End of life vehicles

In March 2003 the UK government transcribed the final part of the end-of-life vehicle directive [2000/53/EG] into national legislation covering England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

This requires that all car manufactures and vehicle importers of new cars into the United Kingdom

• Take back vehicles from last owners or keepers at the end of their life and to ensure that they are treated in an environmentally responsible fashion
• With other economic operators meet recycling and recovery targets of 85% of the vehicles weight by 2006 and 95% by 2015

A requirement of the new regulations is that a network of Approved Treatment Facilities [ATF's] be made available for last owners to take their end of life vehicles to for environmental disposal. The ATFs should be on average for 75% of last owners within a 10-mile radius and no greater than 30 miles.

Vauxhall is obliged to take back all vehicles from January 2007 free of change to the last owner provided certain qualifying conditions are met. Vehicles placed on the market after July 2002 will also be entitled to free take back as long as the same requirements are met.

It must be either
1) A passenger vehicle with a maximum of 9 seats.
2) A commercial vehicle with a maximum weight of 3-5 Tonnes.

The vehicle must also meet the following criteria for free of charge take back:

• All significant components such as engine, chassis, bodywork, catalytic converter, wheels as well as electronic control unit [ECU] are present in the
• There is no waste in the vehicle.
• The owner/keeper of the vehicle has a vehicles registration document for the vehicle or able to supply proof of identity.

If you wish to dispose of your vehicle you will now require a Certificate of Destruction [COD] to confirm correct environmental disposal. This certificate of destruction can only be issued by an Approved Treatment Facility [ATF].

Vauxhall have appointed Autogreen Ltd as our sole service provider in the UK to manage the free take back of our last owner's vehicles. Autogreen can provide advice on whether or not your vehicle qualifies for free take back as well as the location of your nearest Vauxhall/Autogreen take back facility [ATF].

For more information please visit our map locator for your nearest ATF or call the Vauxhall/Autogreen free phone help line on 0800 542 2002.

Autogreen's contracted network of dismantler ATF's are approved and fulfil all legal requirements, furthermore they are audited according to our quality criteria and will be subjected to Autogreen's and our regular monitoring

ATF Map (PDF, 0.4MB)

Firstly the vehicle will be depolluted according to legal requirements which will involve all the vehicles fluids and fuel being drained along with the removal of the following:

• Batteries
• Rubber tyres
• Lead wheel weights
• Air-Con gas
• Catalytic converters
• Mercury switches

All of these waste products will be recycled or reused. Pyrotechnical units (such as airbags) will be neutralized by in-vehicle-deployment. After these legally required activities, parts still suitable for further use are dismantled, cleaned, checked and finally stored for later sales.

The remaining wreck is bailed and transported to shredding facilities, which further separate materials such as ferrous and non-ferrous metals, plastic, rubber and glass for recycling and recovery. Only a small remainder is finally sent to landfill.