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Motor salvage operators

The Vehicle Crimes Act 2001 places responsibility on Local Authorities to make provision for the registration for of Motor Salvage Operators carrying on a business in that Authority's Area.

A person is required to be registered as a motor salvage operator if he carries on a business, which consists -

1. wholly or partly in the recovery for re-use or sale of salvageable parts from motor vehicles and the subsequent sale or other disposal for scrap of the remainder of the vehicles concerned;
2. wholly or mainly in the purchase of written-off vehicles and their subsequent repair or re-sale;
3. wholly or mainly in the sale or purchase of motor vehicles which are to be the subject (whether immediately or on a subsequent re-sale) of any of the activities mentioned in paragraphs (1) or (2); or
4. wholly or mainly in activities falling within paragraphs (2) or (3).

You can be prosecuted if you undertake motor salvage operations without being registered with the Local Authority in whose area you undertake such activities. You can make an electronic application (This link will open in a new window) through BusinessLink.

If you have any problems with the online application, please report it on the BusinessLink feedback form. (This link will open in a new window)

The Council is required to satisfy itself that the applicant or applicants are fit and proper. To this end guidance is given within the legislation and some form of Police check is envisaged. There are procedures to deal with cancellation, refusal or renewal of the Registration and a formal appeal process.

Registration, if granted, lasts for three years.

Registration requires a registered motor salvage operator to adhere to certain registration conditions including keep certain detailed records in accordance with the Motor Salvage Operators Regulations 2002 and provide notification of changes.

The Police have sole responsibility for the enforcement of this legislation.

Separate registration is also required if you deal in scrap metal. 

You also need to contact the Planning Department to determine if the location requires planning permission.

Tacit Consent

Tacit consent applies to applications for this licence and means that you will be able to act as though your application is granted if you have not heard from the local authority by the end of the target completion period of 56 calendar days.

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