Terms and Conditions.

Last updated: 04/12/2025

These Terms & Conditions (“Terms”) apply to all services provided by Ryton Breakers Salvage Ltd (“we”, “us”, “our”) including recovery, storage, salvage, disposal, vehicle handling, and associated services.
By instructing us, allowing us to collect a vehicle, or permitting a vehicle to be stored at our site, you (“you”, “the client”, “instructing party”) agree to these Terms.

1. Definitions

“Client / You” – the person, insurer, solicitor, accident manager, finance company, recovery agent, or authorised third party instructing us.

“Vehicle” – any car, van, motorcycle or other item recovered, stored, assessed or handled by us.

“Storage” – daily storage of a vehicle at our site.

“Instruction” – any request to recover, store, handle or dispose of a vehicle.

“Site” – Barmoor Quarry, Ryton, NE40 3BQ, or any temporary holding facility used by us or any of our contractors & 3rd party agents.

“Salvage” – purchasing, disposing of, depolluting, or breaking a vehicle.

“Disposal” – the onward movement of a total-loss vehicle as instructed; not necessarily destruction.

2. Authority to Instruct Us

We may act on instructions from:

  • solicitors
  • insurers
  • accident management companies
  • recovery agents
  • finance companies
  • engineers/assessors
  • the client directly
  • any authorised party acting for the vehicle owner

Once instructed, charges may apply regardless of later disputes between the client and their insurer, solicitor, finance provider or any third party.

3. Ownership, Title Verification & Vehicle Release

We may verify ownership and interests through:

  • HPI checks
  • finance companies
  • insurers
  • solicitors
  • police
  • engineer/assessor reports

A V5C logbook confirms only the registered keeper, not legal ownership.
Where a financial interest is confirmed to exist, we act on the basis that legal title rests with the finance provider.

If a client is non-contactable, unresponsive, or fails to resolve finance interest on the vehicle, we may contact the finance provider directly in order to mitigate ongoing storage charges. Where reasonable attempts to resolve title or finance issues are unsuccessful, storage may exceed the salvage value. In such circumstances, the salvage and/or disposal of the vehicle may be used to cap and offset outstanding storage and associated costs in accordance with our legal rights.

Vehicles recovered to our site are on the basis of an agreed or intended salvage purchase. For this reason, release of vehicles from our premises is not standard practice and will only be considered in the specific circumstances outlined below:
A) Client wishes to retain the vehicle before we purchase the salvage

Release will occur only where:

  • ownership/authority is proven;
  • all recovery, storage, admin and handling charges are paid in full;
  • any instructing party confirms release does not breach their instruction;
  • the collection agent has suitable transport and insurance.

    Where a client indicates an intention to retain the vehicle but fails to prove requirements or pay the required recovery, storage, administrative or handling charges, or fails to arrange collection, the vehicle will continue to incur storage.

    If either:
  • any claim-covered storage period expires, or
  • seven (7) days pass without proof, payment, collection, or reasonable progress being made,
    we will reasonably assume that the client no longer wishes to retain the vehicle.

    In such circumstances, we will proceed with the agreed salvage purchase and handle the vehicle in accordance with our salvage and disposal rights.
B) Client switches insurer / claim route before salvage is purchased

If a client pursues a claim elsewhere:

  • the vehicle may be released only after all charges are paid in full, and
  • only where the salvage has not yet been purchased or disposed of.

If we have already paid the salvage value, good title passes to us and cannot be reversed. Any later claim must proceed without salvage.
Salvage values are set by IMI-accredited engineers, not by us.

C) Finance company requests collection

If a verified finance provider requests the vehicle and salvage agreement has not been reached:

  • all charges must be paid in full before release, and
  • written authority must be provided confirming their entitlement to collect.

If the client remains liable for payments and authorises the finance company to act, such authority must be confirmed in writing.

Police or Legal Requirement

We will comply with lawful requests for release, seizure or inspection.
Charges remain payable unless expressly waived.

4. Storage Charges

Storage begins:

  • from the moment a vehicle is collected; or
  • from the moment it arrives at our site,
    whichever occurs first.

Storage continues until:

  • the vehicle is removed from our site, and
  • all charges are cleared.

Storage applies regardless of delays caused by insurers, solicitors, court cases, finance companies or clients.

We may apply:

  • daily storage charges
  • administrative fees
  • release fees
  • recovery fees

These are available upon request.

Where storage is to be covered in claim, this applies only when we are purchasing/retaining the salvage and have agreed to waive storage.
If a client or 3rd party wishes to remove the vehicle instead, storage becomes fully payable.

5. Abandoned Vehicles

A vehicle may be considered abandoned if:

  • charges remain unpaid after reasonable attempts to contact;
  • the client fails to respond to notices;
  • ownership cannot be confirmed;
  • the vehicle is left without instruction.

Where a finance marker exists, we will attempt resolution with the finance provider first. If they fail to engage within a reasonable timeframe (typically 14 days), the vehicle may be treated as abandoned.

Under the Torts (Interference with Goods) Act 1977, we may:

  • depollute and scrap,
  • break for parts, or
  • dispose of the vehicle.

