How Much is a Scrap Car Worth?

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So the time has come for you to start looking towards the next stage of your motoring career as your ageing car has finally started showing signs of giving up the ghost.

Having looked at a number of options, you have come to the conclusion that the only real path is to scrap your car – well you’ve come to the right place as if you’re going to get a good deal for your old car, you’re not going to get a better one that you’ll get from National Scrap Car and our network of trusted buyers.

What price will I get for my scrap car?

There is no standard price that can be put forward for scrapping cars as, understandably, the price you’ll get fluctuates with the price of scrap metal as a whole, which is constantly changing from day to day. It’s for this reason that you’ll not find any standard price lists on any Authorised Treatment Facility’s website, as they would need to be updating them nearly every day.

The general rule though is that the bigger and heavier your car is, the more it’ll be worth as scrap. Simply put, a Range Rover is likely to have a lot more metal to be able to sell as scrap than a Nissan Micra, so it will be worth more to the scrap merchant who will in turn be able to offer you a better price.

The make and model of your car will also have an affect on the price you can expect for your car when selling for scrap, as will the age of the motor. Much like the second hand car market in general, the higher price a car was valued when it was new, the more it could bag you as scrap.

Where can I scrap a car?

Scrapping cars can only take place at an Authorised Treatment Facility (ATF), and here at National Scrap Car we have a nationwide network of trusted scrap car buyers and ATFs that you can be confident we will find you the closest and most reliable service near you, and it won’t cost you a penny. Our free of charge collection service can reach even the most remote locations in the UK – in fact our drivers love a challenge, so even if you think you’re too far out from civilization, we may still be able to surprise you.

Do I need a V5C to scrap my car?

Having a V5C for your car can be incredibly helpful during the scrapping process, and if you don’t have yours to hand, it’s best to inform one of our colleagues as soon as possible so that there are no unwelcomed shocks later towards the end of your scrap journey. If your V5C is lost, you can easily apply for a duplicate copy from the gov.uk website by providing your registration plate details, VIN/chassis number of the vehicle and the name and postcode registered on your logbook and paying a £25 fee. Read more on how to replace your V5c.

Will my car be worth more whole or should I break it up?

Breaking up your car for parts may seem like a possible way of making additional money, but you need to weigh up the time, labour and storage costs you’ll incur on yourself while you’re extracting parts from the car. It’s also worth remembering every component you remove from the car will knock some value off of the scrap value instantly – an engine could see £70 removed from your overall value, while a catalytic converter can cost you anywhere between £40-80 on your quote. However this will vary depending on your vehicle.

If you have the skill, time and storage abilities then selling your car for salvage may be the better option, but if you’re looking for a quick and easy way to make some money off your old car, then selling it whole for scrap is the easiest and most sensible option.

Can I accept cash for scrapping my car?

Following legislation that came into force in 2013, it is illegal to accept cash for scrapping your car. This is to protect you from your car being stolen and then sold on as scrap for cash before you’ve even had a chance to get it back. If you are offered cash for your scrap car then it is important to avoid them as they will be operating in direct conflict with the Scrap Metal Dealers Act and should be reported to the police. You should only accept electronic transfer of money or a cheque as acceptable forms of payment for your car.

But how much will I actually get?

Now that we have explained just how fluid the scrap car market can be, the only way to give you an accurate answer to your question would be to visit our Online Quote Generator and in just 60 seconds you’ll find yourself with an accurate quote that comes with our guarantee – so get started today and see how much your scrap car could be worth.