If you're thinking of selling your old car for scrap, then you want to make sure that you're going to get the top price possible. Here's everything you need to know about the scrap value of a car.
It's vital that you understand the process of selling a scrap car.
If you've never sold a car for scrap before, then the process can seem quite daunting. There are so many stories of car owners being ripped off that even thinking about scrap car prices can become quite stressful. That's why we have created this ultimate guide to selling your car for scrap. In this guide, we'll walk you through the essential steps that you need to take, as well as identifying the ways that unscrupulous scrap yards will try to make more of a profit at your expense. We'll also tackle some of the more common questions that we get asked, including “How to get the best scrap car prices?” and “What is the current scrap price for metal?”
Getting more money for your old car
We'll also take a look at what influences the scrap value of cars and explain the best ways to ensure that you always get the maximum value of your old car. If you're considering selling an old car for scrap or you're curious about the process, then this guide is for you. Selling a car for scrap isn’t something that the average driver will have to do on a regular basis, so when it does happen, it’s good to know all that you can about how to get the most cash for it. You could be selling a car because it’s failed its latest MOT, or even if you’ve simply decided to go car-free for a while.
Whatever your reasons, knowing how to get paid more so that you walk away with more money in your bank account is always worth the time it takes to understand a little more about the safest ways to sell your car for scrap. You should know how to recognise those scrap yards that might not be as professionally trained or ethically minded as you want. The ‘dodgy’ scrap yard is as common as always, and those unscrupulous scrap metal merchants will rarely pay you what your car is worth.
How much is my scrap car worth?
This is the big question, and the answer is that it will depend on a variety of factors. That’s because not only is vehicle scrap value dependent on make, model, and age, it is also affected by a number of external factors. The key to getting more cash for your scrap car is knowing what those factors are and how to make them work to your advantage. At Scrapi.com, we want you to make the maximum value of your old vehicle, and that’s why our quotes calculator will evaluate every possible factor before giving a figure that reflects the real-world value of that car you no longer want or need. Don’t settle for less, and don’t waste time and money dealing with a scrap yard operator who is going to give you a quote based on what they think they can get away with. Our professionally trained team guarantees that you get the top price possible while reflecting the real-world value of that old vehicle. Knowing more about what influences scrap car prices is the key to getting paid more.
What influences scrap car prices?
Getting paid more for your old car
One key thing to remember before we dive into what influences car scrap prices is that scrap yards can’t pay you cash in hand for your old vehicle. If you’re selling a car to a scrap yard that isn’t part of the Scrapi.com network and you get offered a cash payment as a ‘favour’, then that’s a big red flag. Any scrap yard that offers to pay you in cash is breaking the law, and if they’re willing to break the law when paying you, they’re probably not the kind of professional business you can trust. Not only will you risk getting into trouble with the law, but you’ll also get paid less because of that ‘favour’.
There are many variables when it comes to selling a car for scrap. When you use Scrapi.com, you get an instant quote using our price calculator, so it's always useful to know what influences car scrap prices so that you always get the highest quote.
The value of your car can vary, not just from scrap yard to scrap yard, but also depending on where you live and the time of year! You could take the same car to the same scrap yard at different times and get two completely different quotes, simply because demand and value fluctuates. That’s why it’s so important that you take the time to learn a little more about what it is that’s going to influence the amount of money that you walk away with.
Most people know that the main factor that influences scrap car prices is the weight of the vehicle. That’s because scrap yard operators are going to pay by the tonne, so an old Kia is not going to be worth as much as a Mercedes-Benz! However, it’s not just the weight that’s going to be reflected in the amount of money that you get paid.
