Scrap Car Prices
Scrap car prices
Scrap Car Prices 2026 — What Is Your Car Worth?
Want to know your scrap car value before you book collection? ScrapTrak gives live local prices based on your vehicle registration, postcode, condition, missing parts and collection access.
Scrap car prices move with the metal market, but the best quote is not just about weight. A complete vehicle with an intact catalytic converter, battery, wheels, keys and clear access will usually price better than a partly stripped car. Newer damaged cars, popular models, vans and 4x4s can also have salvage value above basic scrap weight.
- Live quotes for scrap cars, vans, MOT failures and non-runners
- Free collection across covered Hampshire & West Sussex areas
- Bank transfer payment on collection after vehicle checks
- Pricing based on weight, completeness, parts value and access
- Clear guidance on DVLA notification and Certificate of Destruction where applicable
Get your live scrap car price
Use your registration and collection postcode first. Add notes for missing parts, no keys, flat tyres, locked brakes, accident damage, no V5C or awkward access so we can price the vehicle properly.
Fast answer
How much do you get for scrapping a car?
There is no fixed UK scrap car price. A small city car with missing parts can be worth much less than a complete family estate, SUV, 4×4 or van. Public UK price guides in 2026 commonly put many complete end-of-life cars somewhere around the £150–£400 range, but that is only a starting point.
Your actual ScrapTrak quote is based on the vehicle registration, kerb weight, fuel type, condition, whether key parts are still present, collection postcode, access and whether the vehicle has salvage or reusable parts value.
Best way to get an accurate price
- Send your registration and collection postcode
- Tell us if the car starts, rolls and has keys
- Be honest about damage and missing parts
- Mention the catalytic converter, battery and wheels
- Share photos if the car is damaged or blocked in
- Add access notes for car parks, garages or tight streets
What affects value?
What actually sets scrap car prices?
Most scrap car quotes are made up of three things: recoverable metal value, reusable parts value and the cost of collecting the vehicle safely. These are the biggest factors.
Vehicle weight
Scrap value has a strong link to recoverable metal. Heavier estates, SUVs, MPVs, 4x4s and vans usually command stronger baseline prices than very light city cars.
Completeness
A complete car usually prices better than one with the catalytic converter, battery, wheels, engine, gearbox or major components missing.
Metal markets
Scrap steel and non-ferrous metal markets move. When markets strengthen, scrap car offers often improve; when markets soften, offers can fall.
Salvage value
Some damaged or non-running vehicles are worth more than basic scrap weight if the model is popular, newer, repairable or has valuable reusable parts.
Collection access
Multi-storeys, underground garages, tight streets, flat tyres, locked steering, no keys or seized brakes can affect the collection plan. Tell us early.
Local route planning
Your postcode matters because collection is included in your ScrapTrak quote. Local route planning across Hampshire & West Sussex helps keep collection practical.
Price guide
Typical scrap car price ranges by vehicle size
The table below is an indicative guide only. It helps set expectations, but it is not a quote. A live ScrapTrak offer will depend on your registration, postcode, condition, missing parts and collection access.
| Vehicle size / kerb weight | Typical examples | Indicative guide range | What can change the price? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1,000kg | Small city cars and very light superminis | Approx. £120–£220 | Light vehicles usually sit lower unless the car is complete or has useful parts value. |
| 1,000–1,300kg | Superminis, small hatchbacks and compact saloons | Approx. £170–£300 | Completeness, catalyst, alloys, mileage, parts demand and access can swing the quote. |
| 1,300–1,600kg | Family hatchbacks, estates, MPVs and compact SUVs | Approx. £220–£380 | Heavier complete vehicles often sit above smaller cars, especially if reusable parts are present. |
| 1,600kg+ | Large estates, SUVs, 4x4s and some vans | Approx. £280–£500+ | Large complete vehicles can pay more, especially when parts, salvage value or van value is strong. |
These guide ranges are not guaranteed offers. For a real price, use the quote form and include accurate details about the vehicle and collection access.
How quotes work
How ScrapTrak works out your scrap car quote
Check the vehicle
We use the registration to identify the make, model, age, fuel type and likely weight of the vehicle.
Confirm condition
We ask whether it starts, has keys, rolls freely, has accident damage, missing parts or warning issues.
Plan collection
We check your postcode and access notes so the right collection vehicle and recovery approach can be planned.
Give your offer
You get a local price with free collection included. Payment is made by bank transfer on collection after verification.
Scrap value vs salvage value
Why your car might be worth more than scrap weight
Not every unwanted vehicle should be priced as a basic end-of-life shell. Some vehicles still have parts, repair or salvage value. That is why a newer accident damaged car, a popular diesel, a van, a 4×4, an electric vehicle or a high-spec model can sometimes beat a simple weight-based quote.
ScrapTrak looks at both the scrap value and the possible salvage value before giving a price. That helps us make a stronger offer when your vehicle has reusable parts or demand beyond metal alone.
