Vehicle: Dispose of end-of-life vehicle (certificate of destruction)

Since January 1, 2007, last owners of passenger cars and light commercial vehicles (i.e. vehicles for the transport of goods up to 3.5 tons) have had the option of returning their end-of-life vehicles that they wish to dispose of to the manufacturer or importer free of charge. These are obliged to take back the end-of-life vehicles and must set up a nationwide take-back system themselves or through authorized third parties. Excluded from the free take-back are end-of-life vehicles from which essential parts or components or electronic control units have been removed and which were not registered in the European Union for at least 1 month prior to final deregistration.

If a vehicle is finally decommissioned and disposed of, a certified end-of-life vehicle recycling company must issue a certificate of destruction for the vehicle registration authority.