Frequently asked questions
Questions you may have before obtaining your quote from Abbey Scrap Cars.
Will it cost me anything to get a quote?
There is no charge for getting a quote and absolutely no obligation on your part to accept our instant best price quote.
You can chose to enter your contact details or you may leave it blank if you would prefer not to receive any further contact from us.
We do not charge you for collecting your vehicle or for our administration, we provide these services free of charge for your convenience.
It's simple to get started, get your FREE instant online quote today!
What area's do you cover?
We cover Bristol, Cardiff, Cheltenham, Gloucester, Hereford, Monmouth, Newport, Tewkesbury, Worcester .
Will I have time to think about my quote and will the price be guaranteed?
Yes, there's no obligation to part with your car. When you enter the vehicle registration number and your postcode, we will instantly offer you the best current market price for your vehicle however, the process doesn't begin until you actually accept the quote and proceed to the next stage.
Please be aware that market prices can fluctuate, so the quote offered may increase or decrease if you delay.
Once you accept the quote, the price is then guaranteed and will not change providing that the vehicle is a complete vehicle.
It's simple to get started, get your FREE instant online quote today!
Are prices guaranteed?
We base our price on the assumption that the vehicle is a complete vehicle.
Our prices are guaranteed except, in very rare cases where we may have to recalculate the value or even cancel your collection. For example, when parts and or panels have been removed from a vehicle, if the vehicle is not towable due to a lack of wheels or Abbey Scrap Cars have been misled.
If in doubt, please give us a ring to discuss your situation so that we may still assist you where possible with the best market value offer.
Get in touch to obtain your instant, no obligation quote today!
What do you mean by complete vehicle?
Your quote is based on your car being complete. By complete, we mean that the vehicle has it parts intact, specifically: the engine, the gearbox and drivetrain, catalytic converter (if originally fitted), body panels and other components such as seats, battery and wheels.
It's okay if the parts themselves are damaged, do not work or even if the engine doesn't run.
If your car is incomplete, we may still provide a personal quote but the missing parts may affect your quotation. Please call us on 0800 334 5780 .
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Do I have to accept the quote for my car?
No, you are under no obligation to accept a quote. However, If you would like to get a free, no obligation quote for your car , you can get one online today.
What happens when I have accept a quotation?
Once you accept the online quote, you will be sent an e-mail confirming the price quoted. A member of our friendly team will aim to contact you within 4 business hours to confirm your details, your preferred payment method and arrange a convenient vehicle collection date and time. We prefer to make initial contact by telephone but we are happy to text or e-mail if you prefer these methods or if it's more convenient for you. You will be able to advise us of your preferred contact method when accepting your quote.
To begin the process, CLICK HERE!
Do I need to provide my vehicles' V5C registration certificate?
No, your V5C registration certificate (also known as a vehicle log book) is not essential and it will not affect your quote. However, it is very helpful if you can provide it. Abbey Scrap Cars will issue a DVLA Certificate of Destruction having the V5C assists our team with the DVLA notification and certification process.
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My car's engine doesn't run. Does it matter?
No, our specially equipped recovery trucks can efficiently collect cars with a non-running engine.
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What if the log book is not in my name?
That's okay, the log book or V5 doesn't have to be in name of the person selling the car. As long as you provide the correct identification when we come to collect your car.
My car is registered as SORN. Does it matter?
No, we collect vehicles that hold a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN).
What do you mean by 'starts and drives?'
Whilst obtaining a quote for your scrap car you may be asked if your vehicle "starts and drives". By starts and drives, we are asking if the vehicle has no major mechanical problems concerning the engine or drivetrain (the components between the engine and the wheels, such as the gearbox). If your answer was 'Yes', you are declaring that the body work is not damaged to an extent that would impede driving, that there are no critical mechanical problems with the engine or drivetrain, that a key to the vehicle will be provided to our collection driver and that there is sufficient charge in the battery, fuel in the tank and oils in the engine and gearbox to enable Abbey Scrap Cars to carry out a start/drive test.
