There’s a lot of paperwork that comes with owning a car, plus additional costs that come with MOTs and car insurance. But what if you’re getting rid of an old vehicle, do you still need insurance just for scrapping a car or van? Read on to find out.
Why do Cars Need to be Insured?
Any vehicle in use needs to be insured – it’s a legal requirement. This is to financially protect the driver as well as the medical costs and repair bills for anyone else who could potentially be involved in an accident. It means that if you were to be in an accident that wasn’t your fault, you wouldn’t be required to cover any resulting costs; instead this should all be covered by the other party’s vehicle insurance.
If, however, a car isn’t in use (say, it’s not functioning or simply isn’t being driven for long periods of time) then it can be registered with a SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification). This is a way of informing the DVLA that the car isn’t insured because it’s not being used and means you don’t need to pay for insurance that you’re not using. Learn more about SORN with our guide.
Read More
- How to UnSORN a Car
- Hibernating Cars: Taking cars off the road with SORN for winter
- Can you tax a vehicle without insurance?
Can I Scrap my Car Without Insurance?
Yes, you can scrap your car, even without insurance. Most scrap dealers use professional recovery vehicles to tow or carry your vehicle to the scrap yard. These dealers will have their own insurance cover for the vehicle from the moment of collection. So, if you currently have a SORN for your car, it’s no issue for the car to still be picked up and taken for scrap or salvage.
Can I Take my Car to be Scrapped Without Insurance?
If you’d rather drive the vehicle to the scrap yard yourself, then you will need a valid insurance policy – you’ll most likely be driving on public roads and insurance is a legal requirement. You should be able to sign up for temporary car insurance for this. Many insurers will offer 24-hour cover and some will cover for as little as one hour at a time, giving you the flexibility to hop in the car for just the duration of the journey to the scrap yard.
Most scrap dealers, however, are used to collecting scrap cars directly from the vehicle’s address, so you’ll probably just find it easier for them to pick it up from you. We explain more about where scrap vehicles can be collected from in this guide.
What Happens to my Car Insurance When I Scrap my Car?
If your vehicle does have valid insurance when you scrap it, you could well be due money back for any full months unused on your policy. We explain more in this guide to car tax and insurance refunds.
Check out our Scrap Car Collection FAQs for more information about requirements for scrapping your vehicle. Then, why not get started on scrapping your car today? We’ll help you to secure a quote and discover how much your scrap car may be worth.