6 of the main factors influencing the price of scrap cars
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The car's weight and size
Scrap yards pay by the tonne, so the most important factor in deciding the value of your car will always be its size and weight. The larger and heavier your car, the more the scrap value of that car will be. Consider how much difference there is between the amount of steel in an old Mercedes Benz compared to that of a classic VW Beetle! However, there are exceptions to this rule, and some cars will be worth more to specialist scrap yards in the UK depending on the make and model. Generally speaking, and for most drivers in Great Britain, the size and weight of your old car will always be the defining factor when it comes to scrap car prices.
Reusable parts
At Scrapi.com, all of our scrap yard partners are Authorised Treatment Facilities (ATFs), and that means they will always have a firm focus on recycling as much of your car as possible. Many of the spare parts of your car will have resale value, so it's important that you don't reduce your scrap car value by removing any parts. Removing those parts won't just affect your scrap car valuation; it will also affect the weight of your car. That means you end up with a lower quote and a lower payment. There are some parts of your car that will play a major part in your scrap car value, such as a catalytic convertor or your alloy wheels. If you sell your car for scrap to a yard that isn't an official ATF, then your car will normally just be crushed and sent to a landfill site, and that means you'll not get the best scrap price.
Distance from the yard
Free scrap car collection is always a good sign that you're using a professionally trained scrap yard, and all the yards in the Scrapi.com network will provide you with a completely free car collection. That means that you won't get any unexpected collection charges on the day that our recovery team arrives. Of course, travel costs will affect your best scrap car price, so travel distance will always be a factor. The closer a scrap yard is to you, the higher your scrap car quote will be. That's why we have such an extensive network of professional scrap yards across the whole of the UK. When you get your instant quote from us, we go through our network to determine which scrap yard is closest to you so that you only ever get the best scrap car prices in the country.
Make, model, and age of your car
It makes sense that the older your car is, the less it will be worth, but there are cases where that's not the case. Some classic cars will be worth significantly more than others, especially if the condition of that car is good. If you think about the recyclable parts in a classic Rolls Royce that car enthusiasts will be looking for to maintain their vehicles, it becomes obvious that the make, model, and the age of your car will play a big part in vehicle scrap value. There's also the factor that more expensive cars may have a larger amount of high-value materials, which will also play a part in determining the value of your vehicle. Age is also a factor simply because the condition of the metals, plastics, and the recyclable spare parts will tend to be better than in an old car that's been put through its paces.
Current scrap metal prices
Scrap metal prices are not set in stone, and those prices can be affected by a huge variety of local and global factors. There can be a lot of different types of metal in the average car, and the prices of steel or copper today might be very different next month. Generally (but not always), you can expect to get higher prices for scrap metal in cities, especially in those areas where there is a lot of development happening. However, there are scrap metal price differences from town to town and from north to south, so it's always worth making sure that the price you're getting for your old car is reflective of the current national and local scrap metal prices. Dodgy scrap yards will pay very little attention to the current scrap metal prices, and will instead give you a quote based on what they think they can get away with! At Scrapi.com, all of your partner yards have access to our real-time monitoring of the scrap metal market, so you only ever get the maximum value of your old car based on the real data.
The catalytic converter
fitted to your vehicle
Removing parts of your car will reduce the scrap value of it, but there is one part that will have more of an effect than others. In the UK, in 1993, a new law was passed that meant every car in the country had to have a catalytic converter installed. The catalytic converter helps to protect the environment because it reduces the harm caused by exhaust fumes. The good news is that the metal components of a catalytic convertor tend to be very high value, with most of them including more expensive metals such as rhodium and platinum. Depending on the current scrap metal prices, those metals can often be worth even more than gold, so it's a very strong factor in determining the scrap metal value of your car. The problem is that because of the scrap value of catalytic converters, many drivers will remove it before selling to a scrap yard and try to make money from it elsewhere. However, what this does is dramatically lower the scrap value of your car, so any profit that you might have made from the catalytic convertor will be lost when you sell the rest of the scrap car.
Get an instant online price for your scrap car
Scrap car prices graph and charts
Scrap metal prices go up and down depending on location and demand, and that means you need to know when demand is high. These graphs and charts can help clarify what those changes mean for you.
