How to Scrap Electric Cars in the UK

31st Jul, 2025

It’s a tough moment when the car you chose to help the planet presents you with a repair bill that feels anything but green. You’re left wondering what the truly responsible next step is. Have you ever considered what actually happens to that giant battery after your car is scrapped?

You can’t just hand it over to any old scrapyard. An electric car, especially its high-voltage battery, needs to be handled by specialists. It’s a different beast entirely, and getting it wrong isn’t just bad for the environment; it can be downright dangerous.

The good news is that it’s a straightforward process when you know what you’re doing. At Scrap Car Network, our network includes certified experts who know exactly how to handle these modern machines safely and legally.

The Big Difference: It’s All About the Battery

The key difference between scrapping a petrol car and an electric one boils down to a single, powerful component: the battery.

A standard car uses a small 12-volt battery to get started. An electric car’s battery pack, however, is a powerful system running at 400 to 800 volts. It’s a highly complex piece of technology that not only holds a massive amount of energy but is also full of valuable and hazardous materials, like lithium, cobalt, and nickel.

You wouldn’t just chuck an old phone battery in the bin. The same principle applies here, but on a much larger scale. An EV battery must be dismantled by a trained professional in a controlled environment. Trying to handle a high-voltage battery without the right training and equipment is incredibly dangerous. This is why the scrapping electric cars is a specialist job.

When Is It Time to Say Goodbye?

Deciding to scrap an EV usually comes down to a few key factors. These almost always revolve around the battery.

• The Battery is Giving Up the Ghost: Over time, all batteries degrade. They lose their ability to hold a full charge, and your car’s range gets shorter and shorter. When your original 200-mile range has dropped by 40% and a replacement battery costs upwards of £5,000, it’s often time to call it a day.
• A Faulty Component: EVs have fewer moving parts, but when something does go wrong with the electric motor or the complex electronics, the repair bills can be astronomical. A faulty inverter or onboard charger can easily lead to a bill in the thousands, making scrapping the most sensible financial decision.
• Accident Damage: If your EV has been in a prang, especially if the battery case has been damaged, it may be written off by your insurer as a Category S (structurally damaged but repairable) or N (non-structurally damaged) vehicle. In this case, it must be disposed of by a licensed facility.

Your Step-by-Step Guide to Scrapping an EV Safely

Let’s walk through the process. It’s simpler than you might think.

Step 1: Find a Specialist Scrap Partner

This is the most important step. You need to find an Authorised Treatment Facility (ATF) that is certified to handle electric vehicles. Not all of them are. A standard scrapyard might not have the specialist tools, insulated equipment, or trained technicians to safely decommission a high-voltage battery.

When you’re looking for a quote to scrap your car easily and legally, you should always ask the question: “Are you equipped to handle electric cars?” A reputable service will give you a confident “yes” and should be able to explain its process for recycling electric vehicles.

Step 2: Get Your Paperwork in Order

Just like with any car, you’ll need your documents ready.

• The V5C Logbook: This is essential. You’ll need it to prove you’re the owner and to notify the DVLA later. Keep it safe and don’t leave it in the car. Handing over the whole logbook is like giving a stranger the keys to your car’s identity. Never do it.
• Battery Health Report: If you have a recent report on your battery’s health or capacity, keep it handy, as this can sometimes influence the scrap value.
• Personal Belongings: Give your car a final clear-out. Check the glovebox, under the seats, and in the boot.

Step 3: The Collection and Handover

On the day of collection, the process is straightforward. The driver will inspect the vehicle, and you’ll need to handle the V5C logbook. You should sign and keep the yellow slip (Section 9, or Section 4 on newer V5Cs) as your proof of transfer.

A professional service will never pay you in cash, as it’s illegal under the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013. The payment will be made via a secure bank transfer.

Step 4: The All-Important Certificate of Destruction (CoD)

This is your final, crucial piece of paperwork. Within 7 days of the collection, you must receive a Certificate of Destruction (CoD). This is the official DVLA document that proves your car has been legally destroyed and that you are no longer responsible for it.

If you don’t receive this, you must chase it up. Without a CoD, you could still be liable for fines.

What Happens to an Electric Car Battery?

This is where the process of recycling electric vehicles gets really interesting. Unlike a petrol engine, an old EV battery often has a second life.

Even when a battery is no longer powerful enough to run a car (typically when it degrades to 70-80% of its original capacity), it can still hold a lot of energy. Many are refurbished and used for other purposes, such as:

• Home energy storage: They can be linked to solar panels to store electricity for your house.
• Powering events: Big stacks of old car batteries can be used to provide power for festivals or outdoor events.
• Back-up power for businesses: They can keep the lights on for a business during a power cut.

Only when the battery is truly at the end of its life are the raw materials, the lithium, cobalt, and nickel, extracted for use in new batteries. It’s a fantastic example of a circular economy in action.

The Easiest Way to Scrap Your Electric Car

The simplest way to navigate this specialist process is to use a service that has already vetted its partners. You can discover the advantages of choosing Scrap Car Network, as we have a nationwide network of ATFs, including specialists who are fully equipped and certified for scrapping electric cars.

Our network of local experts ensures convenient collection and compliant processing, whether you’re in Preston or North London. We handle all the paperwork, guarantee a Certificate of Destruction, and ensure your car’s battery is recycled safely and responsibly. If you have any questions about the EV scrapping process, you can get in touch with our team for direct support.

A Clean End for Your Green Car

Giving your electric car a proper send-off is the final step in its eco-friendly journey. By choosing a certified specialist, you’re not just protecting yourself; you’re ensuring the valuable materials inside are given a new life, closing the loop on sustainable driving.