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// CoD

Certificate of Destruction, why it matters

The one document that proves your car was properly scrapped, not sold on or ghosted into the grey market. What it contains, who can issue it, and what happens if a yard fails to provide one.

The CoD in one paragraph

When an Authorised Treatment Facility (ATF) scraps your car, they file the destruction with the DVLA and issue you a Certificate of Destruction. The CoD is your proof that the car has been depolluted and physically broken down. The DVLA uses the CoD reference to close your keeper record. The insurance industry uses it to confirm a write-off settlement. You use it as a liability shield if anything ever comes back to bite (cloned plates, old PCNs, dispute over disposal).

// What's on a valid CoD

Five things every CoD must show

Vehicle ID
VRM (registration), VIN, make and model.
Destruction date
The day the vehicle was physically processed at the ATF.
ATF identifier
The ATF's name and SEPA (Scotland) or EA (England) licence number.
ELV compliance
Statement confirming depollution under End-of-Life Vehicles Regs.
Unique reference
A unique CoD number the DVLA can verify.

// Red flags

When a CoD is fishy

No ATF licence number
A real CoD always references a SEPA or EA licence. No number = no validity.
No unique reference
The DVLA can't close your record without one. Insist on it.
Issued before collection
A CoD must be issued AFTER the vehicle has been depolluted, not at booking.
"We'll send it next week"
7 working days is the standard. Vague timeframes are a stalling tactic.

What we issue and when

We issue a Certificate of Destruction within 7 working days of collection. The CoD is emailed as a PDF by default. If you'd prefer a paper original, say so at booking and we'll post one instead. The CoD references our partner ATF's SEPA licence number, which you can verify on the SEPA public register at sepa.org.uk. Keep the CoD for at least 12 months. Many people keep theirs indefinitely because the document is the only proof the vehicle was disposed of properly, and you never know when that proof becomes necessary.

Related

DVLA paperwork chain · ATF process · Glossary · Scrap my car Glasgow · Scrap my car Edinburgh

Certificate of Destruction, common questions

What is a Certificate of Destruction?

A Certificate of Destruction (CoD) is the legal document issued by an Authorised Treatment Facility (ATF) confirming that an end-of-life vehicle has been depolluted and processed according to UK End-of-Life Vehicles regulations. It's the single piece of paper that proves the car has been scrapped through the proper route, not sold on, exported, or pushed into the grey market.

Who can legally issue a CoD?

Only Authorised Treatment Facilities (ATFs) licensed by SEPA in Scotland (or the Environment Agency in England). A scrap-metal merchant or general waste yard cannot issue a valid CoD even if they take your car, because they don't hold the right licence. If a yard offers you scrap value but "can't give you a CoD", they're operating outside the ELV framework. Walk away.

What happens if I scrap my car without a CoD?

Your DVLA record stays open, which means you remain the registered keeper. The yard keeps your car (and your money) but you keep all the liability. Tax letters, insurance reminders and parking PCNs continue arriving at your address. The longer the gap, the harder it becomes to prove the car was scrapped, because the yard that took it might be untraceable.

How long do I need to keep the CoD?

At least 12 months. Officially the DVLA needs it only for the closure process (which happens within 4 weeks of scrap), but in practice the CoD is the document that ends arguments about who owns liability for any incident involving the vehicle (or its plates, if cloned). Keep a digital copy backed up plus a paper original.

What does a CoD actually contain?

Five things: (1) the VRM (registration), VIN and make/model of the vehicle, (2) the date of destruction, (3) the ATF name and licence number, (4) confirmation that the vehicle has been depolluted under the ELV regulations, (5) a unique CoD reference number that the DVLA can verify. The reference number is what closes your keeper record.

When will I receive my CoD?

Within 7 working days of collection in normal cases. We email a PDF copy by default; we can post a paper original on request. If you haven't received it within 10 working days, get in touch — there's a small chance the email went to spam, or the postal address was old.

Can a CoD be revoked or cancelled?

Only if it was issued in error (e.g., the wrong VRM on the document). Once a vehicle has actually been depolluted, the destruction is physical and irreversible, so the CoD reflects a fact that can't be undone. Corrections happen occasionally for typos, never for substantive changes.

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