Scrapping a car in Singapore involves more than handing the keys to a scrapyard. You need to deregister the vehicle with the Land Transport Authority (LTA), arrange its disposal through an approved channel and check whether you are entitled to any PARF or COE rebate.
The process can differ depending on whether your vehicle is eligible for a Preferential Additional Registration Fee (PARF) rebate. Before starting, check your vehicle’s rebate eligibility and estimated rebate amount through OneMotoring. The figures can help you compare the expected value of scrapping with other options, such as exporting or selling the car.
This guide explains how to prepare your car, work with an LTA-appointed scrapyard and complete the main steps. Procedures and requirements can change, so check OneMotoring for the latest instructions before making an appointment.
1. Check whether scrapping is the right option
Scrapping is one way to deregister a Singapore-registered vehicle. It means sending the vehicle to an LTA-appointed scrapyard for disposal. Depending on the vehicle and the arrangement, the scrapyard may also offer a payment for the car or its parts.
Before deciding, consider:
- The estimated PARF rebate: Eligible cars and taxis may receive a PARF rebate when deregistered within the relevant eligibility period. Eligibility and the amount depend on factors such as the vehicle’s registration details and age.
- The estimated COE rebate: You may be eligible for a rebate for the unused portion of your COE, subject to the applicable rules.
- The scrapyard’s offer: A scrapyard may offer an amount based on the vehicle’s condition, make, model, age and parts value. Ask what the offer includes and whether there are deductions or collection charges.
- The vehicle’s outstanding costs: Check for unpaid road tax, fees, fines, loans or other financial obligations that could affect the process or your net proceeds.
- Alternative disposal options: If the vehicle has resale value overseas, exporting it may be worth considering. A motor dealer may also be able to handle disposal on your behalf.
Do not treat an advertised scrap price as your guaranteed total return. Ask for a written breakdown that separates the vehicle’s sale or scrap value from any rebates administered through LTA. These are different components and may be paid or processed separately.
2. Check PARF and COE rebate details
Use OneMotoring’s PARF and COE rebate enquiry service to check the estimated rebates for your vehicle. You can usually view an estimate based on an intended deregistration date, which is useful when comparing possible dates.
A PARF rebate is generally relevant only to eligible cars and taxis. A vehicle that is not eligible for PARF may still qualify for a COE rebate, depending on its circumstances. Motorcycles, commercial vehicles and other vehicle classes have different rebate rules, so do not assume the rules for a private car apply to them.
Rebate eligibility and value can depend on details such as:
- The vehicle’s registration date and vehicle class
- Whether it is still within the applicable PARF eligibility period
- The amount of Additional Registration Fee paid, including the effect of applicable incentives
- The remaining COE period at deregistration
- Whether the vehicle meets relevant regulatory requirements
The online enquiry gives you an estimate; it is not a substitute for checking the final amount and conditions that apply when you deregister. If you are planning close to a deadline, confirm the dates carefully. The PARF and COE rebates are generally valid for 12 months from the vehicle’s deregistration date, and they must be used within that validity period.
3. Check for outstanding loans and ownership issues
If the car is financed, contact the bank or finance company before you arrange scrapping. Confirm the outstanding settlement amount and how the loan will be discharged. The vehicle may be subject to a financing arrangement or other restrictions that need to be resolved before disposal can proceed.
Also check who is recorded as the vehicle’s owner. If the car is registered to a company, deceased person, bankrupt person or another special ownership arrangement, additional steps or documents may be required. The person handling the vehicle should have the authority to act for the registered owner.
If you appointed a dealer to manage the process, remain involved until you have confirmation that deregistration and disposal are complete. LTA states that the owner remains responsible for ensuring the vehicle is properly disposed of, even when a motor dealer is engaged.
4. Choose an LTA-appointed scrapyard
Scrapping through an LTA-appointed scrapyard gives you a recognised route for disposing of the vehicle. Check OneMotoring for the current list of appointed scrapyards and their contact details.
Call the scrapyard before you go. Scrapping services are by appointment, and each operator may have its own instructions about arrival time, vehicle condition, required documents and payment arrangements.
Ask the scrapyard to confirm:
- The appointment date and time
- Whether you should drive or tow the vehicle
- The documents and identification the person bringing the car must present
- Whether the scrapyard will make an offer for the vehicle
- How and when any scrapyard payment will be made
- Whether there are towing, handling or other charges
- What confirmation you will receive after the vehicle is accepted
Get the terms in writing where possible. If a dealer or scrap buyer promises a particular amount, confirm whether it is conditional on inspection, whether it includes any fees and whether the stated amount includes LTA rebates. An LTA rebate and a scrapyard’s offer are not necessarily the same payment.
5. Prepare the vehicle and documents
Before the appointment, remove personal belongings from the car. Check the glove compartment, boot, door pockets, under the seats and any storage compartments. Take out parking cards, cash cards, dash cameras, child seats, personal accessories and items that you want to keep.
You may also want to:
- Remove personal data from the car’s infotainment system and connected apps.
- Take photographs of the vehicle and its condition before handing it over.
- Keep records of the odometer reading and vehicle registration number.
- Gather documents or records related to the loan settlement, dealer arrangement or scrapyard offer.
- Confirm whether the scrapyard requires the original identification document or accepts a specified digital identity document.
For a PARF-eligible vehicle being scrapped at an appointed scrapyard, the general sequence is to drive or tow the vehicle to the scrapyard first, then deregister it online after arrival using the required Singpass two-factor authentication. Do not deregister it in advance unless the current LTA instructions for your vehicle and disposal route tell you to do so.
