Guide · updated 2026
Can I scrap a car without the V5C logbook?
Losing the V5C is common and it is rarely a dead end. It does mean a little more care over proving the car is yours to sell.
What you will need instead
Photo identification and proof of your address, which we are required to check under the Scrap Metal Dealers Act whether you have the logbook or not.
Something that ties you to the vehicle helps: an insurance certificate, an old MOT, a service record, or a receipt from when you bought it.
How it affects the price
It can, slightly. Missing paperwork means more work at our end and more risk, and some yards will not take a vehicle at all without a logbook. We will tell you plainly when you ring rather than adjusting the figure on the day.
Tell DVLA either way
You can notify DVLA that a vehicle has been scrapped without the V5C. Do it — it is the step that actually removes your liability, and it is free.
Quick answers
Can I scrap a car that is not in my name?
Not without the registered keeper's authority. If you are dealing with a relative's estate or a vehicle abandoned on your property, ring us and we will talk you through what is needed.
This page is general information, not legal advice. For the official position, check GOV.UK — and if something about your car does not fit what is written here, ring the yard and ask.