Scrapping a BYD isn’t like scrapping an old Camry. It’s closer to off-boarding a phone on wheels that happens to carry a big battery under the floor. Get the paperwork and data steps right and you’ll have a clearer quote, a safer tow and no loose ends after collection.
Start with paper, not panels
It is tempting to start with photos and phone calls. Paperwork should come first.
Check whose name is on the registration and whether money is still owed on the car. If the vehicle is financed, ask the lender what is needed to settle the balance and release its interest. Check the Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) and resolve any recorded security interest before agreeing to a sale. Requirements differ between buyers, so clarify these details with the wrecker in advance.
An insurance write-off does not automatically end a finance agreement. Keep any payout confirmation or formal release with the vehicle documents to avoid delays at handover.
If the car is registered, keep the plates and registration papers handy and check the WA Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure’s requirements before arranging a transfer or cancellation. Have the VIN, plate number, registration details and proof of identity ready. Sorting these records now will make handover easier.
If you have lost the keys or ownership documents, ask the wrecker which alternatives they can accept before booking. Missing keys or unclear ownership may delay the sale. Where more than one person has an interest in the car, confirm whose approval or signatures are required.
Pin down the exact model and battery pack
Quotes for BYD wrecking in Perth depend heavily on accurate details. ‘Atto 3’ alone may not be enough to identify the vehicle properly.
Open the driver door and read the compliance plate and VIN. Note the build month and battery size. An Atto 3 Extended Range has a 60.5 kWh pack while the standard range car has a 50 kWh pack.
That difference can affect the assessment of a battery for reuse or recycling and the parts a specialist may be able to recover. Similar variations exist elsewhere in the BYD range.
The Atto 3, Dolphin and Seal are electric BYD models using versions of e-Platform 3.0. The Sealion 6 DM-i is a plug-in hybrid and should be identified separately. Battery packs, screens and suspension components can also differ between models and variants.
If the compliance plate is hard to read, wipe it clean and photograph it in daylight rather than guessing the trim. Take a clear photo of the VIN plate and the dash odometer. Write down the exact model name as it appears on the rego papers. A good wrecker will also ask about battery health. They can’t see inside the pack from photos, but the Battery Management System holds the data needed to grade it later. You are not expected to test it yourself. Give them clean identification details so they can assess the car without guessing.
Flag high-voltage damage honestly
Be direct about what happened to the car. A wrecker needs to know if the high-voltage system might still be live or damaged.
From a safe distance, note visible underbody damage, smoke, leaks, unusual noises or any warning message already displayed. Do not touch cables, open the battery enclosure or repeatedly try to start a vehicle that may have high-voltage damage.
These signs may indicate a damaged battery or high-voltage system. Keep other people away and do not attempt to move or charge the car. If there is smoke, fire, hissing, unusual heat or another immediate danger, move to a safe distance and call emergency services. Otherwise, contact a qualified EV recovery provider for advice before collection.
Tell the wrecker what you can safely observe, including any collision damage or suspected battery fault, before accepting a quote. This helps them arrange suitable recovery equipment and personnel. Share any photos already taken from a safe position, but do not approach an unsafe vehicle just to take more.
Do not charge a BYD after a collision if the battery may be damaged, and do not try to alter its charge level for collection. If a State of Charge figure is already visible and safe to check, pass it on to the recovery provider. Otherwise, say that the reading is unknown and leave all electrical checks to trained staff.
Lock in the quote and the tow before the truck rolls
Take time to confirm the collection arrangements before the truck is booked.
Before arranging collection, request a firm quote for BYD Wrecking and confirm what the price covers, including paperwork and towing. Ask whether there are extra charges if the car will not roll or steer.
Arrange recovery that follows BYD’s towing guidance for the particular model and its condition. A flatbed or tilt tray is often appropriate, especially if the vehicle cannot roll safely. Do not attempt to move a car with suspected high-voltage damage yourself.
Tell the dispatcher the car is electric, whether it rolls and where the keys and charging cable are. If the vehicle is safe to access, have the agreed accessories ready for collection.