Scrap metal prices by month
Demand for different scrap metals can change quickly, so it's always a good idea to look at the monthly changes being paid for scrap value.
Ferrous scrap metal per tonne
Scrap yards pay for scrap metal by weight, so have a look at how much those prices can change over the course of a year.
Change date range
Last 12 month
MonthPrice per tonne
October 2019£55.00
November 2019£70.00
December 2019£77.50
January 2020£87.50
February 2020£72.50
March 2020£55.00
April 2020£50.00
May 2020£55.00
June 2020£67.50
July 2020£70.00
August 2020£82.50
September 2020£91.00
Why is the scrap value of catalytic converters so high?
We've already talked a little about the importance of not removing your catalytic convertor before selling your car for scrap, but it's such an important factor that it's worth exploring a little more.
What's in a catalytic converter that makes it so valuable?
So why is a catalytic convertor so valuable? There are some very expensive metals that tend to have a much higher value than other scrap metals that can be found in your car. Platinum is one of the main metals used in catalytic converters, and because it is an incredibly dense metal, it will weigh a lot more than, for example, the steel that makes up a lot of your vehicle. There's also palladium and rhodium, and those too will be harder and more durable than the rest of your car's metal parts. It's also useful to know that there are different types of catalytic converters and whether yours in one-way, two-way, or a DOC converter for diesel engines, will play a large part in the scrap value of a catalytic converter.
The high value of the catalytic converter
There's a reason why catalytic converters are targeted by criminals more than ever. It's simply because the different metal parts in the average catalytic converter are worth more than gold when sold correctly. The problem is that removing those different metals is very, very difficult, and even the best criminals will eventually need to head to a professional scrap yard to get the maximum value of their crime. Compare it to trying to remove the small flecks of gold from a circuit board, and you'll start to realise what a challenge it can be. While it is possible to sell a catalytic converter separately from your scrap car, it will reduce the overall scrap price of a vehicle immediately. Of course, if you happen to have a spare catalytic converter sitting in your garage, then it's worth talking to a scrap yard immediately.
How you scrap your car for cash?
There are some very tough laws governing the scrap yard industry. Making sure that you get the best scrap price for your car means knowing something about the law and how you can be paid.
The Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013
This piece of legislation was passed in the UK in order to protect vehicle owners. Before 2013, thieves could steal your car, drive it to a scrap yard and sell it quickly, getting cash in hand for your old motor. Something had to change, and the Scrap Metal Dealers Act was the result. According to the act, it is now illegal to be paid cash in hand for scrap metal, and that changed the scrap yard industry drastically. The act also makes it essential for every scrap yard and scrap metal dealer to have an official license from a local authority. This is extremely important to be aware of because there are still scrap yards that will suggest paying in cash for your old car, and they might even make it sound like they're doing you a favour and can therefore pay a lower scrap price for the convenience. If you get offered a cash payment for your scrap car, then that's an immediate red flag that you're talking to someone who's going to rip you off.
Authorised Treatment Facilities
All of the yards that make up the Scrapi.com network are Authorised Treatment Facilities. That means that they have a permit from the Environment Agency and are legally allowed to both keep and recycle scrap cars. An ATF can also issue a certificate of destruction, which means that they let the DVLA know when a car has been broken down and destroyed. This is important because if the scrap yard you use isn't an ATF, then the DVLA might continue to assume that you have to keep paying road tax or have to pay to have a car that no longer exists declared as SORN
It's also good to know that an officially registered Authorised Treatment Facility has the resources and the training to ensure that your vehicle is disposed of in a way that not only gets you the maximum value and top scrap price for your old car but that it will also be disposed of responsibly. That means less harm to the environment at the same time as getting more money for your old car. Scrap yards have to tick a lot of boxes before they get a permit from the Environment Agency, so you know that when you're using a Scrapi.com approved ATF, then you're in the right place.
