Scrap metal dealer licences

Dealing in scrap metal, or the running of a scrap metal business, is controlled by the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013. If you're a scrap metal dealer or motor salvage operator you must have a licence to trade.

  • A site licence allows you to trade as a scrap metal dealer at a single site, or multiple sites, in Barnsley.
  • A collector’s licence allows you to trade as a mobile collector and sell or dispose of metal in Barnsley (including the sale and disposal of motor parts).

You can’t hold a site licence and a collector’s licence in the same area, but you can apply for a site licence in one local authority area and a collector’s licence in another.

Fees

The fee for a site licence is £380 and the fee for a collector's licence is £180.

Licences are valid of three years. You can renew your licence three months before the expiry date.

What you need to apply

To apply for a scrap metal dealer licence you must be at least 18 years of age. You can apply using our online form below.

In the online form you need to upload certified copies of:

You need to provide these for:

  • yourself
  • any business partners
  • any company directors, shadow directors and secretaries of the company
  • any site managers (if you're applying for a site licence)

You also need to upload certified copies of:

  • MOT test and motor insurance certificates for all vehicles used in the business
  • a site plan and evidence of planning approval for each site (if you're applying for a site licence)

You can find out more about certified copies, including who can certify a document for you, below.

If you're not able to upload certified copies of your documents you'll need to post the originals after submitting your online form to: Licensing, Legal Services, PO Box 634, Barnsley, S70 9GG. We'll return these to you after processing your application.

How to apply

You can apply for or renew a site or collector's licence using our online form below.

In the form we'll ask for your own details and those of the scrap metal business, as well as details of any business partners, company directors, shadow directors, secretaries of the company, and site managers (if you're applying for a site licence). You'll need to tell us if you or any of those named have been convicted of any relevant offence or been subject to any enforcement action.

You'll also need to confirm your tax responsibilities by either:

  • confirming you're aware of your tax registration obligations (Pay As You Earn, Self Assessment and/or Corporation Tax obligations) if you're applying for a scrap metal dealer licence for the first time, or if you've previously held a licence but this ceased to be valid over a year ago; or
  • providing a tax check code generated from the GOV.UK website if you've previously held a scrap metal dealer licence that ceased to be valid less than a year ago, or if you already hold a site or collector's licence with another licensing authority

We'll also ask for details of the bank accounts that will be used to pay people for the scrap metal you receive or sell. This is to check you're not selling the metal for cash, as this is illegal.

Apply for a scrap metal licence

After submitting your form we'll process your application and post your licence to you. You'll usually receive this within 10 working days.

If your application's not successful we'll email you to tell you the reason for our decision.

More information

Certified copies of documents

Certified copies of documents are those which have been signed by a professional person to confirm they are a true copy of the original. Certified copies must:

  • be signed and dated by a professional person (such as a solicitor, bank official or teacher) who is not related, living at the same address, or in a relationship with you
  • have the wording ‘Certified to be a true copy of the original seen by me’ written on the document by the person certifying it
  • have the name, address, phone number and occupation of the person certifying it printed clearly underneath their signature

The person certifying the document may charge you a fee to do this. You can find out more about certified documents, including who can certify a copy, on GOV.UK.

If you're not able to upload certified copies of your documents you'll need to post the originals after submitting your online form to: Licensing, Legal Services, PO Box 634, Barnsley, S70 9GG. We'll return these to you after processing your application.

If you've applied for a licence by post

If you've submitted an application by post, you'll need to pay the fee for your licence using our online form.

In the form please select 'Pay for an application submitted via post' as the reason for your application.

Apply for a scrap metal licence

After submitting your form we'll process your application and post your licence to you. You'll usually receive this within 10 working days.

If your application's not successful we'll email you to tell you the reason for our decision.