Why We Ask for Photo ID and Pay by Bank Transfer

Some people are surprised that selling a bucket of scrap means showing photo ID and giving us a BSB, and that we don't hand over cash. It isn't our choice: it's how scrap metal is bought and sold in Victoria, and every scrap metal dealer in the state has to work the same way.

We record who we buy from. Victorian law requires us to record the ID of everyone who sells us scrap metal. A driver licence is the easiest. If you don't have one, ask us what else we can accept before you come in.

No cash, by law. Scrap metal dealers in Victoria can't pay in cash, so we pay by bank transfer once your metal is weighed. Bring your BSB and account number along with your scrap.

Why the rules exist. Metal theft hurts everyone: copper pipe taken from building sites, catalytic converters cut from parked cars, cable pulled out of the ground. Recording sellers and paying into a bank account makes stolen metal much harder to sell, which protects honest sellers as well as the people being stolen from.

Cars take a little more. When we buy a car, we also need proof that it's yours, such as the registration papers, and we run the checks the law requires. We photograph and record the VIN, or the chassis number on cars built before 1989, run a registration search to make sure the car isn't stolen, and record cars 15 years old or less on the Written-Off Vehicle Register.

Businesses get a record too. Every commercial load is weighed and comes with a weigh ticket showing the metal and its weight, so you can track what you've sold.

Come prepared and the paperwork is quick. Bring your photo ID and bank details, and if you're not sure what you need, call us before you come.