If you have never scrapped a car before, the paperwork and the phone call can be full of words nobody explains. Vehicle portion. Plate portion. Lien. Irreparable. Curb weight. None of it is complicated once you know what it means. This glossary covers the terms you are most likely to hear when you book scrap car removal Oshawa pickups, in plain English, so you know what to have ready and what to ask.
Canadian Auto Wreckers is based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and has been buying scrap, junk and unwanted vehicles since 1981, with pickups in Oshawa and across Durham. To get a quote, call 416-559-3683 or use our online quote form.
CAW Team, Canadian Auto Wreckers
Key takeaways
- The ownership (vehicle permit) has two parts. You sign over the vehicle portion and keep the plate portion.
- Plates stay with you in Ontario. Take them off before the car is towed.
- A lien is money still owed on the car. It has to be cleared before the car can be sold.
- Cars submitted through our website form get a cash price, free towing on an accepted sale, pickup as soon as the next day before noon when paperwork and access are ready, and a bill of sale at pickup.
A situation we often see
Someone in Oshawa calls about an old car in the driveway and, partway through, asks what we mean by “the vehicle portion” or whether “salvage” is the same as “scrap.” That is completely normal. Most people sell a car only a few times in their life, and scrapping one is even rarer. Knowing a handful of terms ahead of time makes the call shorter and pickup day smoother.
The glossary
Bill of sale
A written record of the sale: who sold the vehicle, who bought it, the vehicle’s details and the date. We give you one at pickup. Keep it with your records in case your insurer or anyone else asks when the car left your hands.
Catalytic converter
The part of the exhaust that cleans emissions. It contains valuable metals, so whether it is still on the car can affect the quote. If it has been removed or stolen, say so when you call. Our catalytic converter guide explains why it matters.
Curb weight
How much the vehicle weighs empty. For a car that is being scrapped, weight matters because much of its value comes from the metal. A full-size truck and a small hatchback in similar condition can be quoted very differently for that reason.
End-of-life vehicle
A car that has reached the point where it is not going back on the road. In Ontario, end-of-life vehicles are drained of fluids, stripped of reusable parts and recycled for metal under provincial environmental rules. Our post on what happens after junk car removal walks through it.
Irreparable
A vehicle brand in Ontario for cars so badly damaged they can never be driven on the road again, only used for parts or scrap. If your car is branded irreparable, scrapping is usually the only real option. See our salvage and irreparable guide.
Lien
A legal claim on the car by a lender, usually because a car loan or lease is not fully paid off. A car with a lien cannot be sold until the lender is paid and the lien is discharged. Our loan and lien guide covers the steps.
Non-runner
A car that does not start or cannot be driven. That is fine for scrap car removal, since the car is towed, not driven away. Tell us if it does not start, so the right truck is sent. Our car won’t start guide has more.
Ownership (vehicle permit)
The document that shows who the registered owner is. People in Ontario usually call it “the ownership.” It has two parts, the vehicle portion and the plate portion, described below. If yours is lost, see scrapping a car without ownership.
Plate portion
The part of the permit tied to your licence plates. You keep it, along with the plates themselves, when the car is sold.
Plates
In Ontario, licence plates belong to the owner, not the car. Remove them before pickup. You can put them on another vehicle you own or return them to ServiceOntario.
Registered owner
The person or company named on the ownership. They are the one who signs the vehicle over. If the car is in a spouse’s, parent’s or late relative’s name, tell us when you call so we can explain what is needed.
Safety Standards Certificate
Often called “a safety.” It is needed to register a used vehicle to a new owner and put plates on it for the road. A car being scrapped does not need one. If your car failed its safety and the repairs are not worth it, see our failed safety guide.
Salvage
A brand for vehicles that have been badly damaged, often an insurance write-off, but that can be repaired. A salvage vehicle needs repairs and a structural inspection before it can be on the road again. Many owners decide scrapping is simpler.
Scrap value
What a car is worth for its metal and recyclable parts rather than as a car to drive. It moves with make, model, weight, condition, missing parts and current scrap metal markets. Our guide on what affects the cash offer goes deeper.
Used Vehicle Information Package (UVIP)
A package from ServiceOntario with a vehicle’s registration history and lien information in Ontario. Sellers must provide one in a private sale between individuals. Even when you are not selling privately, it can be a handy way to check whether a lien is registered.
Vehicle portion
The part of the permit that goes with the car. You fill in and sign the transfer section and hand it over at pickup.
Quick reference
| Term | What it means for you on pickup day |
|---|---|
| Vehicle portion | Sign it and hand it over |
| Plate portion | Keep it |
| Plates | Remove them and keep them |
| Lien | Must be cleared before the sale |
| Bill of sale | You get one at pickup; keep it |
| Safety certificate | Not needed for a car being scrapped |
| Insurance | Call your insurer after the car is gone |
For a full step-by-step list of the paperwork, see our Ontario paperwork, plates and insurance guide. If you are still deciding whether to book, our questions to ask before booking in Oshawa may help.
FAQ
Is salvage the same as scrap?
No. A salvage vehicle can be repaired and put back on the road after an inspection. A car being scrapped is not going back on the road; it is recycled for parts and metal.
Do I need a safety certificate to scrap my car in Oshawa?
No. A Safety Standards Certificate is for registering a used vehicle for road use. A car being scrapped does not need one.
What part of the ownership do I give you?
The vehicle portion, with the transfer section signed. You keep the plate portion and the plates.
Do you pick up in Oshawa?
Yes. We are based in Toronto and pick up in Oshawa, as well as Whitby, Ajax, Pickering, Clarington, Scarborough and the rest of Toronto.
Book scrap car removal in Oshawa
Now that the terms make sense, the call is the easy part. Call 416-559-3683 (Monday to Saturday 9 AM to 7 PM, Sunday 9 AM to 5 PM) or use our online quote form. For local details, visit our scrap car removal Oshawa page.