Old cars represent a threat to the environment. It is best for them to be scrapped and replaced by newer, more efficient vehicles. Which is one of the main reasons for the car scrappage scheme run by the government. If you scrap an eligible car when you buy a new one you will receive a £2,000 discount off the OTR price. Whist the idea appears great at first, we at Scrap Car Watford have spotted some pitfalls in the government’s scheme. For example, it dictates which new cars you can have in exchange for your old scrap car. Also, the car you are scrapping has to meet the strict guidelines the government has set. We have listed below the government’s requirements.

The scrap car you are trading in must:

• Have a current MOT test certificate before date of order for the new vehicle (or within 14 days of expiry at the time of order)
• Be registered in your name with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency or Driver and Vehicle Agency
• Have a United Kingdom address on the registration certificate (also known as V5C)
• Be registered in the United Kingdom (UK) on or before the 31st August 1999
• Have an in date (or within 14 days of expiry) tax disc when you purchase your new car
• Still be insured when you purchase the new vehicle
• Be a small car or van weighing 3,500 kg or under
• Have been registered to you continuously for at least a year

So as you can see the guidelines you have to meet to scrap your car under the scrappage scheme are quite extreme. Many people in Watford who had hoped to profit from scrapping their car have been disappointed to learn that they did not meet the requirements.