Vehicles with active finance cannot be sold.
Any proceeds (if any) may be offset against outstanding charges.
No compensation is payable after lawful disposal.

6. Salvage Rights & Disposal

Where instructed by an insurer, solicitor, accident manager, engineer or finance company:

  • vehicles may be collected and disposed of immediately;
  • CAT A/B vehicles must be destroyed;
  • CAT N/S low-value vehicles may be disposed of to prevent storage exceeding value.

Once disposed of, vehicles cannot be returned.

If a client later wishes to retain a vehicle that we have not yet purchased or disposed of, they must:

  • pay all charges in full, and
  • obtain written approval from the instructing party.

Where insurer/claim documents do not specify storage rates, our default rates apply.

7. Personal Belongings

We accept no responsibility for:

  • items left in vehicles
  • missing, damaged or removed belongings
  • goods left in scrap/salvage vehicles
  • items disposed of during dismantling or depollution

We do not inventory vehicles.
Any items left may be treated as abandoned.

If the vehicle is still in storage and you contact us specifically, we may attempt to remove and box items as a goodwill gesture.
Collection or courier costs are your responsibility, and uncollected items after 14 days may be discarded.

7A. Personal Data & Identification
It is your responsibility to remove all personal items, documents and anything containing personal data before the vehicle is collected or left with us. We do not search or inspect vehicles, and it is not possible for us to determine whether a vehicle is completely free of items that may identify you as a previous owner. Any items or data left inside are treated as abandoned and may be passed on during salvage or resale. We accept no liability for any resulting identification, contact or privacy issues arising from this.

7B. Private (Personal) Registration Plates.

It is the client’s sole responsibility to complete any DVLA retention or transfer of a private/personalised registration number/mark before the vehicle is collected, stored, disposed of or sold. We do not check registration status and cannot delay salvage, disposal or onward movement awaiting retention.
If DVLA retention has not been completed in advance, the registration mark will be lost once the vehicle is moved on, sold, scrapped or dismantled.
We accept no liability for any loss of entitlement to a private registration mark.

7C. Physical Number Plates

This also applies to physical number plates. We are unable to post or deliver physical plates back to clients for security reasons. If a client wishes to retrieve physical plates from a vehicle in our care, we may, where practical:
a) remove the plates for client collection, subject to the condition of the vehicle, available labour and the client presenting valid photo ID; or
b) facilitate access for the client to remove the plates themselves, again subject to valid photo ID and practicality.
All physical plates must be collected within the standard 14-day period, after which they may be discarded.

8. Finance / HPI Interests

Where a finance interest exists:

  • we may contact the finance company
  • storage continues regardless of finance status
  • finance companies must settle charges before collecting
  • finance companies may authorise disposal to settle interests and storage

9. Recovery & Collection Conditions

Recovery is at the owner’s risk.

We are not liable for:

  • pre-existing damage
  • damage due to structural weakness
  • issues arising from seized wheels, flat tyres, rotten sills, broken suspension
  • unsafe or restricted access

We may refuse to recover or release if access is unsafe.

10. Condition & Deterioration

Vehicles may deteriorate, leak fluids, lose battery charge, rust, or suffer weather-related wear.
We are not liable for deterioration unless caused by negligence.

11. Payment Terms

Payment is required:

  • before release; or
  • before disposal (unless waived as part of salvage purchase).

We may require:

  • payment upfront
  • payment before recovery
  • full clearance of invoices before any release

Non-payment may result in:

  • withholding the vehicle
  • continued storage
  • disposal under the Torts Act

12. Delays Caused by Third Parties

We are not responsible for:

  • solicitor or insurer delays
  • court delays
  • liability disputes
  • claim re-routing
  • client non-response
  • finance company delays

Storage continues regardless.

13. Liability Limitation

We are not liable for:

  • loss or damage from accident history, fire, theft, vandalism or weather
  • solicitor/insurer decisions
  • claim outcomes, valuations, or engineer assessments
  • consequential or indirect losses

Our total liability is capped at the amount paid to us for the service in question.

14. Data & Identification

We may use:

  • HPI
  • insurer/solicitor information
  • engineer reports
  • documents found in the vehicle

solely to confirm identity or ownership.
We do not retain unnecessary personal items.

See our Privacy Policy for full details.

15. Complaints & Disputes

Complaints do not pause or remove charges.
Disputes relating to claims, liability or valuation must be resolved with the appropriate third party.

16. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of England & Wales.
Any disputes will be handled exclusively in those courts.

17. Acceptance of Terms

By:

  • instructing us,
  • allowing recovery,
  • leaving a vehicle with us, or
  • requesting release or disposal,

you confirm acceptance of these Terms.

18. Third-Party Instructions & Conflicting Terms

Where a client has entered into a separate agreement with a third party (such as solicitors, insurers, accident management companies or finance providers), those third-party terms generally govern the client’s claim process. However, such agreements do not override or replace these Terms in respect of: recovery, storage, handling, retention, release conditions, or disposal of the vehicle.

We will follow the lawful and reasonable instructions of authorised third parties where they are acting for the client, but our charges, storage liability, release rules and disposal rights remain governed by these Terms.

If any conflict arises, our Terms apply to the services we provide, and the client must resolve any discrepancy directly with the third-party organisation.