vehicle owner.
You may receive a £1,000 fine if you fail to notify DVLA. Scrapped vehicle information can be sent by post to the DVLA office. Alternatively, you may contact the DVLA via their website. Make sure that you’ve received a confirmation letter stating that you’re no longer registered as the vehicle owner. You may also be entitled to a refund for vehicle tax paid in advance.
What Should I Do After I Receive my Certificate of Destruction?
Once you’ve obtained your vehicle destruction certificate, the legal process is complete, and you have nothing else to worry about. Save the document for your reference.
Why Didn’t I Receive My Certificate of Destruction Yet?
On occasion, the Certificate of Destruction takes longer to arrive than expected. If you didn’t receive your document within two weeks after your vehicle was collected, chances are, it hasn’t been scrapped yet due to increased scrap yard workload. Don’t hesitate to call us to chase it up, especially if you need to obtain your Certificate of Destruction for documents.
How Do I Know My Certificate of Destruction Is Real? The DVLA CoD Check.
You can recognize a genuine DVLA scrap vehicle certificate by the DVLA logo in the upper left corner, a unique 12-digit document number, and a signature of a scrap yard representative at the bottom. The latter proves that the scrap yard is responsible for the correct disposal of your vehicle.
Can I Check Whether a Vehicle Was Recorded as Scrapped?
If you plan to buy a used vehicle, ensure that it hasn’t been recorded as scrapped previously. A vehicle recorded as scrapped in the DVLA scrap vehicle database can’t be registered to a new owner and shouldn’t be on the road. You can’t check a vehicle’s status directly via DVLA unless it’s your car. However, you can order a third-party vehicle check that will include DVLA scrap vehicle information.
What If I Lose My Certificate of Destruction?
After receiving your Certificate of Destruction, keep it safe in your document folder. If you lose it, you won’t be able to request a copy. However, you will receive a governmental letter proving that a Certificate of Destruction was issued in your name. To do this, you need to fill in the V888 form “request by an individual for information about a vehicle.”
What If My Vehicle Isn’t Registered in the UK?
Sometimes, a vehicle scrapped in the UK is registered in another country. In this case, the owner must save the vehicle destruction certificate and send its notarized copy to the original vehicle registration country. Note that some legal points may vary depending on the country of registration.
Get Rid of Your Van Correctly
Hopefully, we’ve answered all the tricky van scrapping documentation questions you had. At We Scrap Any Van, we understand the importance of legal compliance. We issue the Certificate of Destruction for any vehicle that has been scrapped, but only after the process is complete.