If the car fails a start/drive test or you cannot provide us with a key, we may recalculate your quotation or even cancel the collection.
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Does it matter if my car is missing parts?
Most minor parts will not affect your quotation however, some parts will, please refer to the guidance on what is a complete vehicle?
If you are not sure or have a question, please give one of our friendly and helpful team a call on 0800 334 5780 .
Start the process now and get your instant online QUOTE HERE!
Do I need to provide a key for my car?
Not always. We only insist on your providing a key if, during the instant quote process, you told us that your car starts and drives.
However, we will usually buy your car without a key.
If in doubt, a member of our team will advise you, give us a call on 0800 334 5780 or to get an instant, no obligation quote CLICK HERE!
Does it matter if my car is damaged?
No, we are interested in purchasing all cars, even badly damaged ones. Please let us know the nature of the damage, speak to us before obtaining an instant online quote on 0800 334 5780
Does it matter if my car has parts that do not work?
We will provide quotes and pick up cars with non-working parts in certain circumstances.
For a free, no obligation Quote, call us on 0800 334 5780
Does it matter how old my car is?
Does it matter if my car has a high mileage?
No, we want your car regardless of its mileage.
For a free no obligation instant online quote CLICK HERE!
Does it matter if my car has been written off?
No, we are happy to purchase cars that have been written off (whether recorded by an insurance company or not).
For a free, no obligation instant quote CLICK HERE!
Does it matter that my car is in poor condition?
No, we regularly purchase and recover cars in poor condition.
For a free, no obligation instant quote CLICK HERE!
I do not have a valid MOT Test Certificate. Does it matter?
No, a valid MOT Test Certificate is not required for us to buy your car.
For a free, no obligation instant quote CLICK HERE!
My car's insurance has expired. Does it matter?
No, a valid insurance policy is not necessary for us to buy your car.
For a free, no obligation instant quote CLICK HERE!
My car is registered as SORN. Does it matter?
No, we collect vehicles that hold a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN).
My car's road tax has expired. Does it matter?
No, your car does not need to be taxed to for us to collect it.
For a free, no obligation instant quote, CLICK HERE!
How do you calculate the value of my car?
Your vehicle registration number and the post code provides our specialist software with all of the details that we need to calculate the best market value offer for your end of life vehicle.
To get an instant quote for your complete vehicle CLICK HERE!
Or ring our friendly team on 0800 334 5780 to get a personalised quote.
What kind of cars do you buy?
We buy all kinds of cars and vans up to a Gross Vehicle Weight of 3500 kilogram's. The vehicle's condition or age doesn't matter to us as long as it's a complete vehicle.
It's easy to get your Quote, Simply CLICK HERE!
Do you buy caravans?
No, sorry we do not buy caravans.
Do you buy commercial vehicles?
What if I have more than one car to scrap?
We will be happy to quote on all of your vehicles. Call us on 0800 334 5780 of to get an instant no obligation Quote online please CLICK HERE!
Do you accept cars with outstanding finance?
No, under absolutely no circumstances can we accept a car with outstanding finance. You will need to resolve that as a separate matter before you accept the quote.
What if my car is registered abroad?
No problem, we can still scrap your car and give you a great price. Whilst there are a few extra administrate steps we have to take it won't affect the price we give you. Just be sure to mention that your car is registered abroad when you talk to one of our friendly staff. Unfortunately at this time we can't offer online quotes for cars registered outside the United Kingdom. Get the process started now call 0800 334 5780 .
Car owner is deceased, can I scrap this car?
Yes, disposing of a deceased person's vehicle is easy. You don't have to change the ownership of the vehicle, but having the log book will make the process easier.
How do I reclaim my unused road tax?
Once a Certificate of Destruction is issued, the DVLA automatically updates it's databases and will refund any unused tax directly. Direct debits are automatically cancelled and if a refund is due, the refund cheque payment is sent to the person named on the V5C registration certificate (log book.)
