Can a Motorcycle Sold as Scrap Still Be Deregistered?

[SanNicole]

Motorcycle sold as scrap cannot be deregistered. Requirements for selling a motorcycle as scrap: If a motorcycle that has reached mandatory scrapping standards is sold as scrap, the owner can deregister it at the vehicle management office by submitting documents such as the vehicle registration certificate, license plate, driving permit, and a copy of the "Scrap Vehicle Recycling Certificate." The vehicle recycling company must, within 7 days after dismantling the vehicle, submit an application, the vehicle registration certificate, license plate, driving permit, and a copy of the "Scrap Vehicle Recycling Certificate" to the vehicle management office to apply for deregistration. Regulations for selling a motorcycle as scrap: According to national regulations, vehicles that meet the mandatory scrapping standards must be accompanied by a filled-out application when sold by the owner to a vehicle recycling company. Scrapped school buses, large passenger vehicles, trucks, and other operational vehicles should be dismantled under the supervision of the vehicle management office.

[ZaneMarie]

Indeed, some people forget to deregister their motorcycles after selling them as scrap metal. I've seen similar cases in rider groups. According to the standard procedure, deregistration requires bringing the motorcycle to the DMV for inspection and records verification. But when it's dismantled into scrap metal, the vehicle identification number is gone, making inspection impossible. So if you didn't complete the paperwork before selling, you're basically stuck at this step. The key issue is that being caught with an unregistered vehicle is even more troublesome—it still counts as your asset in the DMV system. If someone picks up the parts to assemble an illegal bike and causes an accident, you'll be the first one they come after. Once I saw a short video where a motorcycle owner received a registered letter demanding back taxes three years after selling his bike as scrap, and only then did he rush to the DMV in a panic. He was told he'd have to post a lost-and-found notice in the newspaper and wait six months before he could complete the deregistration process. My advice is to take your ID and registration certificate to the local DMV now to ask about the reapplication process—don't leave this as a potential problem.

[Willie]

Just helped a neighbor with a similar issue yesterday. His old motorcycle was sold as scrap metal for 300 yuan last year, but when renewing insurance this year, he found the vehicle record still existed. The DMV staff said a scrap recycling certificate was required for deregistration—but how could a scrapyard issue an official proof? What's worse, if the DMV system shows the vehicle status as normal, you'd have to pay the annual vehicle and vessel tax for nothing. If someone else uses your license plate and commits traffic violations, all the camera-captured fines would fall on you. The most practical solution is to directly file a loss report at the DMV counter. Some places require you to fill out a declaration form with a thumbprint and publish a notice in the newspaper for 30 days before deregistration. The whole process may take two months, but it's better than living in constant worry.

[LeFernando]

Last time at a gathering, a friend who works at the traffic management office mentioned this situation. The core issue is that before deregistration, an on-site rubbing of the vehicle frame number is required. Once a motorcycle turns into scrap metal, even the frame gets melted, making it impossible to inspect. Many people don't realize that even if a motorcycle rusts away for ten years, it still legally belongs to the registered owner. The most extreme case I've seen involved the original owner going abroad for five years, while their scrapped motorcycle was illegally cloned and used for transport, ultimately dragging them into a compensation lawsuit for an overloading accident. Currently, the only remedy is to go through the loss declaration process, bringing your ID card and the original vehicle license to the DMV to fill out an application form. Some cities also require a vehicle loss certificate from the local police station.