How will you get paid when you sell your old car?
If you can't be paid cash in hand, how do scrap yards pay you for an old car? There are two ways that you can get the money that you're owed for your car, and at Scrapi.com, we offer you the choice of both. You can either have the price you're quoted sent to your bank account, or you can have a cheque written out in the name of your choice. When you get your instant quote from our price calculator page, all you have to do is arrange your free car collection to suit you. Our recovery team will arrive at the designated time, fill out all of your paperwork for you, and once the car is loaded to be taken for recycling and safe disposal, you receive your payment. If you've opted for a bank transfer, then that is carried out immediately, and depending on your bank, you could be withdrawing that cash within a few hours. If you prefer to have a cheque payment for your scrap car, then you'll simply be given that before your car is taken away. It couldn't be easier to stay on the right side of the law. Remember, if you get caught accepting a cash payment for your scrap car, then you and the scrap yard will be committing a criminal offence, and all involved will risk a fine of up to £5,000.
Working out the average car scrap prices
There's a good chance that you want to know just how much do you get for scrapping a car, but the answer can be a little more complex than just naming a make and model and giving you a quote.
Looking beyond weight
While it's always going to be the weight of your car that's going to determine the valuation, it's not the only factor. There's a lot of confusion around the scrap car industry, and that's not helped by the number of amateur scrap yards in the UK that are only out for a quick profit at your expense. Those yards will give you bad advice, low prices, and may even get you in trouble with the law. When it comes to getting the most cash for that old car that you no longer use as much as you used to, always use a scrap yard that has the necessary permits from your local authority and that have also been officially recognised by the Environment Agency. Not only will this mean you won't be running the risk of breaking the law without knowing it, but it also means that you'll be getting the best scrap car prices possible.
Valuation of your old car
To determine the scrap value of a car, a wide range of factors have to be addressed. Scrapping a car for cash is probably not something that you're going to do on a regular basis, and if this is your first time selling a car for scrap, it can seem quite mystifying trying to work out exactly how much your old car is worth. The good news is that selling a car for scrap has never been easier or more profitable. Whether this is your first time looking for the best scrap car prices or it's been a while, here are some of the basics about how the process works so that you know how the valuation of your old car will be calculated.
Average scrap car prices per vehicle
Here are some of the most popular cars in the UK, with an average price valuation of each. However, these prices are based on a variety of factors, and your old car may be worth a bit more or a bit less depending on those factors.
Ford Focus
£129
Vauxhall Corsa
£104
Ford Fiesta
£116
Peugeot 206
£114
Volkswagen Golf
£128
Vauxhall Astra
£121
Renault Clio
£117
Volkswagen Polo
£105
Nissan Micra
£92
Toyota Yaris
£106
Honda Civic
£120
Fiat Punto
£95
Getting the best price for your car
When you're selling your car for scrap, you will obviously want to get as much money for it as possible. That means knowing the best ways to make the most of your car's value. Here are eight of the biggest dos and don'ts that could result in your getting a lot more money for your old car than you thought.
DO: Know what paperwork you need
When you sell a car for scrap, there are some key pieces of paperwork that you're going to need. Of course, we know as well as any other driver that paperwork can go astray at any time, and trying to communicate with the DVLA to get replacements is rarely a fun way to spend a day off work. Your logbook (V5) is the most important document that you're going to need, but don't panic if you've lost it or it's been stolen during a vehicle break-in. You can still sell your car without a V5, but it will make the payment process a little longer. At Scrapi.com, not only will we contact the DVLA on your behalf to get your replacement logbook, we'll even fill out all of the paperwork for you as well. All you have to do is let us know that your V5 is lost, and we can do the rest. That means no hours of being stuck on hold with the DVLA, and you'll still be getting the best scrap car prices possible too.
