Why do Motor Salvage Operators need to be registered?
Vehicle crime is cited as one of the largest single categories of recorded crime. The Vehicles (Crime) Act 2001 and the Motor Salvage Operators Regulations 2002 aim to reduce the rising tide of vehicle crime by reducing the opportunities to dispose of stolen vehicles.
Motor salvage operators are now required to :
- register with AVDC if they operate in the Vale
- maintain appropriate records of all vehicle purchases and disposals
- carry out full identification checks of vendors and purchasers
- allow the police (and other investigators) the right of entry to the premises and the right of search. (A warrant is not required where police require entry to a registered premises.
The motor salvage operator will not be able to carry out their business unless they have registered with the council. It is an offence to operate a motor salvage business that has not been registered. Summary conviction of this offence may lead to a fine up to £5000.
What is the definition of a motor salvage operator?
A person is deemed to be carrying on a business as a motor salvage operator if they carry out a business, which consists of:
- 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 vehicle concerned
- wholly or mainly in the purchase of written-off vehicles and their subsequent repair and re-sale
- 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 (a) and (b)
- wholly or mainly in activities falling within the second and third points.
How to apply
Please apply using the downloadable files below.
What if I don't hear from AVDC within the specified time?
You will be able to act as though your application is granted if you have not heard from AVDC within 28 calendar days of submitting your request.
Fees
Please use the link in the left.
How your application will be processed
The application details will be passed to the police. In deciding whether to approve an application for registration, they must be satisfied that the applicant is a ‘fit and proper’ person. The Council can refuse registrations to anyone convicted of an offence under the Act, or unspent convictions for any of the following offences:
- Theft or attempted theft of or from a motor vehicle.
An application to register as a motor salvage operator can be approved by an officer in the absence of any offences by the applicant. If there are any concerns or objections to the application it will be referred to the appropriate Committee of the Council for hearing of the application. The applicant will be permitted to attend the meeting, with a representative if desired, to make representations to the Committee before it considers and determines the application.
What happens if my application is not successful?
There is a right of appeal, if an application is refused, through the courts. Details of the appeal process will be included in the letter confirming that the application has been refused.
There are various requirements under the Act and the Regulations that have been referred to here. It is strongly recommended that all motor salvage operators make themselves fully aware of the legal requirements contained in the Act and Regulations.
Date Updated: 28/05/12
Downloads:
File name | Summary | File size / Download time | File Format |
Adobe Acrobat Reader is available FREE of charge. You can download it directly from Adobe's website by clicking the link to the right. Once on Adobe's website, follow the instructions on screen to install the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader. |  |
Application for Scrap Metal or Motor Salvage | | 91KB
56Kbps Modem: Less than 1 Minute
Broadband : Less than 1 Minute | 
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Record Keeping | Details of the records to be kept by a Motor Salvage Operator | 16KB
56Kbps Modem: Less than 1 Minute
Broadband : Less than 1 Minute |
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