Motor Salvage Operators

Any person who carries on a business that involves the recovery of salvageable parts from motor vehicles 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, or other related activities needs to register with the City Council, as required by The Vehicle (Crime) Act 2001 and the Motor Salvage Operators Regulations 2002.

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

It is an offence not to register if your business meets one or more of the following criteria:

Your business is engaged:

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 vehicle concerned
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 subsequent re-sale) of any of the activities falling within a) or b)
d) Wholly or mainly in activities falling within paragraphs b) and c)

Anyone who is seeking to operate such a business for the first time will need to be registered before they can begin trading. Before seeking registration you should first have obtained suitable premises and planning permission. You may also need to hold an Environment Agency Waste Management Licence as on some occasions a motor vehicle may be considered to be waste. More information can be found on the Environment Agency website.

The Council can refuse registrations to anyone convicted of an offence under the Act, or for any unspent convictions for:

• Theft or attempted theft of or from a motor vehicle
• Taking a motor vehicle without consent
• Aggravated vehicle taking
• Handling stolen goods
• Going equipped to steal or take a motor vehicle
• Interference with a motor vehicle
• Tampering with a motor vehicle

How To Register

You can download the registration form below:

Motor Salvage Operators Registration Application Form (86kB PDF)

You must notify us in writing within 28 days of any alterations to your or your business' particulars, or if the business ceases to operate.

Registration lasts for 3 years.

The completed application form should be returned to the Licensing Team at the address shown on the form, or at the bottom of this page.

Conditions of Registration

The Motor Salvage Operators Regulations 2002 requires that any person wishing to register their business as a Motor Salvage Operator must adhere to the regulations contained within the Act, and these are detailed in the document below:

Motor Salvage Operators Conditions of Registration (13kB PDF)

Fees

Currently there is fee of £120.00 applicable to register as a Motor Salvage Operator in Oxford.

Further Advice

For more information you can call the Licensing Team on 01865 252565 or email licensing@oxford.gov.uk.

Applications and notifications should be sent to:

Licensing Team
Oxford City Council
St Aldate's Chambers,
109 St Aldate's,
Oxford, OX1 1DS

Page last reviewed 20 March 2012