End-of-life vehicles

An end-of-life vehicle is a vehicle that is no longer usable. It may be a car or van at the end of its life.

These vehicles are no longer usable and contain toxic elements (liquids and components) classified as dangerous waste by French Decree 2002-250 of 18 April 2002 (on waste classification). These elements must be treated separately, and then the rest of the vehicle may be recycled (mostly for raw materials).

Who owns end-of-life vehicles?

End-of-life vehicles are owned by different owners, assessed ADEME (the French Environment and Energy Management Agency) :

• individuals (43 %);
• insurance and mutual insurance companies (19 % in number);
• independent garages (15 %);
• vehicle dealerships(12 %);
• state-owned property (Department of State Property Management), impound yards and other origins (11 %).

Between the use and reuse of the elements of an end-of-life vehicle, 82% of the vehicle's mass is affected.