Disposal of end-of-life vehicles: how it works

Just like people, cars get old. They have been excellent companions, sometimes for decades, providing sound and loyal service, but there comes a certain point… If they are valuable as classics, they will still be around for a few more years. But the rest of the vehicles, the overwhelming majority, are doomed to be scrapped.

Scrapping an end-of-life vehicle (ELV) requires some care. First and foremost, ensure that the ownership and registration records are cancelled. Do not opt for an illegal scrapyard, as this may cause you problems, such as continuing to receive a notice from the Tax Authority to pay the Single Circulation Tax (IUC).

In addition to being a relief for you, scrapping a vehicle by a certified center ensures that the operation is carried out in an environmentally safe manner. For example, you can consult the Valorcar website, which has a district-by-district list of centers licensed to scrap end-of-life vehicles.

Cash for Junk Cars Services in Calgary

Many  Cash for Junk Cars Calgary companies offer services to buy junk or unwanted vehicles. These companies pay cash on the spot and often provide free towing services. Here’s what to expect:

How It Works

Contact a Buyer: Call or fill out an online form to provide details about your vehicle (make, model, year, and condition).

• Get a Quote: Receive a no-obligation cash offer based on the vehicle’s details.
• Schedule Pickup: If you accept the offer, the company schedules a time for pickup.
• Get Paid: Receive cash upon pickup.

Documents required for vehicle scrapping

When handing over your vehicle for scrapping, the owner must:

• Take the vehicle documentation with you, namely the so-called Booklet and the Ownership Registration Title (or Registration Certificate);
• Present your Identity Card/Citizen Card and taxpayer card;
• Request the cancellation of the registration using Form 9 from the Institute of Mobility and Transport (IMT), which is provided by the scrapyard. The vehicle’s owner must sign the form; if it is a company, the signature must be notarized.

If everything is in order, the center issues a Certificate of Destruction, the original of which remains in the owner’s possession. This way, the vehicle owner has proof that he/she handed over his/her car for scrapping to a licensed company and is then exempt from further liability.

In turn, the center sends a copy of the Destruction Certificate and the vehicle documentation to the IMT, which cancels the registration. The IMT then communicates the cancellation to the Automobile Registration Office, which cancels the Ownership Registration.

In the event of a serious accident, is slaughter necessary?

Sometimes, a car’s life can end prematurely following a serious accident. If repair is still economically viable, vehicles in this condition must undergo a type B inspection. They can only be returned on the road if they pass this inspection. If repair is not feasible or fails the type B inspection, they will be subject to an ELV.

Sometimes, abandoned vehicles are also found on public roads, a relatively common phenomenon in urban centers that degrades the spaces intended for citizens. In addition to being subject to a fine, the owner of the abandoned vehicle cannot cancel the vehicle’s registration, so he will continue to receive the annual IUC payment note.

Please note that the authorities may take a car abandoned on a public road to a scrapyard. In this case, the owner is responsible for paying the cost of removing the vehicle to the scrapyard.

How much could your car be worth at a scrapyard?

If, as is most advisable, the owner decides to take his ELV, depending on the model and make of the car and the scrapyard, he may still receive some money for the vehicle. The amounts vary greatly. A complete and more popular car may cost $150. However, if it is a model whose parts are in high demand, it may cost around $500. On the other hand, some centres do not pay the owners any amount.

When dismantling a vehicle, scrapyards will also make money by selling parts, such as aluminum, copper, or ferrous metals. Any saleable components are removed and sold.

Complementary vehicle treatment is carried out in fragmentation facilities, where separation techniques are used to recover metallic materials for recycling and the production of steel and non-ferrous metals.

The remaining materials, known as fragmentation residues, can be subjected to further processing to recover metallic or non-metallic materials. They can then be re-sorted and used in various applications, such as road construction and surfacing.

Only after all these processes have been completed is the remaining waste sent to a landfill, which typically amounts to less than 20% of the vehicle’s original weight.

Incentives to scrap vehicles could return in 2025

The Canadian government has announced the return of the Slaughter Incentive Program next year. This program aims to support the renewal of the car fleet by encouraging the delivery of vehicles over 16 years old for scrapping.

The scrappage incentive will cover vehicles registered up to July 2007. It is estimated to be worth around $3,000 to $6,000, depending on the type of vehicle and its use, towards the purchase of a new electric or low-emission vehicle. In addition, owners will also be able to use the incentive to purchase electric bicycles or sustainable mobility services. This programme aims to improve road safety and reduce pollution.

The Calgary scrap car removal process involves delivering the vehicle to an authorized center. A certificate exempts the owner from future liability after the registration is cancelled and the car is destroyed.