As soon as his four-wheeled companion dies after years of good and loyal service, one finds oneself in the obligation to get rid of him definitively on pain of criminal penalties. However, this should not be done randomly and be carried out by just anyone, since the removal of a wreck and its delivery to a scrapyard is a regulated operation at European level. In this article, we will discuss in detail the administrative formalities to be accomplished and the papers to be provided so that the removal of a car wreck can be done in the rules.
Car wreck removal: who to contact?
Above all, a wreck or end-of-life vehicle (ELV) designates any vehicle that is no longer roadworthy, that is to say that it is technically irreparable or does not meet the conditions necessary for safe circulation. Only an expert commissioned by insurers is authorized to declare that a car is a wreck.
Considered by the heading 16 01 04 of the waste nomenclature as potentially hazardous waste due to their components as toxic as they are pollutants that can harm the environment, ELV must be subject to a special destruction procedure. This is why the law obliges their holder to part with them as quickly as possible by selling them or by giving them free of charge to a third party. approved ELV center. Anyone who does not comply with this provision will be sentenced to imprisonment for 2 years with a fine of up to € 75.
Thus, if you have one or more ELVs parked in your yard and which visually pollutes your outdoor space, to avoid problems with the European authorities, you must call a specialist for the removal of a wreck holder of a ELV approval issued by prefectural decree. This approval effectively attests to the fact that this professional meets all the conditions which allow him to remove, destroy and depollute car wrecks in accordance with the standards in force.
To find one near you, all you need to do is do some research on the internet, in particular on specialized directories. Then, you are free to set the appointment according to your availability. On D-day, the approved ELV wrecker takes care of the loading, routing and delivery of your vehicle (s) to the center.
Note that with an approved ELV wrecker, the wreckage removal procedure is completely free. However, towing charges may apply in the following cases:
- The car at the end of its life is deprived of its essential components, namely its engine, its body
- Its owner has equipped it with non-approved components
- The wreck is parked in a difficult to access or enclosed place
- The wreck is at a distance of more than 30 km from the VHU center
How much does the approved ELV center take back a car wreck?
Regardless of the type of problem that put your old car out of service, although the removal procedure is in most cases free, your wreck can bring you a few euros insofar as it is still provided with its essential elements, and all the more so when it presents parts in good condition. Anyway, for a rather recent ELV, the approved ELV center offers a personalized estimate, in particular according to its model as well as its condition. Conversely, if the wreck is 13 years old or more, the amount of the offer depends above all on its weight in relation to the monthly prices of the scrap.
In general, the redemption price oscillates between 50 and 500 €. For a precise estimate, we advise you to go to an online rating tool available directly on the official website of certain approved ELV centers.
What about the scrapping premium?
Note that the state may pass on to you the benefit of scrapping bonus (a device through which the government contributes to reducing pollution in France) if your ELV meets the following conditions:
- The ELV has been yours for at least 12 months
- This is registered in mainland France
- It is registered before 2006 (if it is equipped with a gasoline engine)
- He is not in pledge
- It is covered by auto insurance when it is scrapped
- It is delivered no later than 6 months from the date of request
What are the necessary documents for the removal of a car wreck?
Whether you are an individual or a professional, you are required to return a certain number of supporting documents to the ELV center responsible for legally removing your wreck. These supporting documents are as follows:
- Le registration certificate from the wreck striped and bearing the mention sold or transferred on the day and at the time of the removal. This document must also be signed by the holder (s). In the event that the vehicle registration document is lost or stolen, a declaration of theft or loss must be submitted to the approved ELV center. If your wreck is over 30 years old and you no longer have its registration card, then you must provide a deed proving that this ELV is indeed your property.
- A ID of the owner (s) mentioned in the registration certificate: national identity card, driving license, passport or residence permit.
- Un certificate of non pledge which is less than 15 days old. This document can be downloaded directly from the government website.
- Un declaration form of the ELV allowing the termination of the insurance contract to which the latter was the subject. This must indicate in black and white the contact details of the approved wrecker as well as its approval number.
At the end of the removal, no procedure is to be carried out. The approved ELV center will send you a acceptance receipt as soon as your wreck has arrived at the junkyard. He is also responsible for sending a copy of this document to the prefecture of your department. This is in fact a certificate attesting to the fact that the removal was carried out in compliance with the legislation in force.