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Motor Salvage Operator Licence

Do I need to register as a Motor Salvage Operator?

Any person who carries out a business that involves the recovery of salvageable parts from a motor vehicle and the subsequent sale or disposal for scrap of the remainder of the vehicle, or the purchase of 'written off' vehicles for repair or resale, will need to be registered with West Somerset Council.

Scrap Metal or Motor Salvage?

As a general rule, Motor Salvage Operators will only have repairable vehicles and vehicle parts on their premises, whereas Scrap Metal Dealers will have all types of scrap. For more information on Scrap Metal Dealers, please go to the Scrap Metal Licensing page on this website.

Motor Salvage Operators Registration

The Vehicles (Crime) Act 2001 and the Motor Salvage Operators Regulations 2002 require salvage operators to register with the local authority.

The aim of the act is to reduce vehicle crime by removing opportunities to dispose of stolen vehicles.

You are considered a Motor Salvage Operator under the Act if you carry out business that consists of:

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

Also under the Act you must:

  • 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 premise
Period of Registration

Registration of the motor salvage operator is valid for 3 years commencing from the date that the entry was made in the Council's "Register of Motor Salvage Operators". After your 3 year registration you are required to apply again to the Local Authority for another 3 years.  To ensure that you are able to continue functioning throughout this period, please make sure you submit a renewal application in good time of the expiry date (minimum of 30 days). An operator is deemed to have ceased to be registered if they have not made an application for renewal.

Register of Motor Salvage Operators

The Council is required to maintain a register of motor salvage operators which details the business names and addresses of those registered under the Motor Salvage Operators Regulations 2002 in the area. 

To apply….

Both the Motor Salvage Operator form and Police Form available under related documents on this page, must be completed and submitted to the authority together with the relevant fee.

Please send in your completed application form to West Somerset Council, West Somerset House, Killick Way, Williton, Taunton  TA4 4QA

We look forward to receiving your application and if you have any difficulty with any of the forms or have any questions, please contact us on 01643 703704 or email customerservices@westsomerset.gov.uk, or complete the online form.

Any change in circumstances must be notified to the local authority.

Registrations last for 3 years.  Applications to re-register must be received prior to the expiry of the current registration.

It is an offence to operate a motor salvage business that has not been registered.

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