Unfortunately, every year there are countless people who are duped into doing just that. According to the RAC, about 1 in 250 cars are sold after being scrapped, so while the chances of driving one are still relatively slim, it\u2019s not outside the realms of possibility. Previously scrapped cars can pose a huge risk to the health and safety of their drivers, so here are some of the most reliable ways to ensure you don\u2019t end up becoming one of them. First though, a quick clarification\u2026<\/p>\n
Is a scrapped car the same as a written-off car?<\/h2>\n
Almost, but not quite. \u2018Scrapped\u2019 and \u2018written off\u2019 are both legal definitions that can be applied to a car, either by the DVLA or by an insurer. Writing off a car is purely a financial decision; a car is written off when an insurer deems it to be uneconomical to repair. In other words, when the cost of repairs will be more than the total value of the car.<\/p>\n
Written-off cars are not automatically resigned to the scrap yard, and can still potentially be repaired. In fact, many of them are indeed returned to the road, either because their owners were happy to pay for the damage – as is often the case with cars that have sentimental value – or because the damage itself is very minor or cosmetic.<\/p>\n
A scrapped car, on the other hand, cannot ever be repaired to a standard that would make it safe to put back on the roads. Unlike some write-offs, the decision to scrap a car isn\u2019t one that\u2019s based on economics, or what makes financial sense. Instead, it\u2019s entirely a matter of safety, pure and simple. So while some written-off cars can be driven again, you should never knowingly drive a scrapped car; it\u2019s far too dangerous.<\/p>\n
It might not seem like the most straightforward thing in the world initially, but make sure you know the difference – it makes a huge difference to your safety!<\/p>\n
So, with that cleared up, here\u2019s how to ensure your prospective purchase hasn\u2019t been scrapped before.<\/p>\n
![\"Scrapped](\"https:\/\/www.scrapcarnetwork.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Scrapped-cars-1.jpg\")
\n1. Get an HPI check<\/h2>\n
This is without a doubt one of the most widely-used and reliable ways to check the history of your car. HPI (which stands for Hire Purchase Information) is a vehicle history checking service that goes into extensive depth about each car\u2019s history, working closely with organisations like the police, DVLA, finance companies and insurance companies to build a comprehensive picture of your car\u2019s history. It\u2019s got an excellent track record too; it uncovers more than 2200 cars that are unannounced insurance write-offs. It\u2019s not a free service, but it\u2019s certainly excellent for providing peace of mind.<\/p>\n
2. Check with the DVLA<\/h2>\n
You know who tends to know quite a lot about car records? Yup, the Drivers and Vehicle Licensing agency. (It\u2019s literally their reason for being, after all!) Checking the DVLA\u2019s database is quite simple – you can just go straight to this form on the government website<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n If you\u2019d prefer, there\u2019s no shortage of third-party companies who can ask the DVLA on your behalf, and even do some of the admin heavy lifting for you, too. One of their main approaches will be to ask the DVLA if they have any record of the car\u2019s Certificate of Destruction, which is a legal document proving that the car has been scrapped. Ideally, there shouldn\u2019t be – if they manage to find one for you, that means the car is a lemon, and a dangerous one too.<\/p>\n The RAC (once known as the Royal Automobile Club) is another excellent source if you want a detailed history of your car. The organisation prides itself on being able to offer a fully comprehensive vehicle check that spans the basics (such as whether your car\u2019s been stolen), all the way up to more in-depth checks, such as whether the car has any existing finance on it. The service isn\u2019t free, but it is very thorough, so it\u2019s worth factoring into your budget for your potential new purchase, for complete peace of mind.<\/p>\n These are far from the only options available to you, but they\u2019re certainly some of the most widely available and easy to use. And from the other side of the fence, one of the best ways to ensure that your own car doesn\u2019t end up in this situation is to make absolutely sure that you get that all-important Certificate of Destruction<\/a><\/strong>, which frees you from any legal responsibility for your car.<\/p>\n As with all other legal documents, it\u2019s something we take care not to mess you about with here at Scrap Car Network. In fact, when you choose us to scrap your car, we\u2019ll focus on making the entire process as quick and simple for you as possible. All you need to do is\u00a0enter your car reg and postcode\u00a0into the fields on our site, and we\u2019ll get you an instant online quote before you can say\u00a0cash for cars<\/a><\/strong>. It only takes a few seconds. Curious to find out how much your car is worth?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Buying a used car can be a lengthy but highly satisfying experience, especially when you succeed in getting yourself a particular bargain. Before you can get to that stage though, you\u2019ll need to ensure you\u2019ve done all your due diligence with regard to the car\u2019s history – perhaps the most intensive but worthwhile part of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":113,"featured_media":4486,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[16,1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n2. Check with the RAC<\/h2>\n