Car Breakers West Midlands
Autos Craft Ltd is a car breaking business based in Birmingham. This site explains, in plain language, how scrapping a car works in the UK — the steps, the paperwork, and the checks worth making before you hand a car over — and about the used car spare parts the business supplies. If you are thinking of scrapping a car, start with the guides below, then request a quote when you are ready.
Call 07961 404768WhatsApp 07961 404768What scrapping a car involves
Scrapping a car means handing it to a breaker who takes it apart and deals with it properly. The car is drained of fluids, hazardous materials are taken out, and the metal that is left is recycled. It is the end of the road for a car that is damaged, worn out, or no longer worth repairing — and the way it is handled matters, because a car contains oil, fuel, coolant and other substances that must not end up in the ground or in drains.
Before anything is taken apart, the paperwork has to be right. The V5C log book, the DVLA notification and, where one applies, the Certificate of Destruction are what separate a car that has been scrapped properly from a car that is still registered in your name.
The paperwork that matters
Three pieces of paperwork sit at the centre of scrapping a car. The V5C is the car's log book, and it records who the registered keeper is. The DVLA notification is your own duty as the keeper — you tell the DVLA the car has been taken to an authorised treatment facility. The Certificate of Destruction, where one is issued, is the facility's record that the car has been completely scrapped.
Each of these is explained on its own page on this site, so you can see what each one does and what happens if it is missed. The paperwork page gathers them together in one place.
Checking a yard before you hand over a car
A car may only be scrapped at an authorised treatment facility, and a scrap metal dealer must hold a licence from the local authority. Those two checks are the simplest way to tell whether a yard is operating properly, and both can be checked before you hand anything over.
Our guides explain what an authorised treatment facility is, what a scrap metal dealer licence covers, and what to ask a yard before you sell. Read them first — five minutes of checking can save a great deal of trouble later.
What happens to a car after it is scrapped
Once a car reaches an authorised treatment facility it is depolluted: the fuel, oil, coolant and battery are removed, and airbags and other hazardous items are dealt with safely. Parts that are still sound may be taken off for reuse, and the shell that remains is crushed and the metal recycled.
The full journey, from handover to recycling, is described in our step-by-step guide to scrapping a car in the UK, with links to the GOV.UK pages the steps come from.
Used car spare parts
As well as buying scrap cars, Autos Craft Ltd supplies used car spare parts — parts removed from cars that have been broken and offered for reuse. A used part is a genuine part made for the car it came from, and for an older car it can make a repair worth doing when a new part would cost more than the car is worth.
This site does not list individual parts or stock. Stock depends on the cars that have been broken, so the way to find out whether a part is available is to ask. Call 07961 404768 with the make, model and year of your car and the part you need, and we will check what is held.
Where we are
Autos Craft Ltd is based at 295 Cherrywood Rd, Birmingham B9 4UU, and is open 24 hours. This site is the place to find out how scrapping works and to request a quote for your car.
Frequently asked questions
What does a car breaker do?
A car breaker takes in cars that have reached the end of their useful life or are damaged beyond repair, and breaks them down. Usable parts are removed, fluids are drained, and what is left is recycled as scrap metal. The paperwork that goes with the car, including the V5C log book, is dealt with as part of the process.
What paperwork do I need to scrap a car?
The main document is the V5C log book, which you hand over when the car is scrapped, keeping the yellow section for yourself. You also need to tell the DVLA the car has been taken to an authorised treatment facility. If the car is completely scrapped, the facility issues a Certificate of Destruction within seven days.
Do I need to tell the DVLA myself?
Yes. Telling the DVLA is your duty as the registered keeper, and the Certificate of Destruction does not replace it. You can use the GOV.UK service with the 11-digit reference number from your V5C, or send the yellow V5C section to DVLA by post. If you do not tell them, you can be fined.
What is a Certificate of Destruction?
It is the document an authorised treatment facility gives you to confirm that a vehicle has been destroyed in full. You receive it within seven days when a car, light van or three-wheeled motor vehicle is scrapped completely. Without it, you could still be held responsible for penalties and vehicle tax on a car you no longer own.
Where is Autos Craft Ltd based?
Autos Craft Ltd is based at 295 Cherrywood Rd, Birmingham B9 4UU, and is open 24 hours. If you are thinking of scrapping a car, read the guides on this site first — they explain the steps, the paperwork and the checks to make — then use the quote form to request a quote, or call 07961 404768.
Related pages
Thinking of scrapping your car?
Call 07961 404768WhatsApp 07961 404768Autos Craft Ltd · 295 Cherrywood Rd, Birmingham B9 4UU, United Kingdom · Open 24 hours