There are countless different terms that you might hear when discussing vehicles, and just one such example is “ELV.” Understanding the different terms used in regards to vehicles is incredibly important, but luckily, our experts are on hand today to help. So, with this thought in mind, today, we’re looking at some of the key things you need to know about ELVs to help inform your decision.
What is an ELV?
You may have seen the term “ELV” while planning to scrap or sell a vehicle, but this term isn’t always well understood. It is generally used to refer to “end of life vehicles,” but the exact definition of what constitutes this can vary.
What Makes a Car an ELV?
Since there’s no legal definition of what an ELV is, it’s not necessarily easy to define what does – and does not – make a car an ELV. However, most people will consider an ELV to be a vehicle that is no longer worth running.
This will usually be a decision made on the part of the car’s owner, especially for a vehicle that has gotten old and is inefficient to run; however, in some cases, it may relate instead to an insurance company taking legal ownership of an accident-damaged vehicle.
Types of ELVs
There are two types of ELVs that you should be aware of. These vary depending on the cause of the vehicle becoming an “end of life” case.
- Natural ELVs are vehicles that are considered to have come to the end of their expected lifespan or have otherwise become uneconomical to continue repairing, not due to damage but simply due to age-related errors.
- Premature ELVs are vehicles that have been classed as end of life due to sustaining significant damage that prevents them from being economical to fix. These vehicles would not be expected to show such faults had they not been involved in an accident or experienced damage.
It’s worth noting here that not all old vehicles are necessarily end of life – for example, a vintage car may not be economical to run anymore, but that doesn’t automatically mean it will need to be disposed of.
Can ELVs be Sold?
ELVs should not be sold on to another owner; they should instead be disposed of in an environmentally conscious manner. In line with this, an ELV must be dismantled by an authorised treatment facility. Once the authorised treatment facility has received the vehicle, it is then classed as hazardous waste (due to the components found in cars).
After an ELV has been dismantled by the relevant authorised treatment facility, the DVLA will be informed. Following this, you will be issued with a certificate of destruction relating to the vehicle.
Final Thoughts
If your car has been classified as an ELV, it’s hugely important to ensure that the car is processed correctly. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for people to not necessarily realise this – which can leave them selling on an ELV to other people.
So, don’t get caught out; before agreeing to any car purchase, make sure you’ve run a number plate check first to ensure that the vehicle is genuine and has not been written off or otherwise experienced significant damage during the course of its life.