FAQs

About Giveacar and Plant a Tree

Who runs Giveacar and Plant a Tree?
This environmentally friendly scheme is jointly run by Giveacar, a non-profit social enterprise and Trees For Cities, a registered UK charity. Giveacar oversees the car collection and disposal side of the scheme while Trees For Cities ensures that the funds raised are used to beautify our towns and cities through tree planting, community-led design, education and training initiatives in urban areas that need it most. For more information on Giveacar, please visit www.giveacar.co.uk. For more information on Trees for Cities, please visit www.treesforcities.org.

About Donations

What will my car be used for?
Each car is sold or scrapped. The money raised is then used to plant trees in towns and cities across the UK. The number of trees planted will depend on the value of the car and the type of donation you choose to make (half or full).
What is the difference between a half donation and a full one?
A half donation means that we send you half of the amount we are able to raise – if your car is to be scrapped you will receive a cheque on the day of collection. If your car is to be auctioned, you will be sent a cheque in a letter from Giveacar at the end of the process (usually about 5-6 weeks). So, for example, if your car raised £100 after our admin fee, we would send £50 back to you.
Will I be contacted after I donate my car?
Yes. After you have donated your car and it has been sold you will be sent a letter from Trees for Cities telling you how much money was raised and a certificate telling you how many trees your donation will help to plant as well as an information pack about where they are planted.
Do you charge an administration fee?
Yes. 25% of the car’s profit (plus 5% VAT) will go towards the running of the Giveacar process – the scrap/auction process and promoting the Plant a Tree idea. So for example, if we receive £100 for your car, the administration fee is £25, £5 is deducted for VAT and the balance of £70 is donated. Additionally, Giveacar’s salvage partners have agreed to collect donors’ cars free – no charges whatsoever.

About Tree Planting

Can I choose where my trees will be?
You can nominate a preference for the location of your trees but the final decision will be made by Trees for Cities. Depending on the time of year and needs of the city, some locations may not be available.
Can I visit my trees?
Yes, we will let you know where your trees are planted in the information pack.
Can I choose what variety/species of tree is planted?
It is not possible to choose what variety/species of tree is planted and cared for in your name as planting is dictated by the needs to the local habitat. This means that all trees dedicated and planted provide the greatest benefit to the local environment and will help to support the woodland habitat and its wildlife.

About the vehicle collection process

Who picks up the cars?
Giveacar has links with a nationwide network of Authorised Treatment Facilities and car auctions facilities. Once we receive your details, we will organise a collection agent and they will contact you within 48 hours to arrange a pick-up date and time to suit you.
Do you cover all of the UK?
Yes. We operate throughout the UK, in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. We are also able to collect on the Isle of Wight. If you live in the Hebrides, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, other offshore islands or anywhere that a tow truck is going to find hard to reach – give us a call and we’ll see what we can do for you.
How long does it take to collect my car?
The majority of cars are collected within three days of your initial inquiry. In rare cases it can take up to ten working days to arrange collection. Please tell us if you want to arrange a specific date and time, which is usually no problem.
Do I have to be there when my car’s collected?
Someone (not necessarily the car owner) should be there when the car is collected, to help out with any issues that may arise on the day. However, our salvage partners are also happy to organise a collection where documents and keys are left with the car.
Do I have any legal obligations for my car after it’s collected?
When your vehicle is collected make sure you retain and send off section 9 of the V5C registration form to the DVLA. This will notify them that you have no legal obligations to the vehicle once it has been collected. Recently, the DVLA has informed us that our collection partners are under no legal obligation to sign their part of Section 9, despite the fact that it says ‘by law’. They have also informed us that it is perfectly acceptable if you sign your part, note down the name and address of the collection agent and then send that off to the DVLA. You will then be issued with a Certificate of Destruction. If you have any doubts, please contact the DVLA.
Do you accept motorbikes?
Yes – we can collect motorbikes free of charge in the same way that we collect scrap cars but please be aware that motorbikes tend to have low re-sale value and very little scrap metal value.

About the paperwork and car ownership

What paperwork do I need to donate a car?
We ask you to present your registration document (V5C) when the car is collected – you will need to complete Section 9. If you can’t find the document, don’t worry – we can still arrange the collection. Recently, the DVLA has informed us that our collection partners are under no legal obligation to sign their part of Section 9, despite the fact that it says ‘by law’. They have also informed us that it is perfectly acceptable if you sign your part, note down the name and address of the collection agent and then send that off to the DVLA. You will then be issued with a Certificate of Destruction. If you have any doubts, please contact the DVLA. There’s no need for your car to have a valid tax disc or MOT – all our cars are collected by tow truck so they don’t need to be licenced. Of course if you do have a current MOT certificate, it will probably increase the value of the car.
Can I reclaim any unused car tax?
Yes, and we encourage it. We are unable to use the value of the car tax to supplement your donation, so please reclaim the tax yourself if possible.
Can I keep my number plate?
Yes – Type ‘retain number plate’ into your internet browser and this will take you to a Directgov webpage with all the information you will need. The essentials are that it will cost roughly £100 to keep a registration plate and the process takes a few weeks – you must complete this process before you scrap your car. Give us a call when you are ready.
Can I donate an abandoned vehicle?
If you are a property management company, and are willing to sign the right documents, we will be able to collect your vehicles. If you are a member of the public then we recommend contacting your local council if you suspect a vehicle has been abandoned – don’t forget to mention our scheme! Abandoned vehicles have huge potential for providing funds to local community projects and charities.

About the sale of cars

How are the cars sold?
Each scrap car that comes through this process creates an average donation of £100, no matter where you are in the UK. If you have an exceptionally large vehicle then we will take that into account and hopefully raise a larger donation. If your car is roadworthy or has some salvage value we will sell it at auction, which should lead to a much higher overall donation and will at least raise a scrap car donation – please note that our auction partners do take a flat rate fee out of the sale price for their services – we think that’s fair and hope you do too.
What if a car is valueless?
On average, every scrap car donation raises about £100 – regardless of condition. We can turn even the scruffiest of cars into a donation so please do not think your car is valueless!
What if the car is valuable – will you get a good price for it?
Yes, we’ll try to! Valuable cars are put up for auction. We use a couple of auction houses and we monitor the prices paid to make sure we get the best deals for higher value cars.
I have a full tank of petrol / CD player / alloy wheels, will it improve the donation?
For car disposals, any additional items or fluids do not improve the donation to charity. The reason for this is that the cars are crushed, and the donation is paid based upon the value of the scrap metal, as opposed to the parts. For roadworthy cars, additional items may improve the car’s valuation, but as the cars are sold at auction, the market will determine the final sale price.
Will I have any costs to pay?
No. You will not pay any costs. You may have been asked to pay for the collection and disposal of your scrap car – this will never happen with Giveacar and Plant a Tree.
How long does it take before I get a receipt for my donation?
Your receipt and info pack should arrive within 6 weeks of the initial enquiry. In exceptional circumstances the process can take longer, for example if the buyer of a car at auction does not pay, and the car has to be put back into auction at a later date.