What ID & Paperwork Do You Need to Sell Scrap in Florida?
To sell scrap metal in Florida you need a valid government-issued photo ID (Florida driver license, state ID, passport, or federal work authorization showing your photo and current address). By law the yard also records your details and a right thumbprint for every transaction, photographs the material, and pays by check for larger sales (FL Statute 538). Cash is capped at $1,000 per transaction for regulated metals and is not allowed at all for "restricted" items like catalytic converters. This is general information, not legal advice.
Selling scrap in Florida is straightforward, but it is not anonymous — and that is by design. Florida’s secondary metals recycler law (Chapter 538, Part II) exists to deter metal theft, so every licensed yard in the state follows the same identification and recordkeeping rules. Knowing what to bring makes your visit faster and is also a good sign you are dealing with a compliant, licensed buyer rather than someone cutting corners.
What ID do I need to sell scrap metal in Florida?
You need one valid government-issued photo ID that shows your photograph and current address. Florida law specifically accepts a Florida driver license, a Florida ID card, an equivalent ID from another state, a passport, or a U.S. employment authorization document (FL Statute 538.18). Bring it every time — no ID, no sale. If your address on the ID is out of date, ask the yard how they handle it before you unload.
The thumbprint and the record the yard keeps
For each purchase, Florida law requires the recycler to capture a clear right thumbprint and to keep a detailed transaction record (FL Statute 538.19). This is standard at every licensed yard and it protects honest sellers by creating a paper trail. The record typically includes:
- Your full name, current address, and phone number
- A physical description (height, weight, date of birth, hair and eye color)
- The ID type and number you presented
- The weight, quantity and description of the metal sold
- The make, model and tag number of the vehicle or trailer you arrived in
- A photograph of the material and of the person being paid
Cash, checks and the 3-day rule
Florida caps cash at $1,000 per transaction for regulated metals, and payment for “restricted” metals cannot be made in cash at all (FL Statute 538.235). Larger payments are made by check issued to you and mailed to your street address — not a PO box — within 3 days of the sale, with limited exceptions for registered businesses, nonprofits and public officials. If you’re selling a large load of scrap, ask the yard how and when they will pay you before you arrive.
Which metals need proof of ownership?
Florida classifies some items as “restricted regulated metals property.” To sell these materials to a scrap yard, you must prove that you own them or have permission to sell them (FL Statute 538.26). You can prove ownership with a receipt, a bill of sale, or a signed letter on the owner’s letterhead issued within the last 90 days. Common restricted items include:
| Restricted item | Everyday examples |
|---|---|
| Vehicle parts | Catalytic converters not attached to a vehicle |
| HVAC coils | Copper / aluminum air-conditioning & heating coils (not window or car units) |
| Utility property | Utility wire, poles, hardware, transformers, bus bars |
| Municipal metal | Manhole covers, storm grates, street & traffic signs, guard rails |
| Marked items | Anything stamped with a utility, government, cemetery or railroad name |
| Containers | Stainless steel beer kegs; certain propane cylinders |
| Batteries | More than two lead-acid batteries in a single day |
| Plumbing brass | Brass water meters, backflow preventers, fire-connection valves |
Selling a car or a catalytic converter
To scrap a vehicle in Florida, you must surrender the certificate of title correctly (our how-to-scrap-a-car guide explains the process). You can only sell a catalytic converter from a vehicle you own, and you must present a valid ID. Scrap yards keep detailed records because catalytic converter theft is a serious crime. If you’re not sure whether an item is restricted, call the yard before you visit. A licensed recycler will tell you exactly what documents to bring.
How to make your visit fast — a checklist
- A valid government-issued photo ID with your current address
- Your metals roughly sorted (steel, copper, aluminum, brass) so weighing is quick
- Proof of ownership for any restricted items (receipt or signed authorization)
- For a vehicle: the title, handled properly
- Know that a thumbprint and a photo are normal and required by law
- Ask about cash vs. check before you unload a large load
This article summarizes Florida law in plain English for people selling scrap. It is general information, not legal advice, and statutes can change. For the current text, see Florida Statutes Chapter 538, or ask directly with Scrap City.
Shop-floor questions, answered
A valid government-issued photo ID with your photo and current address — a Florida driver license, state ID, passport, or federal work authorization (FL Statute 538).
Florida law requires a right thumbprint and a transaction record for every purchase of regulated metal to deter theft (FL Statute 538.19). Every licensed yard does it.
Yes, up to $1,000 per transaction for regulated metals. Larger amounts are paid by check, and restricted metals cannot be paid in cash at all (FL Statute 538.235).
You can sell restricted items—such as catalytic converters, AC coils, utility wire, beer kegs, and more than two car batteries—if you provide a receipt or signed authorization (FL Statute 538.26).
Yes. Florida law requires you to surrender your vehicle’s certificate of title before you scrap it (FL Statute 538).
Not sure what to bring? Grab your photo ID and any ownership paperwork and stop by Scrap City in Pompano Beach or Delray Beach — our bilingual, family-owned team will walk you through it. Call or message (+1) 954 330 9472.
English 
Español 