Motor salvage operators

Under the Vehicle (Crimes) Act 2001 and the Motor Salvage Operators Regulations 2002 motor salvage operators are now 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
• 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 premise

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 not exceeding level 5 (currently £5000) on the standard scale.

Registration fee

It costs £85 to register as a motor salvage operator.

Apply for registration

You can pay and apply to register or change a registration online on the Business Link website:

• Apply to register as a motor salvage operator (opens in a new window)
• Apply to change a motor salvage operator registration (opens in a new window)

Alternatively, you can download the motor salvage operator application form and the police check form below. Complete these and return with the registration fee.

Failed application redress

Please contact us in the first instance.

If an application is refused the applicant may appeal to High Wycombe Magistrates' Court ((Law Courts, Easton Street, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, HP11 1LR, phone: 01494 651 017 email: wycombe.magistrates@hmcourtservice.gsi.gov.uk). Applications must be made within 21 days of service of our notice.

Licence holder redress

Please contact us in the first instance.

If an application for renewal is refused or a registration is cancelled the operator may appeal to High Wycombe Magistrates' Court. Applications must be made within 21 days of service of our 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 UK, Consumer Direct will give you advice (see link below). From outside the UK contact the UK European Consumer Centre (see link below).

What is a motor salvage operator?

Anyone whose business consists:

(a) 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 vehicles concerns
(b) Wholly or mainly in the purchase of written-off vehicles and their subsequent repair and re-sale
(c) 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 (a) or (b)
(d) Wholly or mainly in activities falling within paragraphs (b) and (c)

Period of registration

Registration of the motor salvage operation is valid for three years starting from the date that the entry was made in our register of motor salvage operators. If you wish to continue with your business uninterrupted, you must submit a valid application to renew your registration before the existing registration period ends. An operator is deemed to have ceased to be registered if they have not applied to renew their registration.

Registration decisions

In deciding whether to approve registration, we must be satisfied that the applicant is a "fit and proper" person, taking into account various unspent convictions, including the offences of:

(a) Theft or attempted theft of or from a motor vehicle, contrary to Section 1 of the Theft Act 1968
(b) Taking a motor vehicle without consent, contrary to Section 12 of the Theft Act 1968
(c) Aggravated vehicle taking, contrary to Section 12A of the Theft Act 1968
(d) Handling stolen goods, contrary to Section 12A of the Theft Act 1968
(e) Going equipped to steal or take a motor vehicle, contrary to Section 25 of the Theft Act 1968
(f) Interference with a motor vehicle, contrary to Section 9 of the Criminal Attempts Act 1981
(g) Tampering with a motor vehicle, contrary to Section 25 of the Road Traffic Act 1988
(h) Convictions for offences under Part 1 of the Vehicle Crimes Act 2001

Also, details of any undischarged bankruptcy of the applicant or any directors or partners of the applicant's business and information provided by the police (which must be disclosed to the applicant).

Where it is our decision to refuse or cancel registration, we must serve a notice on the applicant informing them of our intention to do so, the reasons why and the period in which the applicant can make representations to us (not less than 14 days). Representations may be made verbally or in writing.

If after representations have been made, we decide to proceed with the refusal or cancellation of the registration, we must serve a notice on the applicant informing them of our decision and also providing them with details relating to their rights of appeal against the decision.

Register of motor salvage operators

Our register of motor salvage operators records the following details:

• The full name of the motor salvage operator, the name of all the directors if the businesses is undertaken by a corporate body, or the names of all the partners if the business is undertake by a partnership
• The address of the operator's usual place of residence, or that for each partner where the operator is a partnership
• The registered or principal office address if the operator is a corporate body
• The address of each place in the Wycombe district which is occupied by the motor salvage operation wholly, mainly or partly for the purpose of carrying out the business activity