Did you know there are only around 1,500 Authorised Treatment Facilities (ATFs) operating legally in the UK, compared to thousands of businesses offering car scrappage services? That’s why it’s crucial to understand what an ATF is, how it works, and why using one matters more than ever when scrapping your vehicle.
Whether you’re scrapping a car for the first time or you’ve heard the term “ATF” on our website or social media, this guide will explain everything you need to know, from what happens to your car at an ATF to why you should never scrap without one.
We’ll also show you how Scrap Local connects you with licensed ATFs across the UK, making it quicker, safer, and more rewarding to scrap your car the right way.
A quick summary:
Read on for a full breakdown of what ATFs do, why they matter, and how Scrap Local makes it easy to scrap your car with a trusted facility.
An Authorised Treatment Facility (ATF) is an official site that’s licensed by the Environment Agency (or equivalent in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland) to legally depollute, dismantle, and recycle end-of-life vehicles (ELVs).
An ATF is the only place in the UK where a scrap car can be processed safely and legally.
To become an ATF, a site must meet strict requirements set out in the End-of-Life Vehicles Regulations 2003, including having the right equipment, drainage systems, storage facilities, and disposal processes in place.
Every vehicle that enters an ATF is logged, depolluted, and broken down in line with UK environmental and waste management laws.
Most importantly, only an ATF can issue a Certificate of Destruction (CoD). This is a vital document that confirms your vehicle has been scrapped and removed from the DVLA database. Without this, you could remain liable for a car you no longer own.
If you’re wondering whether the scrapyard you’re looking to scrap your vehicle with is actually an ATF, check for their site licence or let Scrap Local do the work for you by matching you with a verified, fully licensed facility near you, at the best price.
ATFs play a vital role in ensuring that car scrapping in the UK is done legally, safely, and sustainably.
While some private traders or unlicensed yards may offer quick cash for your car, only an Authorised Treatment Facility can guarantee that your vehicle is dismantled in line with the law.
Here’s why using an ATF is so important:
When your car reaches an Authorised Treatment Facility (ATF), it goes through a strict, regulated process designed to protect the environment and ensure legal compliance.
Here’s what happens step by step:
Despite the growing number of businesses claiming to offer car scrappage services, only around 1,500 ATFs are officially licensed to process vehicles in the UK.
These sites are authorised and monitored by:
As of the latest available data, there are approximately:
That means a large number of scrapyards operating in the UK are not ATFs and therefore not legally allowed to scrap your car or issue a Certificate of Destruction (CoD).
If you unknowingly sell your car to an unlicensed site:
That’s why it’s vital to ensure you’re dealing with a licensed ATF. Or better yet, let Scrap Local do it for you!
At Scrap Local, we make it easy to scrap your car legally, safely, and for the best price, without the hassle of calling around or checking licences.
We’ve built a nationwide network of fully verified Authorised Treatment Facilities (ATFs) to ensure your vehicle is scrapped the right way, no matter where you are in the UK.
If you’re still unsure about how ATFs work or why they matter, this quick Q&A breaks it all down, from legal requirements to how Scrap Local keeps things simple.
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