Vancouver, BC · Guide
What Documents Do I Need to Scrap a Car in Vancouver?
To scrap a car in Vancouver you should have valid photo identification and the vehicle registration when it is available, and the licence plates should normally be removed before the vehicle leaves.
Jay's job on pickup day is to confirm that the person releasing the vehicle has the authority to release it. That is the whole reason the documents matter.
Call or text Jay · 604-889-4470What Jay prefers to see
- Valid photo identification that matches the name on the vehicle documents
- The vehicle registration or transfer document when it is available
- The keys when they exist
- Licence plates removed before the vehicle is taken away
Why the plates come off
Plates belong to you, not the vehicle. Take them off before pickup and speak to an Autoplan broker about cancelling or transferring the insurance. Jay is not able to advise on your insurance file.
What if the registration is lost?
Call Jay before booking the pickup so the situation can be reviewed rather than discovered in the driveway. A replacement registration may be available through an Autoplan broker.
Jay cannot promise that every vehicle will be accepted without proof of ownership, and he does not give legal advice. For anything involving ICBC procedure, confirm current requirements with an Autoplan broker.
Unusual ownership situations
Estate vehicles, a car registered to someone who has moved away, a vehicle left behind by a former tenant and jointly registered vehicles all come up regularly. None of them are automatically impossible and none of them are automatically fine. Explain the situation on the phone and Jay will tell you what he needs.
A real Vancouver example
A Kerrisdale family clearing an estate vehicle had the registration but not the keys. Jay talked through what the executor needed to bring before booking the date, so nothing had to be rescheduled on pickup day.
Written by Jay, owner-operator of Jay's Junk Car Towing Inc., from thousands of vehicle removals in Vancouver since 2003.
Questions people ask about this
What documents do I need?
Have valid photo identification and the vehicle registration when available. Remove the licence plates before the vehicle leaves. Contact Jay before pickup when registration is missing or ownership is unusual.
Can I scrap a car with lost registration?
It may still be possible. Jay must confirm that the person releasing the vehicle has the authority to do so, so call before the pickup is booked. A replacement registration may be available through an Autoplan broker, and they can confirm the current requirements for your situation.
Do I need to remove my licence plates?
Yes. Customers should remove their licence plates before the vehicle leaves and contact an Autoplan broker about cancelling or changing the insurance.
Do I need the keys?
Keys make removal easier but are not always required. Tell Jay before accepting the quote because missing keys can affect steering, loading and access.
In short
Photo identification, the registration when you have it, plates off and belongings out covers almost every pickup in Vancouver.
If your situation is not that simple, call 604-889-4470 before you book so it can be sorted out in advance.