SCRAP CAR REMOVAL TORONTO

To scrap your car in Ontario legally, you’ll need to gather several key documents. Providing these ensures the transaction goes smoothly and protects you from future liability.

Vehicle Ownership (Green Permit) – This is the green ownership slip issued by the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO). On the back, you’ll find the “Application for Transfer” section, which must be completed by the seller (you) and, in most cases, the licensed recycler (buyer).

Government-issued ID – A valid driver’s licence or passport to confirm your identity and match the name on the ownership document.

License Plates – Remove your license plates before vehicle pickup and return them to a ServiceOntario location or follow their instructions. This step deregisters the plates and can protect you from future plate misuse.

Bill of Sale/Receipt (optional but strongly recommended) – While not always required for scrapping, getting a receipt or bill of sale from the recycler helps document the transaction for your records.

Clearance of Liens or Outstanding Fees – Although scrapping bypasses re-registration, you should still check that there are no outstanding liens or plate fees attached to the vehicle.
Once these are ready, the licensed scrap yard will complete the transfer, update the vehicle’s status with the MTO, and you’re released from ownership.

If you’ve lost the ownership slip (the green permit) or it’s missing, scrapping becomes more complex, but it’s not always impossible.

Lack of ownership papers means the recycler cannot legally accept the vehicle until ownership is confirmed. The MTO treats scrapping as a form of sale/disposal, so the legal right to dispose of the vehicle must be proven.
Options include requesting a replacement ownership permit from ServiceOntario. You’ll typically need to provide the VIN, your ID, and possibly proof of address. Once the permit is replaced, you can proceed. In some situations (inherited vehicles, abandoned vehicles on your property, gifted vehicles), you may need additional documents like a bill of sale, an executor’s affidavit, or a transfer form to establish your legal right to scrap it.

If you attempt to scrap without proper proof of ownership, you risk legal issues, delayed pickup, or reduced quotes, because no recycler wants to accept a vehicle they cannot legally own.
We advise contacting us first. We’ll guide you through what paperwork you have and what steps must be taken to clear ownership before pickup.

Yes, you can absolutely scrap a car without wheels, and we accept vehicles missing wheels, tires, or even engines.
Vehicles missing wheels are still valuable because much of their value is in the metal weight, other parts, and salvageable components like catalytic converters or transmissions. For us, the process is the same: we provide you with a quote and arrange pickup. We have the equipment to load non-running, stripped, or disabled vehicles.
Before pickup, you still need to remove any personal items and license plates. But you don’t need to worry if the car is incomplete or lacks wheels. We’ll still take it. Because missing wheels can increase towing complexity or time, make sure to inform us at the quote stage so we can send the right equipment and keep your experience smooth-sailing.
In short, missing wheels don’t disqualify your vehicle. We’ll still pay and handle removal. Many people bring in “shell” cars and still receive a payout.

Yes, leaking or damaged vehicles are accepted by licensed recyclers like us.
Damaged means collision damage, flood damage, mechanical failure, or frame rust. Leaking might mean oil, coolant, or brake fluid. All of these vehicles have value and can be scrapped. Because of the condition, our quote might reflect additional handling or environmental prep costs, but you’ll still receive fair cash. We take these cars every day.
As part of our responsible recycling process, we safely drain all hazardous fluids (oil, coolant, brake fluid) and handle parts removal in compliance with Ontario environmental regulations. Before you book pickup, mention to us the severity of damage or any leaks so we can allocate the correct towing equipment and complete the job safely.
Even if your car isn’t drivable, our team can still come to you, tow it, and close out the ownership transfer. There’s no need for you to fix or patch leaks, since that’s our part of the process.

Transferring ownership is a key legal step in scrapping your vehicle in Ontario. Doing it properly ensures you’re no longer responsible for the vehicle. Here’s the step-by-step:

On the vehicle ownership permit (green slip), complete the “Application for Transfer” on the back. As the seller, you fill in your name, address, current mileage, and sign the seller portion. The buyer (licensed recycler) fills in their portion.

Remove your licence plates from the vehicle prior to handing it over, and either return them to ServiceOntario or transfer them to another vehicle if you intend to keep the plates.

Hand the vehicle, signed ownership permit, and any additional required ID/documents to the scrap yard. They will submit the transfer to the MTO, mark the vehicle as “scrapped” or “deregistered,” and issue you a receipt or bill of sale.

Keep copies or photos of the receipt, transfer documents, and scrap yard certificate for your records. This protects you from future liability if, for example, the vehicle is used illegally or incurs fines after it’s gone.

If your vehicle had outstanding tolls, fines, or plate renewal fees, check them before pickup. Those must be cleared or disclosed, as some yards will deduct or refuse collection if major unpaid issues exist.

When you contact a licensed removal service with all the required paperwork ready, you can often have your vehicle picked up within the same day. However, there are a few things that can affect timing:

Your location and access (if your vehicle is in a tight space or blocked)
Condition of the vehicle (non-running or heavily damaged cars may require special equipment)
Availability of towing crews (peak times may mean you book pickup the next day)
Whether the correct paperwork is available when the team arrives

In practical terms, once you accept an offer, expect pickup within a day for most Toronto neighbourhoods. Smaller delays might happen if work crews or severe weather interfere.

Our services cover the full Toronto region and the surrounding Greater Toronto Area suburbs. This means your vehicle pickup can be arranged anywhere in these zones without you having to drive it to us. Typical areas included are: Toronto (Downtown, Etobicoke, North York, Scarborough) plus neighbouring cities like Mississauga, Brampton, Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Pickering, and Ajax.

We ensure our towing fleet can reach your location and complete removal and payment at your site. If you’re located just outside the standard zone, it’s still worth a call. We often accommodate nearby regions.

Before handing your vehicle over for scrapping, it’s wise to remove all items of personal value and anything you might need later. Items to remove include:

Personal belongings from the glove box, door pockets, under seats, trunk compartments
Toll transponders, parking passes, garage door openers, or other devices linked to you
After-market audio gear, roof racks, bicycles, or personal accessories, if you want to keep them
License plates (see next FAQ)

By preparing these items ahead of time, you avoid losing something important and ensure the process goes smoothly when the tow truck arrives.

In Ontario, your license plates remain registered to you, not the vehicle, so you should remove them before the car is picked up. After removal, you have two main options:

Return the plates to a ServiceOntario location. You may receive credit for the unused portion, which you can apply to future vehicle registration.
Transfer the plates to another vehicle you own, if applicable. In this case, keep the plate portion of the ownership slip and ensure the new vehicle is properly registered.

Yes, it’s important to notify your insurance provider once the vehicle is scrapped or about to be removed. While you may not need to “cancel” the policy immediately, you should inform them that the vehicle will be off the road and transferred to a licensed recycler. This prevents you from continuing to pay premiums on a vehicle you no longer own or use. After pickup and ownership transfer, you should also ensure the vehicle is deregistered with the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) so you’re no longer responsible for plate renewal, parking fines, or other liabilities.

The cash payout for scrapping a car in Toronto varies widely because many factors influence the final offer. According to recent industry sources:
Typical small cars may fetch $100-$400 in weight-only value if many parts are missing.
Mid-sized sedans in fair condition with usable components might get $250-$800 or more.
Larger vehicles, trucks, vans, or makes with valuable parts sometimes reach over $1,000, depending on the metal market, condition, and parts like catalytic converters.
Because of this wide range, we always recommend you get a quote from us with details of your make, model, year, and condition. We factor all these in to ensure the best offer possible.