Check whether the agreed price includes the charging cable and spare keys, as missing items may affect some offers. At handover, request a dated sale or disposal receipt showing the VIN and the buyer’s details. Keep a copy.
If you sell, give away or dispose of a WA-licensed vehicle, you must notify the Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure within seven days of ceasing to be its owner. Check whether a transfer or licence cancellation is needed in your situation, and keep the notification confirmation with your receipt and finance paperwork.
Leave high-voltage work to a trained tech
Disconnecting a BYD’s 12-volt battery does not make its high-voltage system safe to work on.
The 12-volt auxiliary battery operates functions such as computers and the boot release, but it does not isolate the large battery under the floor. Even when the dashboard is dark, high-voltage terminals can remain live.
Don’t touch the thick orange cables. Leave them intact and don’t unplug anything that appears to connect to the pack or inverter.
Those cables link the high-voltage battery to the drive unit and can carry dangerous electrical energy. Specialist isolation and testing procedures are required before anyone works on the battery, inverter or associated components.
Leave protective covers and high-voltage enclosures closed.
Only a qualified EV technician using approved isolation procedures and suitable testing equipment should handle these parts. BYD uses lithium iron phosphate chemistry in its Blade Battery, but that does not eliminate the risk of electric shock, fire or other hazards. Trained crews should treat the system as energised until isolation has been verified.
Risk cannot be judged by appearance or smell alone. Do not disconnect the 12-volt battery or attempt electrical work on a damaged vehicle yourself. Tell the recovery provider about any known faults or work already carried out, and leave isolation to trained technicians.
Treat it like a phone on wheels
A BYD remembers a lot of personal information. Log out before it leaves.
If the car is safe to use, carry out a factory reset through the infotainment screen. Log out of your BYD ID in both the car and phone app, unpair Bluetooth phones and remove saved home and work locations. If you cannot safely access the vehicle, ask the provider how to protect your account and personal data remotely.
If you paired a garage door or created driver profiles, clear those too. Then check the physical storage spots people often forget.
When the vehicle is safe to access, look in the boot, underfloor storage, glovebox and SD slots for cards and paperwork. Remove the toll tag from the windscreen and locate any spare key.
Take out child seats and any personal cables. Anything left inside the car is gone once the truck leaves.
Don’t skip this part.
If your car is a Sealion 6 DM-i, there is a second energy system to note. Tell the wrecker it is a plug-in hybrid with a petrol tank and fuel lines as well as a high-voltage pack, and note the fuel level without trying to drain anything yourself. The yard will handle fuel and oil under its own controls.
If the car is safe to approach, take dated photos before pickup. Photograph all four sides, the VIN plate, odometer, interior and charge port. Do not reach under a damaged vehicle to photograph its underside.
Those photos can prevent arguments about what was already broken. They also help the wrecker identify what may be recovered from the motor and dash screen. Keep the images until the transfer clears.
Ask where the Blade Battery will go
The pack under the floor may be one of the most significant components for salvage or recycling. Ask directly what will happen to it.
A responsible wrecker can tell you who handles their packs. They should have a licensed battery recycler or e-waste partner and a paper trail running from pickup through to processing. Treat a vague answer as a warning.
There is good reason to recycle the pack properly. After specialist inspection, some undamaged batteries may be suitable for approved second-life uses, while others require materials recovery. Battery Management System data can support that assessment, but it does not replace physical safety checks or qualified testing.
That assessment helps determine whether a pack can be reused or must go for materials recovery. You do not need to test anything yourself. Leave the battery untouched and pass on anything you know about charge faults or warning lights.
Ask for the battery’s intended disposal or recycling route in writing, where the wrecker can provide it. Proper processing helps protect local soil and waterways and creates a clearer record of how the car was handled. A provider who can identify its recycling partner can also explain the next steps.
Get the identification right and keep your hands off the orange cables. Wipe the accounts, book a tilt tray and keep the receipt. Following those steps gives a BYD that is finished on the road a clean next chapter through parts and materials, which is exactly what a careful off-boarding process should achieve.