You can also reclaim any unused road tax yourself by writing to the DVLA and letting them know your vehicle has been scrapped.
For more information on how to ask for a refund CLICK HERE.
To notify the DVLA you have sold your car for scrap CLICK HERE.
Questions you may have about payment for your car.
How will I be paid for my scrap car?
You can choose either a bank transfer or a cheque. Cash payments for scrap vehicles are illegal under the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013. In England and Wales the cash payment ban has been inforce since 3rd December 2013.
When will I be paid for my car?
If you chose to be paid by cheque, it will be given you when your car is collected.
If you chose to be paid via a bank transfer, it will be paid to your account when your car is delivered to our depot.
If your vehicle is delivered to our depot outside of our office hours your payment will be made the next working day.
If you wish to change your payment method of payment please call us on 0800 334 5780 or CLICK HERE!
Why won't you pay me in cash?
The purchase of scrap cars in England and Wales comes under the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013. Since the 3rd December 2012 there has been a ban on paying for all forms of scrap metal in cash including scrap vehicles. The cash ban was incorporated into the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 on the 1st October 2013. It is illegal to receive cash for a scrap car!
The only forms of payment acceptable to the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 are either non-transferrable bank transfer or cheque.
Questions you may have before your car is collected.
When will you contact me to arrange a collection date?
We always aim to contact you as soon as possible and within 4 business hours of accepting your quote. We will contact you by phone, text or email if you prefer, to arrange a collection time and date that is convenient for you.
Please note that if you accept your quote outside of our normal working hours, we will try to contact you as soon as possible or when the next working day begins at the latest.
Our office hours are Monday - Friday 8am to 5pm and Saturday 8am to 1pm. Our office is closed on Sunday's and Bank Holidays.
If you wish to speak to us about your car's collection, please call us on 0800 334 5780 .
How long will it be until my car is collected?
We like to collect your vehicle as soon as possible and aim to accommodate your preferred date, time and location. The entire process is normally completed within a few day's of you accepting your quote and often the process can be completed on the same day! On the pre-arranged day, we will contact you to confirm the collection details.
Abbey Scrap Cars can sometimes collect on the evenings and the weekends by prior arrangement.
We can even pick up your car from your place of work.
Please CLICK HERE for an instant Quote.
What happens when you collect my car?
On your pre-agreed collection day, you will receive a courtesy call from the Abbey Scrap Car driver to confirm the pre-arranged date, location and time.
Car collections are easy!
Four simple steps:
- Our experienced recovery driver will meet you at the location, time and date previously agreed, they will even contact you to let you know that they are on their way.
- The driver will load and secure the car to our recovery vehicle.
- The driver will make a copy of your identification (required by law to comply with the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013) and issue you with a receipt of purchase for your vehicle and hand over your cheque or if you opted for a bank transfer, this will be made when the driver has returned to our recycling centre (or if If your vehicle is delivered to our depot outside of our office hours your payment will be made the next working day). The driver will also sign section 9 of the V5C log (vehicle log book) as evidence that you handed over the vehicle to Abbey Scrap Cars, in case you wish to send the section 9 slip to the DVLA .
- We will complete all of the paperwork for you and keep your legally compliant with all of the relevant legislation.
We de-pollute and recycle your car in an environmentally friendly way in accordance with Environment Agency Procedures and we will produce and e-mail or post a DVLA Certificate of Destruction on behalf of the DVLA. The Certificate of Destruction is issued by our parent company, Abbey Metal Recycling Limited, an approved End of Life Authorised Treatment Facility. We maintain records for a required period and in accordance with the Data Protection Act and then fully destroy them.
All this provides you with peace of mind, for you and the environment!
How much time does a collection usually take?
The time a collection takes varies but 20 minutes is typical for a car that is easily accessible and if the person selling the car has the required documentation to hand.
