Mash bangers - or pay up

Scrapping old cars is a hassle – but fail to do it properly and you could face unpaid parking tickets, fines or even prosecution.

The new End of Life Vehicles (ELV) directive is now in force, and it makes the last owner of a car responsible for ensuring it is disposed of in an environmentally friendly way at an approved facility.

The changes are expected to affect around two million motorists a year. However, the good news is that following the rules makes it impossible for anyone else to use your car after you’ve handed over the keys.

If you take your vehicle to an unauthorised dismantler, you risk it being put back on the road – and with your details still in the logbook, you could face paying for parking tickets and fines incurred by the person using it.

A spokesman for the website Recycleyourcar.co.uk explained: “You will be issued with a certificate which acts as proof that a vehicle has been destroyed – and this means the owner’s car tax and other oblig­ations are at an end. Everyone knows illegal operators are rife in the ELV sector, so it’s up to motorists to ensure their car is properly disposed of.”

Drivers who fail to get the necessary paperwork and whose model is subsequently abandoned face a £200 fine from local authorities, while illegal dumpers could get a £2,500 fine and a prison sentence.