Knowing what to remove from your car before selling it for parts or scrap in Perth helps you protect your belongings, clear personal data and avoid changing the vehicle you agreed to sell. Start with your own possessions, then check removable accessories and the arrangements for number plates before collection.
With broken cars, only check areas you can reach safely. Broken glass, jammed doors and an unstable boot lid can turn a simple search into an injury; leave inaccessible items for a conversation with the collector.
Personal Belongings: the Obvious and the Easy-to-Miss
Work through the car in the same order each time: front seats, rear seats, boot and exterior. Put everything you are keeping into a box rather than moving it between compartments. Check with anyone else who regularly used the vehicle before deciding a forgotten item is rubbish.
Glovebox and Centre Console
- Wallets, sunglasses, loose coins and house keys
- Phone chargers, cables, adaptors and memory cards
- Insurance letters, receipts and documents showing your address
- Parking permits, access passes and medication
Separate personal paperwork from records intended for the buyer. Keep copies of anything you need, and agree which service records or vehicle documents will accompany the car. Do not leave unrelated financial or identity documents in the glovebox.
Boot, Under Seats, and Door Pockets
- Tools, jumper leads, tyre inflators and safety gear
- Child seats, booster seats and prams
- Umbrellas, reusable bags and items beneath floor mats
- Loose belongings around the spare-wheel well and cargo compartments
Use a torch to check seat rails and the gaps beside the console. Lift the boot floor if it is safe, but distinguish your belongings from equipment included in the sale: the spare wheel and factory toolkit may be part of the agreed vehicle.
Spare Keys and Fobs
Gather all keys and fobs and agree which ones go with the car. A working key can help the collector unlock doors or release a steering lock even when the engine does not run. Remove your house keys and unrelated remotes from the keyring before handing it over.
Toll Tags, SmartRider Cards, and Other Electronic Accounts
Remove toll transponders, SmartRider cards, workplace access tags and garage remotes. If you have an interstate toll account, update its vehicle details and follow the provider’s instructions for the tag. Taking the physical device out and removing the car from an account are separate tasks.
For a BMW with connected features, check the vehicle’s menus and the manufacturer’s account instructions before handover. The same principle applies to any connected car: delete paired phones, saved addresses and personal profiles, and remove the vehicle from your app account where supported.
Take out dashcam memory cards and removable navigation devices. If the screen or battery is dead, tell the buyer that you could not clear stored data; do not assume disconnecting the battery erases it. Avoid dismantling wiring or safety equipment to retrieve a device.
Lodge a Notification of Disposal Where Applicable
For a WA licensed vehicle, the seller must notify DTMI within seven days of selling, gifting or disposing of it. Our guide to lodging a notification of disposal explains that process; a licence transfer and a cancellation are different arrangements.
Keep a record of the buyer’s details and handover date. If the licence is already cancelled or you are unsure which process applies, check with DTMI rather than treating a collection receipt as confirmation that every licensing step is complete.
What to Leave on a Car Sold for Parts or Scrap
Do not strip components simply because the car is heading for dismantling. Wheels, the battery, engine, gearbox and other fitted parts may be included in the agreed sale. Removing them can change the buyer’s assessment and make loading harder.
If you want to keep roof racks, a stereo or towbar accessories, discuss that before accepting the offer. List the items clearly and confirm whether you will remove them or need help. Leave fitted safety equipment and anything you cannot remove safely in place.
Start With the Number Plates: Check the Sale Arrangement
Plate handling depends on whether the licence is being transferred or cancelled. For voluntary cancellation, WA owners can surrender the plates to cancel the vehicle licence. If the licence has been cancelled, the plates must be surrendered; they are not simply a souvenir to keep.
A vehicle recorded on WA’s Written-Off Vehicle Register has its licence cancelled and its plates must be returned within 28 days. If the insurer or wrecker holds them, confirm who will return them. Do not assume every sale follows that written-off vehicle process.
What Happens on the Day
Before pickup, confirm the collection address, access and which keys or documents the buyer expects. Explain if wheels are missing, gates are narrow or the vehicle cannot roll. Keep children and pets away while the collector loads it.
Cash For Cars Perth’s base is at 5 Hantke Place, Welshpool. Confirm where your car will be collected and taken, and keep the collection details handy; clearing your belongings does not require taking the vehicle to the yard yourself.
Make one final sweep immediately before handover. Check the visor, console, rear pockets and boot, take your box of belongings inside, and photograph the vehicle’s condition for your records. Retain the agreed sale and collection details after it leaves.
A Final Check Before Collection
The useful distinction is between personal belongings, accessories you agreed to keep and components included in the sale. Clear the first group, settle the second in advance and leave the third as agreed. That keeps the final check simple and avoids a last-minute disagreement.
If you are unsure what should stay with a vehicle destined for recycling, ask the scrap vehicle team before collection so you can prepare it confidently.