How to dispose of an end-of-life vehicle in Paris?

Published on : 01 November 20194 min reading time

Abandoning an end-of-life vehicle (ELV) or a wrecked vehicle on the sidewalk is prohibited by law, even if it may disturb its owner by remaining in its surroundings. So, if you live in or near Paris and want to get rid of your car wreck, you can do so through a free wreck removal service in Paris.

Why do we have to get rid of the wrecks?

A car that is out of order or in a state of wreckage encumbers and often makes the yard or garden unsightly, which is why its owner wants to get rid of it. Especially since wrecks are considered hazardous waste, they are subject to very strict European legislation and a specific demolition process for environmental protection reasons. Indeed, under penalty of a fine of 1500 euros, the owner of an end-of-life vehicle must use an approved ELV centre to scrap his car.  Thus, whether it is a wreck of a city car, a passenger car, a van or a motorcycle, this system considerably reduces the risk of pollution and promotes the recycling of these elements. In Paris and Ile de France, there are many organisations that specialise in the removal of end-of-life cars, commonly known as professional epavists.

Wreck removal services

A wreck removal service is an approved professional who takes care of the removal of end-of-life, burnt or damaged vehicles, whether they are 4 or 2-wheeled.  Subject to specific regulations relating to their activity, these centres approved by the prefecture must take charge of the removal of complete and unassembled wreckage free of charge. However, they may charge a towing fee if the ELV lacks essential components such as powertrain, LPG tanks and catalytic converters, or if it contains unapproved equipment that has been added or waste. A professional wrecker also intervenes in the removal of damaged cars that block the road, for example, in order to free up traffic as a matter of urgency. In addition to all the necessary administrative formalities, the free epavist takes care of all the necessary administrative procedures, such as the production of a certificate of destruction and, if possible, the purchase of the wreck. Nevertheless, beware, because there are also several unauthorised and illegal centres throughout France, which claim to also remove old vehicles but without any real pollution control measures. Some of them do so by ignoring the existence of European standards.

What can I do to benefit from the service of a wrecker?

Most of the free wreck removal services in Paris remain accessible 7 days a week and can be adapted to all schedules. Thus, to benefit from the intervention of an approved centre near you, it is sufficient to start by making an appointment by telephone or e-mail in order to provide as much information as possible about the ELV to be recovered, in particular its condition and the accessibility conditions of the place where it is located. Then, when the wrecker arrives on site for pick-up, you should deliver some documents such as a certificate of no pledge, a photocopy of your vehicle registration document, photocopies of your identity document and for the completion of the related administrative formalities. These are among others the request for a certificate of transfer for demolition of the vehicle from the prefecture, the cancellation of the registration but also the completion of other procedures relating to your car insurance… etc. An EEV form or severely damaged vehicle is also required if your car has been involved in a serious accident. From then on, the professional takes the vehicle to its destruction centre for decontamination.

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