What scrapped means
When a car reaches the end of its life, it goes to an authorised treatment facility, which issues a certificate of destruction and tells the DVLA. From that point the vehicle is officially gone. It cannot be taxed or legally driven, and its identity should never appear on another car.
So if a check finds a scrapped marker on a car that is for sale, something is wrong. Either the record is a mistake, or the car in front of you is not the one it claims to be. One scam is to take the identity of a scrapped car and give it to a stolen one.
Records can be wrong, but it is the seller's job to sort that out with the DVLA, not yours to take the risk.
What the report shows
If a certificate of destruction has been issued, the report flags the car as scrapped. The Vettly Score loses 60 points and is capped at 10, the same treatment as a stolen car, so it always shows as High risk whatever else the report says. Do not buy a car recorded as scrapped.
Category A and B write-offs belong in the same family of warnings. Category A cars must be scrapped entirely and Category B bodies must be crushed, so neither should ever be offered for sale as a working car. The report shows any write-off with its category and date.
Check the identity
The full report includes the last five characters of the VIN and the engine number. Match them against the car and the logbook. A car built from a stolen vehicle and a scrapped car's identity can come with a convincing story, so look at the VIN plate and windscreen markings for signs of tampering. Our VIN check explains what to look for.
Check the details on the logbook against the car as well: the colour, the engine size and the date of first registration. Our V5C logbook guide explains what to look for. Other warning signs include a price that is too good to be true, a seller who will not meet at their home, and a story that keeps changing.
Part of the full history check
The scrapped check is included in the full history check: £4.49 for one, or £3.00 a check in a pack of 10. It also covers outstanding finance, write-offs, stolen markers and keepers. The free check covers MOT, tax and mileage, and is a good first step before you pay for anything. Run the full check before you travel or pay a deposit, and if it shows a scrapped marker, keep a copy and stop there.