DON'T: Stress about the MOT
Not a lot of people know that you can still get the best scrap price even if your car doesn't have a valid MOT. Failing an MOT is always frustrating, and even more so if the cost of repairs and taking another test is going to be more than you paid for the car in the first place. It's a very common misconception that you can't sell a car without a valid MOT, but it definitely is not the case. Of course, you're not allowed to drive a car without an MOT on a public road, unless you're driving to a pre-booked MOT test at an authorised MOT testing centre. However, if you can't drive it and you can't afford to make the repairs, it's good to know that you can simply sell your car for scrap and make some money instead of watching it go to waste. Our free scrap car collection service means that you don't have to risk driving illegally either!
DO: Check the current scrap metal price per ton
Scrap metal is like any other commodity. The prices change depending on a huge variety of reasons, and anything from a dip in the stock market to a bad news day can cause scrap metal prices to drop. In the UK, we benefit from some consistently high prices for scrap metal, and that means it's always profitable to sell your car for scrap. However, you can get more cash for your scrap car by making sure that you sell it to Scrapi.com at the right time. Always check the monthly prices of scrap metal before you sell your car so that you are going to get the maximum price possible. Many scrap yards in the UK won't even consider the changing price of scrap metal, and they'll give you a price quote based on either 'gut feeling' or, worse, they'll take one look at you and try to work out what they can get away with. All of the scrapyards that are part of our network have access to our continuous scrap metal monitoring system, and that means that you will always get a quote that's based on accurate, real-world value.
DON'T: Stress about lost keys
Another misconception is that you can't sell a car if you've lost your car keys. This is a lot more common than you might think, especially if a car is over ten years old. Keys get lost, and that can make selling a car privately very complicated. After all, who wants to show up to buy a car only to find that they might have to smash a window to get into it and then try to start it without the keys? When you get your quote from Scrapi.com, you'll be asked about the keys. However, if you don't have the keys, then this might not affect the scrap car prices per ton as much as you might think. Our recovery team will only need to know about the loss of your keys so that they know what to expect when they arrive at your pre-booked collection time. Knowing in advance that there are no keys means that they will have the right tools to make car collection easy, and you still get paid the same price. So if your car keys have been lost for months, don't panic, because it won't affect the current price of scrap metal so it won't affect the value of your old car.
DO: Look for car scrap traders and dealers close to you
In most cases, you'll get a better price for your old car if you sell it to a scrap yard that's closer to you. The further that a recovery team has to travel to pick up your old car, the more they have to cover their expenses, and while free car collection means never having to worry about hidden fees, it will be reflected in your quote. Depending on where in the UK you are, you will often have a lot of choices when it comes to choosing a scrap yard, but never choose one that's further away if you have a good choice that's closer. The travel distance to collect your car is one of the factors that has made Scrapi.com such a popular choice in the UK. Our connected network means that when you get your quote, we'll be looking at your location and identifying which scrap yard is going to result in you getting higher scrap car prices. Of course, if you have a rare car or one that will benefit from specialist services, then we may look at the cost benefits to you and connect you with a more distant scrap yard. In either case, you will always get the highest price for your old vehicle.
DON'T: Remove parts or 'break' your car
There are parts of your car that are going to be worth money when you sell them separately from your scrap car. Unfortunately, the price that you get for your catalytic converter or your alloys will only make the scrap value of your car go down. When you get your quote from the Scrapi.com calculator, the fact that you have a catalytic converter, a car battery, or alloy wheels will be factored into your car's valuation. Remove those parts and sell them elsewhere, and the value of your car goes down immediately. The scrap price for alloy wheels is only going to push up the price that you get for your old car, so it's always more worthwhile leaving them on your vehicle and selling the entire vehicle at the same time. The same goes for your car battery scrap price and the price for catalytic convertor scrap. Breaking your car down and selling it piece by piece is slow and won't mean that you'll be getting more cash for your old car.
