Scrap a Car Without a V5C Log Book

A missing log book does not stop a car being scrapped, but it changes the paperwork. This guide covers the ID you will need, when it is worth getting a replacement V5C first, and how to tell DVLA by letter instead of using the yellow slip.

Facts checked against GOV.UK and the law on 28 October 2026.

Can you scrap a car without the log book?

Yes. Nothing in GOV.UK's scrapping guidance says a car must have a V5C to be scrapped. Normally you give the V5C to the facility that takes the car and keep the yellow ‘sell, transfer or part-exchange your vehicle to the motor trade’ section (GOV.UK: how to scrap your vehicle). When the log book is missing, that step changes, and you tell DVLA by letter instead.

What does not change is the need to show who you are and that the car is yours to sell. Say that the V5C is missing when you send your enquiry, so the collection company knows before it values the car and arranges a time.

What ID you will be asked for

In England and Wales, a scrap metal dealer must check the full name and address of anyone it receives scrap metal from, using documents from a reliable and independent source (Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013, section 11). The regulations list what is enough (SI 2013/2276):

One document showing your full name, photo and home address: a valid photocard driving licence usually does this on its own.
Or two documents: photo ID with your full name and date of birth (a valid UK passport, a passport from an EEA state, a photocard driving licence or a UK biometric immigration document), plus a bank or building society statement, credit or debit card statement, council tax letter or utility bill (not a mobile phone bill) showing your name and address, issued in the last three months.

The V5C is not on that list. It is not ID, and it is not proof of ownership either: it records the registered keeper. That is why a missing log book is a paperwork problem rather than a legal barrier. If the address on your ID differs from the one DVLA holds, explain that when you enquire.

Should you get a replacement V5C first?

You do not have to, but it is worth considering if you want to keep a private number plate. Taking a private number off a vehicle requires the log book, so you will need a replacement before you can do that. See keeping a private number plate when scrapping.

Replacing it online or by phone

If you are the registered keeper and none of the details have changed, you can apply online or by phone (GOV.UK: get a replacement log book). You need:

the registration number;
the vehicle identification number (VIN) or chassis number;
the name and postcode registered on the V5C.

It usually costs £25, and the new V5C is posted to the address DVLA holds, usually within 5 to 7 working days. You cannot use the online service if you no longer have the vehicle in your possession, so apply before collection, not after.

Replacing it by post (form V62)

If any details need to change, or you are not yet registered as the keeper, apply by post on form V62. It is a print-only form. Send it with a £25 cheque or postal order payable to ‘DVLA, Swansea’ to DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1DD. GOV.UK says to allow about 4 weeks (GOV.UK: if you cannot apply online). If you bought the car and have the green ‘new keeper’ slip from the most recent V5C, send that with the V62.

Telling DVLA when there is no V5C

Without the log book you cannot use the online service, because it asks for the 11-digit reference from the latest V5C. GOV.UK says to write to DVLA instead (GOV.UK: scrapped your vehicle), including:

your name and address;
the vehicle registration number;
the make and model;
the exact date the car was taken;
the name and address of the business that took it.

Send it to DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1BD, with the correct postage. A letter missing any of these details can be rejected, which also holds up any vehicle tax refund. Keep a copy and a proof of posting. GOV.UK says you can be fined £1,000 if you do not tell DVLA that the vehicle has gone to an authorised treatment facility. More detail is in how to tell DVLA you scrapped your car.

When the car is not registered to you

A missing V5C often goes with a car that was bought or inherited and never re-registered. The rules are different again:

You bought it but never got a log book: GOV.UK says to apply for one on form V62.
It belonged to someone who has died: see scrapping a deceased relative's car.
It belongs to a friend or family member: see scrapping a car not in your name.

Risks to watch for

A car without its log book deserves a few extra checks, whether you are scrapping it or were offered it:

Outstanding finance: if the car is on hire purchase or PCP it may still belong to the lender. You cannot sell or scrap it until that is settled. See scrapping a car on finance.
Whether the seller could sell it: if you bought the car without a V5C, you have no DVLA record linking you to it until you apply on a V62.
The DVLA record: until DVLA is told, the registered keeper on its record stays responsible. A letter with every detail and a proof of posting protects you.
The condition you describe:the valuation is ‘subject to contract’ and can be revised on collection if the car differs from what you said. See how it works.

Checklist

Tell us the V5C is missing when you enquire.
Have photo ID with your address ready, or photo ID plus a recent bill or statement.
Apply for a replacement first if you want to keep a private number.
On the day, write down the name and address of the business that takes the car.
Write to DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1BD with the five details above, and keep a copy.
Keep the Certificate of Destruction if the car is completely scrapped.

Questions people ask

Can I scrap my car if I have lost the V5C?

Yes. The V5C is not proof of ownership and GOV.UK sets out a way to tell DVLA about a scrapped vehicle without one. You will still need to prove who you are, and you should say the log book is missing when you first enquire.

How much does a replacement log book cost?

A replacement V5C usually costs £25, whether you apply online, by phone or by post on form V62. The fee is not refunded if the original turns up later.

How long does a replacement V5C take to arrive?

GOV.UK says an online or phone application usually arrives in 5 to 7 working days. A postal application on form V62 usually takes about 4 weeks.

What do I send DVLA if I scrapped the car without the log book?

A letter to DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1BD giving your name and address, the registration number, the make and model, the exact date the car was taken, and the name and address of the business that took it. Leaving anything out can get the notification rejected.

Is the V5C proof that I own the car?

No. The V5C records the registered keeper, who is not always the legal owner. A car on hire purchase, for example, can be registered to you while the finance company still owns it.

Sources

Who does what

Scrap A Car For Cash (operated by Lead Stack Ltd, company number 15877625) takes your enquiry and passes it to an affiliated vehicle collection company that covers your area.
The collection company values the vehicle, collects it free of charge and pays you on collection, in line with the terms you agree with them.
If the vehicle is completely scrapped, that happens at an authorised treatment facility (ATF), which gives you a Certificate of Destruction. A vehicle that is repaired and resold instead does not get one.

More detail: how it works and our terms and conditions.

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