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If you are searching for how to scrap your car, there is a good chance you believe your vehicle has reached the end of the road. Perhaps it has failed its MOT on something expensive, the engine has given up, or it has been sat on your drive for months gathering rust and guilt. Scrapping feels like the obvious next step.
But before you book it into a scrapyard, it is worth understanding exactly what scrapping involves, what you are likely to receive, and whether there is a better option that could put significantly more money in your pocket. Many cars that owners assume are only fit for scrap actually have real market value when assessed by a professional buying service rather than being weighed for metal.
We buy cars and vans across the UK in all conditions, and we regularly pay well above scrap value for vehicles their owners had written off. If your car still has usable parts, export potential, or can be repaired and resold, we will reflect that in our offer. Get a free valuation before committing to a scrapyard and see the difference for yourself.
Scrapping is the right choice in certain circumstances. If your vehicle is genuinely beyond any form of economic repair or reuse, an Authorised Treatment Facility is the responsible way to dispose of it. Situations where scrapping is typically the only practical option include:
Outside of these scenarios, your car almost certainly has value beyond its scrap weight. A failed MOT, a blown head gasket, a dead gearbox, or high mileage does not automatically mean a vehicle is scrap. These are the kinds of cars we buy every day, and we pay for the genuine residual value in the vehicle, not just the price of its metal.
When a car is scrapped, its value is based primarily on the weight of recyclable metal it contains. Scrap metal prices fluctuate with global commodity markets, particularly the price of steel, aluminium, and copper. As of early 2026, a typical family car yields somewhere between 100 and 300 pounds at scrap, depending on its size and the current market rate per tonne.
Several factors influence the scrap value:
What scrap value does not account for is the car as a whole. It ignores whether the engine still runs, whether the gearbox is sound, whether the body panels are straight, and whether there is demand for that model on the used or export market. This is exactly why a vehicle buying service will often pay considerably more than a scrapyard. We assess the full picture, not just the tonnage.
When you scrap a car through a licensed facility, the process follows a regulated sequence designed to recover as much material as possible while safely disposing of hazardous substances.
First, the vehicle is depolluted. This means draining all fluids including engine oil, coolant, brake fluid, power steering fluid, and fuel. The battery is removed, along with the airbags and any components containing mercury, such as certain switches in older vehicles. The air conditioning refrigerant is recovered. This depollution stage is a legal requirement and the primary reason you should only use an Authorised Treatment Facility.
Next, reusable parts may be removed for resale. Depending on the facility, items like alternators, starter motors, wing mirrors, and headlights might be salvaged before the shell is crushed. Not all scrapyards do this, which is one reason prices vary.
The remaining shell is then crushed and shredded. The shredded material is separated into ferrous metals, non-ferrous metals, and non-metallic waste. The metals are sold to recycling plants and eventually reused in manufacturing. Under EU-derived regulations still in force in the UK, scrapyards must recycle or recover at least 95 percent of the vehicle by weight.
An Authorised Treatment Facility is a scrapyard that holds a licence from the Environment Agency (or the equivalent body in Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland) to process end-of-life vehicles. Using an ATF is not just recommended, it is the only legal way to scrap a car in the UK.
If you hand your car to an unlicensed operator, several problems can follow. You will not receive a Certificate of Destruction, which means the vehicle remains registered in your name. You could be held liable for any offences committed using that vehicle, including road tax evasion, parking fines, or even criminal activity. Unlicensed operators may also dump hazardous fluids illegally, creating environmental contamination for which you could share responsibility.
You can check whether a scrapyard is a licensed ATF by searching the Environment Agency public register or asking the operator directly for their permit number. Any legitimate facility will have this information readily available.
When your car is processed by an ATF, you must receive a Certificate of Destruction (CoD). This is a formal document confirming that your vehicle has been scrapped and is no longer your responsibility. It is issued by the ATF and a copy is sent to the DVLA, which then cancels the vehicle registration.
The Certificate of Destruction is your proof that you disposed of the car properly. Keep it. If the DVLA or police ever query the whereabouts of the vehicle, your CoD is the document that resolves the matter immediately. Without one, you may face difficulties proving you are no longer the owner.
It is also worth noting that once a CoD is issued, the vehicle cannot be re-registered. The registration number is permanently retired. If your car has a personalised plate that you want to keep, you need to transfer it to a retention certificate before the car is scrapped. This must be done while the car still appears on the DVLA system.
When you scrap your car, the DVLA must be informed so the vehicle is taken off the road register. If you use an ATF, the facility will normally handle this notification as part of the process, but you should confirm that they do.
If you are selling your car rather than scrapping it, the responsibility for DVLA notification depends on who you sell to. When you sell to us, we handle the complete DVLA process on your behalf. You sign the relevant section of the V5C logbook, and we take care of the rest. You will receive a confirmation letter from the DVLA once the keeper change is recorded. For full details on what paperwork is involved, see our guide to the documents needed to sell a car.
Failing to notify the DVLA can result in you being chased for road tax, receiving penalty charge notices for parking or congestion charges, and potentially being linked to motoring offences committed by whoever ends up with the vehicle. Do not leave this to chance.
This is the distinction that could save you hundreds of pounds. A scrapyard values your car as raw material. A buying service values your car as a vehicle.
When we assess a car, we consider whether it can be repaired and resold in the UK, whether it has value on the export market (many UK cars in poor domestic condition are perfectly serviceable in countries with different standards and climates), and whether its individual components are worth more than scrap metal prices would suggest.
