Got a Left-Hand Drive? The Guide to Scrapping Imported and Foreign-Registered Cars in the UK

Most of the time, scrapping a car in the UK is a pretty straightforward business. You’ve got your V5C logbook, you ring up a scrapyard, and off it goes. But what if your car is a bit… different? What if it’s a left-hand drive model you brought over from France? Or a classic American muscle car you imported a few years ago? Suddenly, things can seem a bit more complicated.

The rules for scrapping foreign and imported cars are a little different, and it’s important to get it right. But don’t worry, it’s not as daunting as it sounds. This guide is for all you owners of quirky, non-standard motors. We’re going to break down exactly what you need to do to scrap your imported car legally.

The Big Question: Is Your Car UK-Registered?

This is the first and most important question you need to answer. Everything else depends on this. Has your car been officially registered with the DVLA? Do you have a V5C logbook for it?

If the answer is yes, then things are pretty simple. Your car is officially a UK car, even if it is a left-hand drive. You just follow the normal scrapping process. You find an Authorised Treatment Facility (ATF), you give them the V5C, you get a Certificate of Destruction (CoD), and you tell the DVLA. Job done.

If the answer is no, then things are a bit different. If your car is still on its foreign registration plates, then the DVLA doesn’t really care about it. It’s not on their system. So, you don’t need to tell them that you’re scrapping it. But you do have a responsibility to the country where the car is registered.

Scrapping a Car That’s Not UK-Registered

So, you’ve got a car that’s still on its French, German, or Spanish plates. You can still scrap it in the UK. You just need to use a licensed ATF, the same as you would for a UK car. They will take the car and issue you with a Certificate of Destruction (CoD).

But here’s the crucial bit: you then need to tell the driving authority in the car’s home country that it has been scrapped. You’ll need to send them the CoD as proof. This is your responsibility. If you don’t do this, you could end up with fines or tax demands from that country. Every country has its own process for this, so you’ll need to do a bit of research. A good place to start is the website of the country’s driving authority (the equivalent of our DVLA).

What About Personal Imports?

Maybe you’ve imported a car from Japan or the USA. You’ve gone through the hassle of getting it here, but now it’s reached the end of its life. What do you do?

Again, it all comes down to whether you’ve registered it with the DVLA. If you’ve been driving it on UK roads, you should have registered it and got a V5C. In this case, you just follow the normal scrapping process.

If you haven’t registered it, and it’s just been sitting in your garage, then you’ll need to follow the process for non-UK registered cars. You’ll need to tell the authorities in the country it came from that it’s been scrapped.

Will I Get Less Money for a Left-Hand Drive Car?

This is a common worry. Will a scrapyard offer you less for a left-hand drive car? The answer is… probably not. The value of a scrap car is mostly in the weight of the metal. And a left-hand drive car weighs the same as a right-hand drive one. So, the scrap value should be about the same.

However, if the car has valuable parts, it might be a different story. Some parts on a left-hand drive car are different to a right-hand drive one (the steering rack, for example). This might make them less desirable to UK buyers. But other parts, like the engine and gearbox, will be exactly the same. So, it all tends to even out.

The best way to find out is to get a few quotes. Be upfront about the fact that it’s a left-hand drive model and see what they offer.

A Quick Checklist for Scrapping an Imported Car

To make things simple, here’s a quick checklist to follow:

1. Check if the car is UK-registered. Do you have a V5C logbook?
2. If it is UK-registered, follow the normal scrapping process. Tell the DVLA when you’re done.
3. If it’s not UK-registered, you can still scrap it at a UK ATF.
4. Get a Certificate of Destruction. You’ll need this as proof.
5. Tell the authorities in the car’s home country. This is your responsibility. Send them the CoD.
6. Shop around for the best price. Don’t assume you’ll get less just because it’s a left-hand drive.

Scrapping an imported car might seem like a hassle, but it’s really not that bad. As long as you’re organised and you know who you need to talk to, it’s a perfectly manageable process. So, don’t let that old Lancia in your garage gather any more dust. Get it scrapped, get it done, and get it legal.