Do: Get your Certificate of Destruction
A growing problem in the scrap car trade is dodgy breakers yards who pay you for your old car, take it away, and then don't scrap it. They might instead stick two scrap cars together, or make some repairs and sell that car on. The problem is that the DVLA will assume that you still own that car because they won't have received any paperwork to the contrary. Matters will be made even worse if your old car is then used by criminals, because you may end up being liable for anything that they do in that car that you thought was destroyed. Always check that the scrap yard you're selling your old car to has the right permits and that you get a copy of the Certificate of Destruction. The best way to avoid this potential risk is to only use those scrap yards that are Authorised Treatment Facilities. Not only will you get your Certificate of Destruction, but you'll also have the peace of mind of knowing that you're not just going to get your best price for your scrap car, but also that it will be disposed of safely and responsibly.
DON'T: Fall for any 'tricks of the scrap car trade'
In any business sector, there are always going to be people who want to make a profit without doing the work, and the scrap car industry is no different. There are scrap car scams that can lead to you not just getting paid less for your car but might even end up costing you money. One of the most common signs that you're dealing with a dodgy scrapyard is if you get quoted a price that simply seems too good to be true. If you look at several different scrap yards for a scrap car price comparison and one offers you a price that's considerably higher than the others, then get ready to put up with some last-minute haggling that will result in you getting paid less. These yards will claim that there's something wrong with your car, or that the lack of a valid MOT means a dramatic reduction in value. Don't fall for these scams.
Frequently asked questions about scrap car prices
We have helped thousands of vehicle owners sell their cars for scrap, and that means we get a lot of questions about the process and the law. Here are the most common questions that drivers come to us with.
Can I sell my car if it's failed its MOT?
If your car has failed its latest MOT and you can't justify the cost of repairs, selling it to a scrap yard is one of the best ways to get back some cash. Your car does not need a valid MOT to be sold, but it does mean that you can't drive it to a scrap yard, so you will have to take advantage of our free car collection service to keep on the right side of the law. However, the lack of a valid MOT will not affect the price of the car, and you will still get the best scrap prices, even if your car has major faults.
My car doesn't start. Can I still sell it for a good price?
It doesn't matter if your car is a wreck; you can still get the best scrap prices for it. Even cars that are in extremely bad condition can be sold for a good price because it's more about the value of the metal and the recyclable parts than it is about whether it drives well (or at all!). Don't feel like your car has to be in the same condition it was in when it rolled out of the showroom. If your car doesn't start, then simply let us know so that we can organise the recovery team to come and collect it.
Can I sell my catalytic converter separately?
While you can remove the catalytic converter from your car and sell it separately, this will reduce the price that you get for the rest of the car. The profit that you make from your old car will depend on what parts can be reused, as well as the current scrap metal prices. Taking out and selling your catalytic convertor will simply be making work for yourself because the value of the 'car' will be included in your quote.
Why should I sell my scrap car to an Authorised Treatment Facility?
When a scrap yard is a registered Authorised Treatment Facility (ATF), then you know that you'll be dealing with a professional business that has all of the required permits, licences, training, and experience that will make the process of selling your car for scrap faster and easier. Not only will you be getting higher scrap car prices, but you'll also know that your car will be recycled responsibly, helping the environment in a variety of ways.
Will I get more money if I drive my car to a scrap yard?
There are many reasons why you might drive your car to a yard, but this can cause issues. Firstly, because the Scrapi.com team will fill out all of your paperwork for you, if you simply show up and expect to sell your car for scrap, then the trained team member that performs that function may be out collecting another vehicle. Also, many ATF's can be dangerous environments, and many will not allow members of the public to gain entry. It's always best to take advantage of our free car collection service.
Can I get paid in cash for my scrap car?
It is illegal for a scrap yard to pay you in cash for your old car because of the Scrap Metal Dealers Act. All payments for your scrap car will need to be made either by a bank transfer or by cheque. Any scrap yard that offers to pay you in cash is breaking the law and should be avoided at all costs.