Vehicles that are less accessible will take might considerably longer and we have on occasion experienced some very difficult collections that have taken an hour or so.
We try to ensure that we collect your car on the first visit and as efficiently as possible. It is all part of the Abbey Scrap Car service.
What do I need to provide on collection?
Ideally you will have a V5C registration certificate (log book) and a set of keys for the vehicle. If you only have one or neither, it won't stop us from collecting your car (although it will slow the process down) but not having the correct identification will stop us from being able to collect or pay for your vehicle until the correct id's are produced.
Why do I need to provide I.D ?
Since the 1st October 2013, if you sell a car for scrap metal in England and Wales you must prove your identity as required by the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013.
Your identity is confirmed by allowing us to obtain a copy of an approved form of identification.
The simplest form of approved ID to provide us with your photo card driving license.
If you don't have a photo card driving license, you can show another form of photo ID along with separate proof of your address such as a utility bill within the past three months. A mobile phone bill is not an acceptable format.
1. Accepted forms of photo ID:
- A valid UK passport
- A valid passport issued by a European Economic Area state, or
- A valid UK biometric immigration document.
2. Accepted proof of address (which must not be older than 3 months):
- A bank or building society statement
- A credit or debit card statement
- A council tax statement or demand letter
- A utility bill (e.g. gas, electricity, water) Please note: a mobile phone bill is not a utility bill.
No other form of identification is acceptable to the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013.
If you wish to open the pdf file 'The prescribed documents and information for verification of name and address' CLICK HERE.
Without the correct Identification will not be able to buy your vehicle.
Do you give receipts?
Yes, the driver who collects your car will issue you with a receipt for the vehicle.
What if I need to rearrange the collection time?
If you need to rearrange your collection then call us on 0800 344 5780 or to email us CLICK HERE!
We understand that unexpected events sometimes pop up and we will be happy to arrange a new collection time, date or location.
Can I drop my car off instead of having it collected?
Yes and we will arrange your payment and issue a Certificate of Destruction for your vehicle, whilst you wait.
You can deliver your car to our Authorised Treatment Facility at any time between 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 1pm on Saturdays. We are closed on Bank holidays.
When we contact you to arrange the collection of your car, simply let us know that you wish to deliver it.
Can I have a set time for my collection?
Yes we will honour a pre-agreed time that is convenient for you. We will contact you on the day of your collection to re-confirm we are coming and advise if we get held up in traffic or any unforeseen or unavoidable circumstances arise.
Can you collect on weekends?
Yes by prior arrangement and if possible we will try to accommodate this.
Do you collect cars in the evenings?
Yes, if possible we will try to accommodate this.
Does it matter if my car is not at my home address?
No, we will collect your car from which ever location is best for you.
My car hasn't moved in a long time. Does that matter?
No, we can still collect your car. Please advise us in advance if your vehicle has issues with any of the following; flat battery, missing keys, locked steering, or if the vehicle has been standing for a long period of time.
Our fleet of recovery vehicles is specially equipped for the task and our drivers are experienced at collecting non-running vehicles.
Please tell us your car is a non-runner when we contact you to arrange your collection.
My car is parked in a difficult spot. Does it matter?
No. It is helpful for us to know in advance if your car is in a difficult location, please mention it to us when we contact you to arrange your collection.
Our drivers have the experience to overcome many challenging situations.
Do you charge a fee for collecting?
No. We do not charge a fee for collecting your vehicle.
We do not charge for completing the administration paperwork. It's all part of the Abbey Scrap Car service.
Do you charge an administration fee?
No, we do not charge admin fees. Free administration and collection of your car are all part of the service.
How clean does my car need to be?
It doesn't need to be clean or tidy. Please remove any personal belongings and rubbish before we arrive to collect the vehicle.
Can you collect more than one vehicle at a time?
Yes. Our fleet of recovery lorries range from small trucks which collect a single car at a time up to a 7 car transporter.
I left something in the car, can I get it back?