Here is a practical example. A 2014 Ford Focus with a failed MOT due to a corroded subframe might fetch 150 pounds at a scrapyard. That same car, with a working engine, decent interior, and serviceable gearbox, could be worth 400 to 800 pounds to a buying service that can strip those parts or export the vehicle whole. The difference is significant.
Our process is straightforward. You request a free valuation, we assess the vehicle based on its actual condition and current market demand, and we make you an offer. If you accept, we collect the car from your location at no charge and pay you the same day. There are no hidden fees, no collection charges, and no waiting around. You can see how it works in detail.
Disposing of a car responsibly matters. Vehicles contain a range of hazardous materials including lead-acid batteries, brake fluid, engine oil, antifreeze, air conditioning refrigerant, and mercury switches. If these are not handled properly, they contaminate soil and groundwater.
The UK processes over one million end-of-life vehicles each year. The regulatory framework exists to ensure that each one is depolluted and recycled to a high standard. By using a licensed ATF or selling to a reputable buying service, you are ensuring your car is dealt with properly.
When you sell to us, vehicles that genuinely cannot be resold or exported are processed through our licensed partners. Every vehicle is depolluted, parts are recovered where possible, and the remaining materials are recycled. We take the environmental side of this seriously, and you can be confident that your car will not end up dumped in a field or stripped illegally.
A non-running car still has an engine, gearbox, body panels, interior trim, wheels, tyres, and electronics that may all have resale value. Non-runners are one of the most common types of vehicle we buy, and we regularly pay several hundred pounds for cars their owners assumed were worthless. Check out the full range of vehicles we buy to see what qualifies.
Absolutely not. Thousands of cars are sold every week without a valid MOT. Whether the test has expired or the car has failed, a buying service will still make an offer based on the vehicle’s overall condition and market value. Read our full guide on selling a car without MOT for more information.
Licensed ATFs should not charge you to take your car. If a scrapyard is asking you to pay for collection or disposal, something is wrong. Legitimate facilities make their money from the recovered materials. Similarly, we never charge for collection. It is always free, regardless of where you are in the UK.
Using an unlicensed operator is illegal and puts you at risk. Only an Authorised Treatment Facility can legally issue a Certificate of Destruction. Without that certificate, the car remains registered in your name with all the liabilities that entails. Always verify the licence before handing over your vehicle.
Damage reduces a car’s value, but it rarely reduces it to scrap level unless the damage is catastrophic. Bodywork dents, mechanical faults, and cosmetic issues all leave substantial residual value in the vehicle. We specialise in buying damaged cars and regularly pay above scrap prices for them.
The most frequently scrapped vehicles in the UK tend to be older models from mass-market manufacturers. Ford Fiestas and Focuses, Vauxhall Corsas and Astras, Volkswagen Golfs and Polos, Peugeot 206s and 207s, and Renault Clios appear consistently in scrapyard data. These cars are produced in huge numbers, and as they age, the supply of parts outstrips demand, pushing scrap rates down.
However, even common models can be worth more than scrap if they are in reasonable mechanical condition. Export demand for right-hand-drive vehicles in Africa and Asia means that a 15-year-old Ford Focus with a working engine might have genuine value overseas, even if it is considered too old or tired for the UK market.
Less common models, larger vehicles, and vans tend to command better prices because parts are harder to source. If you own something slightly unusual, there is an even stronger argument for getting a proper valuation before scrapping.
Whether you ultimately decide to scrap or sell, these steps will help you maximise the return:
The simplest way to find out what your car is actually worth is to request a free valuation from us. It takes a couple of minutes, there is no obligation, and you will have a clear figure to compare against any scrap quotes you receive.
Scrap values for a typical car range from roughly 100 to 300 pounds, depending on the vehicle’s weight and current metal prices. However, if your car has working components, a buying service may offer significantly more. We assess the full vehicle, not just its weight in metal. Get a free valuation to see what yours is actually worth.
Technically, a car can be scrapped without a V5C, but it creates complications. The ATF needs your details to issue a Certificate of Destruction and notify the DVLA. Without the V5C, additional identity checks are required. If you have lost yours, apply for a replacement from the DVLA before proceeding.
No. If there is outstanding finance on the vehicle, the finance company legally owns it until the balance is cleared. You cannot scrap or sell a car with active finance without settling the agreement first or obtaining written permission from the lender. Contact your finance provider to discuss settlement options.
Once you have agreed to scrap, collection can usually be arranged within a few days. The actual scrapping process at the ATF happens fairly quickly, and your Certificate of Destruction should be issued on the same day the vehicle is processed. If you sell to us instead, we typically collect within 24 to 48 hours of accepting our offer.
No. Once the DVLA is notified that the vehicle has been scrapped (either by the ATF or through the keeper transfer process), your road tax is cancelled automatically. You will receive a refund for any full remaining months. Make sure you receive confirmation that the DVLA has been notified.
Category S (structural) and Category N (non-structural) are insurance write-off classifications. They mean the insurer has decided the car is not worth repairing relative to its value, but the car can still be repaired and returned to the road. These vehicles are not scrap. We buy Cat S and Cat N vehicles regularly. True scrap, Category A and Category B, means the vehicle or its body shell must be destroyed and cannot return to the road.
In almost every case, selling to a buying service will return more money than scrapping. We pay based on the vehicle’s real value, which includes parts, export potential, and resale opportunity. Scrapping should be a last resort for vehicles that are genuinely beyond any other use. Get both quotes and compare. You can read our customer reviews to see what others have experienced, and our FAQ page answers many other common questions about the selling process.
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