Vehicle Salvage Experts: What Exactly Do They Do?

A vehicle recovery specialist is an individual or a team of professionals responsible for’remove wreckage from public or private roads.

More commonly known as “automotive wreckage”, the vehicle dismantler recovers our old vehicles to recycle, resell, or scrap them when they pose too great a risk to the environment and our health.

They generally take charge of all types of vehicles such as:

• Passenger cars
• Commercial vehicles (businesses, etc.)
• Two-wheeled vehicles (motorcycles, scooters, etc.)
• Trucks, buses
• Tractors, etc.

Warning : vehicle wreck removal is not merely a cleanup service or an optional task. It is a mandatory duty governed by law (the penal code, the highway code, and the environmental code) and is subject to heavy penalties if not complied with.

How it works ?

All it takes is contact the nearest vehicle recycling service near your end-of-life vehicle and to schedule appointments: whether online, via the Yellow Pages, or at your local prefecture or town hall, you will easily find the right contact.

Note : The vehicle dismantler you choose must be officially authorized by your Prefecture.

The following approach is therefore simple and fast :

• Schedule an appointment by phone or email
• The vehicle recovery service comes directly to wherever your end-of-life vehicle is parked
• He proceeds with the removal
• He will provide you with a duplicate of the transfer certificate

The cost of a car removal service

Generally, salvage operators are free.

However, it is important to stay informed about the area under his responsibility otherwise at the risk of having to cover the travel expenses.

Therefore, opt for the nearest authorized vehicle dismantler to the location of your end-of-life vehicle.

Required Documents

When your end-of-life vehicle is being collected, the scrap metal dealer may ask you to complete certain administrative formalities.

To avoid any unnecessary travel, please plan accordingly:

• Your ID
• The vehicle registration certificate
• The vehicle’s lien clearance certificate

The responsibilities of salvage operators

In addition to providing free vehicle removal services in most cases, it is important to note that the salvage operator plays a key role in the environmental preservation and healthcare of everyone.

Furthermore, please be advised that leaving an abandoned vehicle on public or private property is strictly prohibited.

Legal Compliance

Free wreck removal is not solely intended to clear the owner’s liability.

Indeed, leaving an abandoned vehicle on a public road is punishable by law, and the penalties range from fines to imprisonment :

• Highway Code: art. R322-9
• Environmental Code: art. R543-156
• Penal Code: art. R635-8

Preserving our environment

The primary mission of the vehicle recycler is to protect our environment.

Today, our planet is truly in danger: as pollution levels continue to rise, taking care of it has become more essential than ever.

It is with this very objective in mind that vehicle recovery specialists remove abandoned cars from both public and private roads: unsightly, polluting and bulky, they emit harmful substances that are directly released into our soil and our air.

Thus, it is important to note that even if a wreck is no longer operational, it contains fluids and extremely toxic metals :

• Engine Oils
• Battery
• Radiator

Preserving our health

A shipwreck poses a threat to both our environment and our health.

It is important to recognize that owners of end-of-life vehicles pose a direct threat to anyone in direct or indirect contact with such wreckage due to its toxicity, whether the vehicle is parked on a public road, in a garden, or in a garage.

The risks of accidents are real and numerous, including:

• Risk of poisoning of your children playing in the garden or pedestrians walking in the streets
• Risk of accident (collision) between moving vehicles and the wreckage

• Fire Risk or even’surge of the wreckage caused by smokers discarding cigarette butts, etc.