Vehicles that may have extra value
- Newer damaged vehicles with reusable parts
- Popular makes and models with parts demand
- Vans, pickups and light commercial vehicles
- 4x4s and heavier SUVs
- Cars with intact catalyst, battery, alloys and key components
- Some Cat N or Cat S vehicles depending on damage
Get the best price
How to maximise your scrap car price
Small details can make a real difference. The more accurate the information, the easier it is to give a strong price and avoid awkward surprises on collection day.
Send clear photos
Front, rear, both sides, interior, damage, wheels, tyres and missing parts all help us firm up the best price.
Keep the car complete
Removing the catalyst, battery, wheels, engine, gearbox or major parts normally lowers the scrap offer.
Give access notes
Tell us about height barriers, permit streets, multi-storeys, locked brakes, tight lanes, steep drives or blocked-in parking.
What can reduce the price? Missing catalytic converter, missing wheels, missing battery, stripped parts, locked steering, seized brakes, no keys, inaccessible parking, inaccurate condition details or a car that cannot be safely reached by the collection vehicle.
Examples
Why two cars can get very different scrap prices
Small hatchback, complete
A small older hatchback with catalyst present, battery fitted, wheels on and easy driveway access may sit in the lower-to-middle guide range because it is light, but completeness helps.
Family estate with alloys
A heavier estate with alloys, an intact catalyst and simple collection access usually has a stronger scrap value because it has more recoverable material.
SUV with seized brakes
A heavier SUV may have good base value, but locked wheels or difficult access can increase collection time. Accurate access details help us quote fairly.
Payment & paperwork
Payment, DVLA and Certificate of Destruction
When a vehicle is scrapped in England or Wales, cash payment is not allowed. ScrapTrak pays by bank transfer on collection after the vehicle and ownership details have been checked.
We will also guide you through the DVLA notification steps so the vehicle is dealt with properly. Where the vehicle is destroyed through the Authorised Treatment Facility process, a Certificate of Destruction applies to eligible vehicles such as cars, light vans and relevant three-wheeled vehicles.
Have ready before collection
- Photo ID
- V5C logbook if available
- Keys if you have them
- Bank details for transfer
- Any service, condition or access notes
- Proof you are entitled to dispose of the vehicle if requested
Local price context
Scrap car prices across Hampshire & West Sussex
ScrapTrak is a local direct buyer covering Hampshire & West Sussex. Your quote includes free collection from covered areas, whether the vehicle is on a driveway, outside your home, at work, in a garage, in a compound or at a safe roadside location.
For local trends, see the ScrapTrak Hampshire & West Sussex price index, then use the live quote form for your exact vehicle.
Useful help
Helpful pages before you price your car
These internal pages support the scrap car pricing journey and help customers understand why a quote may rise or fall.
Official resources
Trusted external resources about scrapping and pricing
These links are included because they support the legal, payment and market-information side of scrapping a vehicle. They are not needed to get a quote, but they help explain why prices and paperwork can vary.
GOV.UK scrapping rules
Official guidance on using an Authorised Treatment Facility, telling DVLA and what happens when a vehicle is scrapped.
Find an authorised scrapyard
GOV.UK’s vehicle scrapyard finder helps drivers understand the authorised route for end-of-life vehicle disposal.
Metal market context
Ferrous metal markets are one reason scrap car prices move. LME ferrous data is useful background, although your quote also depends on your vehicle and collection details.
Ready to see your live scrap car price?
Use the quote form and ScrapTrak will confirm a fair local price with free collection across Hampshire & West Sussex.
FAQs
Scrap car prices FAQs
What is the average scrap car price in the UK?
Public UK price guides often place many complete scrap cars in the £150–£400 range, with average values around the low-to-mid £250s in spring 2026. That does not tell you what your own car is worth. Weight, condition, missing parts, access and local collection all affect the actual price.
Why do heavier cars usually pay more?
Heavier vehicles usually contain more recoverable metal. That means larger estates, SUVs, MPVs, 4x4s and vans can often achieve higher scrap values than very light small cars.
Does removing parts increase my scrap price?
Usually no. Removing valuable parts such as the catalytic converter, wheels, battery, engine, gearbox or major components often reduces the offer. A complete vehicle is normally easier to price strongly.
Can a non-runner still be worth good money?
Yes. A non-runner can still have strong scrap or salvage value if it is complete, heavy, popular for parts or easy to collect. Tell us whether it starts, rolls and steers so the quote is accurate.
Can access affect my quote?
Yes. A vehicle in a multi-storey car park, underground garage, tight street, steep driveway or with seized brakes may need extra planning. Tell us the access details early so the quote and collection plan are realistic.
Will ScrapTrak collect my car for free?
Yes, collection is included across covered Hampshire and West Sussex areas. Start a quote with your postcode so we can confirm coverage and collection details.
When do I get paid for my scrap car?
Payment is made by bank transfer on collection after the vehicle and ownership details have been checked. Cash payment is not used when a vehicle is being scrapped in England or Wales.
Will I get a Certificate of Destruction?
Where the vehicle is completely scrapped through the Authorised Treatment Facility process, a Certificate of Destruction applies to eligible vehicles such as cars, light vans and relevant three-wheeled vehicles. We will guide you through the correct DVLA steps.