For a non-PARF-eligible vehicle, the process may require you to authorise yourself or another person through the OneMotoring digital service before bringing the vehicle to the scrapyard. The authorised person must bring the vehicle within the specified period and provide the required identification. Check the current LTA instructions for the exact sequence that applies to your vehicle.
If you cannot use Singpass, contact LTA to arrange the appropriate in-person process. Some cases require an appointment at the LTA Customer Service Centre.
6. Arrange safe transport to the scrapyard
Check whether the vehicle can legally and safely be driven to the scrapyard. If it cannot, arrange towing or transport. A car with a mechanical fault, accident damage or expired road tax may not be suitable to drive.
For eligible vehicles, LTA’s standard process requires the vehicle to arrive at the scrapyard before the owner completes the online deregistration. For non-PARF-eligible vehicles, the owner may need to authorise the disposal first and bring the car to the scrapyard within the time allowed.
Follow the scrapyard’s instructions and LTA’s current requirements. Do not continue using the car once it has been deregistered. Deregistration ends its status as a registered vehicle for road use. Arrange any onward transport with the scrapyard or a towing provider, and do not drive the vehicle on public roads after deregistration.
7. Complete deregistration
Deregistration is the formal step that ends the vehicle’s registration in Singapore. For many owners, this is completed through OneMotoring using Singpass. The correct timing depends on whether the vehicle is PARF-eligible and whether it is being scrapped, exported or stored at an Export Processing Zone.
When completing the online service:
- Sign in using the registered owner’s Singpass or the authorised method.
- Select the relevant vehicle and disposal option.
- Follow the instructions for your vehicle’s PARF eligibility.
- Confirm the vehicle details and intended disposal method.
- Submit the application and keep a copy of the confirmation.
Check the vehicle registration number and other details before submitting. If an appointed person is handling the process, make sure the authorisation is in place and the person understands the required timing and documents.
If your vehicle is non-PARF-eligible and you are required to authorise a person to send it to the scrapyard, the authorised person generally needs to present valid identification and settle any outstanding road tax or fees. LTA’s current instructions specify the allowed period for bringing the vehicle after authorisation. Confirm that period before booking the appointment.
8. Hand over the vehicle and confirm disposal
At the scrapyard, the operator will check the vehicle and may verify details such as its chassis and engine or motor numbers against LTA records. Bring the required identification and follow the operator’s instructions.
Before you leave, ask for confirmation of:
- The vehicle’s acceptance
- The agreed scrapyard payment, if any
- Any deductions or charges
- The date and details of the handover
- Whether the scrapyard will submit disposal documents to LTA
Keep the receipt, agreement and any disposal confirmation. If there is a disagreement about the vehicle’s condition or payment, refer to the written terms you received before the appointment.
For a vehicle that has already been deregistered, it may still need to be transported to an LTA-appointed scrapyard. Do not leave a deregistered car in a public place or assume that deregistration alone means the disposal is complete.
9. Track rebates and complete follow-up tasks
After deregistration and disposal, use OneMotoring to check the status of any PARF or COE rebate. The rebate may be transferred or encashed through LTA’s available services, subject to the relevant rules. Keep the rebate notice and payment records with your vehicle documents.
If you plan to use the rebate toward another vehicle, remember the validity period. The PARF and COE rebates are generally valid for 12 months from the date of deregistration. Leaving the rebate unused beyond its validity period may mean losing the opportunity to use it.
If you want to retain the vehicle registration number, apply through the appropriate LTA process before or when you deregister the vehicle. LTA allows owners to apply to retain a registration number after deregistration within a limited period, but the application must meet current requirements. Check the rules before scrapping if keeping the number matters to you.
Finally, contact your insurer and cancel or update the policy once the vehicle is no longer in use. If you have a season parking arrangement, ERP-related account or other service linked to the vehicle, check whether it needs to be cancelled or updated. Keep copies of the deregistration and disposal records in case you need them later.
Common mistakes to avoid
Deregistering in the wrong order
The process differs between PARF-eligible and non-PARF-eligible vehicles. Scrapping a PARF-eligible car generally requires you to bring it to the appointed scrapyard before completing online deregistration. Follow the steps shown by OneMotoring for your vehicle.
Missing an appointment
Scrapyards operate by appointment. Confirm the time, location and required documents before setting out. If the vehicle cannot be driven, book a tow truck that can deliver it within the scrapyard’s operating hours.
Assuming the rebate is the scrapyard’s offer
A scrapyard’s purchase or scrap offer is separate from LTA-administered rebates. Ask for a breakdown so you understand what each amount represents and when it will be paid.
Leaving the process entirely to a dealer
A dealer can help, but you remain responsible for ensuring the vehicle is disposed of properly. Ask for written confirmation of the disposal arrangement and verify the outcome through the relevant LTA service.
Forgetting the rebate validity period
Check the PARF and COE rebate dates as soon as the vehicle is deregistered. If you intend to use the rebate for another vehicle, allow enough time to complete the transaction before the rebate expires.
Final checklist
Before scrapping your car in Singapore, make sure you have:
- Checked the estimated PARF and COE rebates
- Compared the scrapyard offer with any export or dealer option
- Settled or discussed any outstanding loan
- Booked an appointment with an LTA-appointed scrapyard
- Confirmed the correct deregistration sequence for your vehicle
- Prepared the required identification and documents
- Removed personal belongings and data from the car
- Arranged towing if the car is unsafe or not legal to drive
- Kept proof of the scrapyard handover and deregistration
- Checked the rebate status and validity period
- Cancelled or updated insurance and other vehicle-related services
With the right preparation, scrapping a car can be a straightforward process. The key is to check your vehicle’s eligibility, follow the correct LTA sequence and keep written records from the scrapyard or dealer through to final disposal.
Scrap your car with https://www.motorist.sg/scrap-export-car