Motor salvage operators

This page contains information on the Motor Salvage Operators Regulations 2002, including information on how to register.

Regulations provided for by the Vehicles Crime Act 2001 came into force on 21 October 2002 and made local authorities responsible for the provision of a registration scheme for all motor salvage operators carrying out a business within their area.

The act sets out provisions to regulate the motor salvage industry and to reduce the abilities of criminal elements to dispose of stolen vehicles. Under this legislation it is an offence to operate as an unregistered motor salvage operator.

Any person carrying on a business as a motor salvage operator who fails to register with their local authority will be guilty of an offence.

Motor salvage operators are required to:-

• register with the council in whose area they are operating,
• maintain appropriate records of all vehicle purchases and disposals,
• carry out full identification checks of vendors and purchasers and
• allow the police (and other investigators) the right of entry to the premises and the right of search. A warrant is not required where the police require entry to a registered premises.

Definition of a motor salvage operator

A person who carries out a business as a motor salvage operator that consists:-

• 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 reminder of the vehicles concerned,
• wholly or mainly in the purchase of written off vehicles and their subsequent repair and resale,
• 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 above and
• wholly or mainly in activities falling within paragraphs 2 and 3. Details of all applications will be available for public access.

Registration application form

Motor salvage operators who operate their business from within the borough of Oadby and Wigston must apply to register with the Council as the licensing authority.

Download an application form Motor Salvage Operator Application Form (PDF Document, 52.44 Kb)

Registration fee

This fee is used to finance the administration of the registration process and is currently £64.00.

Registration validity period and renewal information

Registration will last for three years from the date of issue and application for renewal must be submitted to the Council no later than two months before the expiry of the current licence.

Once you are ready to proceed

Send the forms and other documents back to us by post or visit the Council in person and submit your application.

No appointment is necessary to visit our Customer Services team, who are able during normal Council working hours, to make a preliminary check of your application and documents and instruct on fees payments. Customer Services will also provide help with completing the application forms.

Summary of offences relating to operating a motor salvage business

The Motor salvage operators regulations are wide-ranging. If you know of any person or business carrying out any of the activities shown above they should be registered under this legislation.

Requirement to register - section 1(1)

Any person carrying on a business as a motor salvage operator who fails to register with their local authority will be guilty of an offence and will be liable upon summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale (currently £5,000)

Keeping of records - section 7(4)

Failure to keep the records specified in the Regulations to the Act will be an offence and liable upon summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale (currently £2,500).

Making false statements - section 10

Any applicant for registration or renewal of registration who knowingly or recklessly makes a false statement or provides false information on their application will be guilty of an offence and shall be liable upon summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale (currently £1,000).

Giving false particulars on the sale of salvage - section 12

Any person who, when selling a motor vehicle to a motor salvage operator, gives a false name or address will be guilty of this offence and liable upon summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale (currently £1,000).

If you have information to pass on the the Council or you require more information about this subject, please contact us.

Online application

Licence summary

If you are a motor salvage operator, you must be register with your local authority.

Eligibility criteria

A person is a motor salvage operator if they:-

• recover for reuse or sale, in whole or in part, salvageable parts from motor vehicles and sell or otherwise dispose of the rest of the vehicle,
• mainly or wholly buy written-off vehicles and repair and resale the same vehicle,
• mainly or wholly sell or buy motor vehicles that are to be subject to any of the two activities above and
• carry out activities that fall under the latter two points above.

Regulation summary

A summary of the regulation relating to this licence

Application evaluation process

Applications for registration must comply with any requirements set by the local authority and must be accompanied by a fee.

Applications will be refused if the local authority is not satisfied that the applicant is a fit and proper person to carry on business as a motor salvage operator. The local authority will take into account any relevant previous convictions. If an application or an application for a renewal is refused the local authority does not have to consider any other applications by the person for three years from the date of refusal.

A local authority may cancel a registration and does not have to consider any application for registration from the cancelled operator for three years from the date of the cancellation.

If a local authority intends to refuse an application or cancel a registration they must serve a notice on the applicant or operator. The notice must give details of what they are proposing to do, the reasons for it and the period during which the person may make representations. This period must not be less than 14 days and starts from the date of service of the notice.

A notice will be served detailing the decision of the local authority as to whether to grant an application, renew a registration or cancel a registration.

Notice of changes to registered information must be made to the local authority within 28 days of the change.

Will tacit consent apply?

Yes. This 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.

Apply online

Apply for a motor salvage operator licence

Apply to renew your existing motor salvage operator licence

Failed application redress

Please contact your local authority in the first instance.

If an application is refused the applicant may appeal to the local magistrates court. Applications must be made within 21 days of service of the local authority notice.

Licence holder redress

Please contact your local authority in the first instance.

If an application for renewal is refused or a registration is cancelled the operator may appeal to the local magistrates court. Applications must be made within 21 days of service of the local authority notice.

Consumer complaint

We would always advise that in the event of a complaint the first contact is made with the trader by you, preferably in the form a letter (with proof of delivery). If that has not worked, if you are located in the United Kingdom (UK), Consumer Direct will give you advice. From outside the UK contact the UK European Consumer Centre.

Other redress

For example about noise, pollution and so on. Also should one licence holder complain about another.

Trade associations

British Metals Recycling Association (BMRA)

Car and Accessory Trader (CAT)

Motor Vehicle Dismantlers Association (MVDA)