By now, you’ve probably heard about the scrap car scams plaguing the UK. You’ve probably also been advised to steer clear of them at all costs. Still, you might not understand what the big deal is with the whole thing.
After all, just as long as you get rid of your scrap car and get something in your pocket as a result, what’s the harm?
The Dangers of Scrap Car Scams
Scrap car scams can be damaging and dangerous in a number of ways. For the owner of a scrap car, handing a vehicle over to a scam artist opens the door to a world of potential problems. There’s every chance they’ll never declare the car’s disposal, meaning you could still be held liable for any trouble it gets into after passing it on. In fact, simply by handing your car over to a scammer (as opposed to an authorised treatment facility) you could face heavy penalties.
It’s also worth considering what your car could be used after passing it on to an unlicensed scrapping service. They’ll tell you it’s going to be dismantled and put to good use, but who’s to say they don’t simply polish it up a little and sell it to an unsuspecting buyer? Best-case scenario, an uncomfortable and unreliable vehicle remains in use. Worst-case scenario, a dangerous and potentially deadly scrap car risks the safety of its occupants and all other road users.
While all this is happening, it could be your name that appears on the vehicle’s ownership document.
Do Your Research
On top of all this, the vast majority of substandard scrapping services don’t follow essential UK recycling regulations. Of the million or so cars that leave UK roads each year, it is estimated that around 100,000 aren’t put back into the system as they could be. A problem attributed at least in part to scrap car scams and illegal operations.
The good news is that steering clear of dodgy dealers doesn’t have to be difficult. Instead, it’s simply a case of working exclusively with licensed and regulated car scrapping and recycling services, demanding a certificate of destruction and ensuring you inform DVLA accordingly. In addition, refuse cash-in-hand payments for your scrap vehicle, which have been illegal for some time now.
Follow these simple steps and you won’t go wrong.
Here at Take My Scrap Car, we’ve worked hard to develop the region’s most accessible, responsible and rewarding car scrapping and recycling service. Whatever type of vehicle you need to dispose of, we’ll collect it from any location in Norfolk and take it away for responsible recycling. We’ll also ensure you’re paid a fair price for doing the right thing, calculated in accordance with scrap values on the day.
The way we see it, safe and effective car scrapping and recycling doesn’t have to be difficult. It’s simply a case of doing your homework and keeping your eyes peeled for a few tell-tale warning signs.
For more information or to discuss collection of a vehicle in your area, contact the team at Take My Scrap Car today.