We request that you empty your car before collection, don't forget that disc in the CD player! If you do realise you have left something in the car, give us a call and we will try and recover it for you. We are not responsible for any personal belongings in your vehicle during collection and processing.
Can I fill the car with scrap metal from my garden?
You are welcome to fill your car with some scrap metal from the garden but please remember that the driver collecting your scrap car will need access to the driver seat/steering wheel and possibly the bonnet release catch. Sometimes an overloaded vehicle can be difficult to winch onto our lorries. It would be beneficial if you could let us know when we contact you to arrange collection.
Questions you may have about scrap cars and the law.
What is the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013?
The Government introduced the new Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 across the metal recycling and motor salvage industries in England and Wales on 1st October 2013, the Act also incorporates the Cash Ban introduced in December 2012.
The Act provides updated laws concerning purchasing of scrap metal and was introduced to help prevent metal theft.
You can view the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 HERE.
For more information on how the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 affects you (57).
How does the Scrap Metal Dealers Act affect me?
The primary effect of the legislation on those who are selling a scrap car is that they can no longer be paid in cash and that they must also provide identification.
For more information on how we will pay you, (32).
For more information on how you can prove your identity, (40)
End of Life Vehicle Regulations
The End of Life Vehicle Regulations 2003 is a European Union wide directive to reduce the environmental harm caused by unwanted vehicles.
The regulations set a minimum 95% for the reuse or recycling of scrap cars and light goods vehicles.
If you wish to read more about the End of Life Vehicle Regulations 2003 please CLICK HERE
What is an end of life vehicle?
An End of Life Vehicle is any car, van or pick up truck that has been deemed to have reached the end of its usefulness.
Scrap vehicles are considered to be a source hazardous waste and must be carefully depolluted before the metal contents or reusable parts can be recycled. Only a permitted site known as an Authorised Treatment Facility is allowed to handle the depolluting of scrap vehicles.
What is an Authorised Treatment Facility?
Our Environment Agency licensed Authorised Treatment Facility in Cinderford, Gloucestershire is where we recycle End of Life Vehicles according the standards set by the End of Life Vehicles Regulations 2003 which state all scrap vehicles must be taken to an Authorised Treatment Facility for the initial stage of recycling. This stage is known as depollution where any environmentally hazardous materials such as engine oil or lead/ acid batteries are carefully removed and stored in special tanks or impervious boxes before they are removed from the site for specialist treatment.
After depollution the vehicle is considered environmentally 'inert' or neutral and is now ready for further recycling.
To prevent pollution of the local ground and water supplies all Authorised Treatment Facility's must be able to contain any harmful liquids that might escape the site, this is achieved by operating all activities on impervious surfaces with and sealed drainage systems to collect all liquids including rain water.
In England and Wales the Environment Agency is the body responsible for overseeing the environmental standards are enforced.
Also under the End of Life Vehicle Regulations 2003 all scrap cars must be issued with a Certificate of Destruction which can only be issued by an Authorised Treatment Facility that has been registered by the DVLA.
Why is a Certificate of Destruction important?
A certificate of destruction for your vehicle is proof that the DVLA are aware your car has been scrapped properly in both an environmental and legal sense.
Only Environment Agency permitted Authorised Treatment Facilites that has been registered by the DVLA.are able to issues a Certificate of Destruction on behalf of the DVLA using an electronic link to update the DVLA's database of vehicles in the U.K.
Abbey scrap Cars will issue a Certificate of Destruction promptly and will email or post you a copy which you should keep in a safe place as a certificate of destruction is the proof you are no longer responsible for your old car.
Do I need to contact the DVLA?
No, We will notify the DVLA that you are no longer the registered keeper of the vehicle and send you a Certificate of Destruction as proof.
But if you prefer a belt and braces approach, you can tell the DVLA yourself by CLICKING HERE.
Do you sell car parts?
We don't specialise in parts but we may be able to help you locate a part you need. Call us on 0800 334 5780 .