Terms of Service

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your use of the 1st Auto Clear website at https://1stautoclear.co.uk and our scrap car collection services. By submitting an enquiry or booking a collection, you agree to these Terms.

1st Auto Clear is a licensed Authorised Treatment Facility (ATF) operator. References to "we", "us", or "our" in these Terms refer to 1st Auto Clear. References to "you" refer to the customer submitting an enquiry or booking a collection.

If you do not agree to these Terms, do not use our services. For questions, contact us at info@1stautoclear.co.uk.

We provide end-of-life vehicle (ELV) collection and processing services across London and the South East of England. Our services include:

• Collection of scrap, damaged, non-running, MOT failure, and end-of-life vehicles
• Assessment and payment for collected vehicles
• DVLA notification and transfer of keeper records
• Issue of Certificate of Destruction (CoD)
• Environmentally compliant processing through our ATF-licensed facility

We reserve the right to decline any collection at our discretion, including if the vehicle does not match the description provided, if access to the vehicle is not possible, or if accepting the vehicle would cause us to breach any legal or regulatory obligation.

Quotes are based on the information you provide, including vehicle registration, condition description, and photographs. All quotes are:

• Subject to physical inspection of the vehicle on collection day
• Valid for 7 days from the date of issue unless otherwise stated
• Based on scrap metal market prices at the time of quoting, which may fluctuate

If the vehicle on collection day differs materially from the description you provided — for example, it is a non-runner when described as running, or components described as present are missing — we reserve the right to revise the quoted price. We will explain any revision and you may decline to proceed. We will not charge you for visiting a vehicle if you choose not to accept a revised price.

We are transparent about how we calculate prices and will explain the components of any quote on request.

When booking a collection, you are responsible for:

• Ensuring reasonable vehicle access for our recovery vehicle at the agreed time
• Providing accurate vehicle location details
• Being present at the collection or arranging a representative with authority to complete the transaction
• Having your V5C (logbook) available, or notifying us in advance if you do not have it
• Removing all personal belongings from the vehicle before collection

We will make reasonable attempts to attend at the agreed time. We are not liable for delays caused by traffic, weather, or other circumstances beyond our control.

Once a vehicle is collected, risk of the vehicle transfers to us immediately. You are responsible for maintaining appropriate insurance on the vehicle until it is collected.

Payment is made by bank transfer to the account details you provide. We do not pay cash. This is a legal requirement under the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013, which prohibits cash payments for scrap metal.

Payment is initiated on the day of collection. Processing times depend on your bank — most transfers complete within a few hours, though some banks may take up to two business days.

By accepting payment, you confirm that:

• You are the legal owner of the vehicle
• There is no outstanding finance secured on the vehicle
• You have full authority to sell or scrap the vehicle

Providing false information to obtain payment is a criminal offence. We reserve the right to recover payment and pursue legal remedies if we discover that title to a vehicle was misrepresented.

You warrant that you are the registered keeper and legal owner of any vehicle submitted for collection, and that you have full authority to scrap or sell it.

If the vehicle has outstanding finance (PCP, HP, or other secured lending), you do not own the vehicle outright and cannot legally scrap it without settling the outstanding finance first. Contact your finance provider to obtain a settlement figure before booking a collection.

We cannot accept stolen vehicles. If we have reasonable grounds to suspect a vehicle is stolen, we will not proceed and may report the matter to the police as required by the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013.

You may cancel a booked collection at any time before we attend. We ask that you give us as much notice as possible, and at least 2 hours' notice where practicable.

We reserve the right to cancel a collection if:

• We cannot obtain safe access to the vehicle
• The vehicle presents a health or safety hazard that we cannot reasonably manage
• We have reason to believe the vehicle is subject to a dispute over ownership
• Circumstances beyond our control make the collection impossible on the agreed date

In the event of cancellation by us, we will endeavour to rearrange at the earliest mutually convenient time.

Our liability to you in connection with any collection is limited to the value of the agreed collection payment. We are not liable for any indirect or consequential loss.

We are not liable for:

• Personal belongings left in a vehicle at the time of collection
• Delays in collection caused by circumstances beyond our reasonable control
• Any loss arising from your reliance on the continued presence of a quoted price beyond its stated validity period
• Any loss arising from your failure to notify your insurer after collection

Nothing in these Terms limits our liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, or for any other liability that cannot be excluded under applicable law.

These Terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any dispute arising in connection with these Terms or our services shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

For questions about these Terms or any aspect of our services: