Scrap Metal Dealers

Anyone who operates as a scrap metal dealer or motor salvage operator must have a licence before they can lawfully trade.

You can download an application form here (PDF) [351KB]

Declaration of Convictions (PDF) [158KB]

The Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 defines scrap metal as:

a) Any old, waste or discarded metal or metallic material and

b) Any product, article or assembly which is made from or contains metal and is broken, worn out or regarded by its last owner as having reached the end of its useful life.

There are two types of Scrap Metal Dealer's Licence, both of which are valid for three years:

Site Licence - £550

South Ribble Borough Council is responsible for issuing site licences for premises in the Borough. A 'site' is any fixed premises where scrap metal dealing takes place, regardless of whether scrap metal is actually stored there. Motor salvage operators (car breakers) must have a site licence.

Collector's Licence - £350

South Ribble Borough Council is responsible for issuing Collector's Licenses to those Scrap Metal Dealers whose business includes travelling from door to door to collect scrap metal in the Borough.

Before the council can issue a Scrap Metal Dealers Licence it has to be satisfied that the applicant is a suitable person.

All applicants for a South Ribble Scrap Metal Dealers Licence must complete the application form and a personal declaration of convictions. They must also provide a basic disclosure certificate from the Disclosure and Barring Service which has been issued within one month of the application being submitted to the council, along with a passport-sized photograph, endorsed on the back by a person of standing in the community as a true likeness of the applicant.

Applications for Collector's Licences in South Ribble are also required to provide documentation for the vehicles they wish to use to collect scrap metal, including the V5 log book, valid MOT and insurance.

All Scrap Metal Dealers must keep comprehensive records of any scrap metal that they collect or dispose of, which must include among other things:

• A full description of metal along with the date and time it was received or collected
• If it was delivered in or on a vehicle, the registration mark of the vehicle
• If it was received from a person, their full name and address and a copy of the ID used to verify their identity
• If it's paid for by cheque, a copy of the cheque or if it's paid for by electronic transfer, either a receipt or other particulars identifying that transfer.

Please note: The Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 came into effect on 1st October 2013. It replaced the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 1964 and Part 1 of the Vehicles (Crime) Act 2001, relating to Motor Salvage Operators.

The authority is under a duty to protect the public funds it administers, and to this end may use the information you have provided on this form for the prevention and detection of fraud. It may also share this information with other bodies responsible for auditing or administering public funds for these purposes. For further information, see Fair processing notice: National Fraud Initiative