Vehicle value guide
Scrap Car Value: How Much Is My Car Worth?
Your car's scrap value is not decided by age alone. The exact vehicle, weight, parts still fitted, condition, salvage potential and collection access can all change what it is worth.
This guide explains how ScrapTrak values a car in Hampshire and West Sussex. For current market averages and monthly movement, use the Scrap Car Prices guide. For the amount offered on your own vehicle, enter the registration and postcode below.
- Weight and vehicle type create the starting point
- Make, model and reusable parts can move the value
- Catalytic converters, alloy wheels and missing parts matter
- MOT failures, non-runners and accident damage are assessed individually
- Free collection is included across covered local areas
Start with the registration and collection postcode. Add the condition, missing parts and access details when prompted.
For the most reliable quote, mention a missing catalytic converter, alloy wheels, no keys, no V5C, flat tyres, locked steering, accident damage or difficult access before collection is booked.
The quick answer
How much will I get for scrapping my car?
There is no honest fixed amount that fits every vehicle. A lightweight city car, a complete family estate and a damaged SUV can sit in very different value bands even when they are collected from the same postcode.
The current local averages and guide ranges live on the Scrap Car Prices page. This page focuses on why your vehicle may sit above or below those averages.
Use the registration and postcode so the quote is based on the real vehicle and collection route.
See local averages, median values, typical ranges and market movement.
Damaged and non-running vehicles can have repair or reusable-parts value.
The valuation method
How is scrap car value calculated?
A proper quote is built in stages. The registration gives us the vehicle. The condition and collection details tell us what remains valuable and what work is needed to recover it.
Why averages can mislead: two cars of the same model can receive different quotes when one is complete and rolls freely, while the other has no catalytic converter, missing wheels and locked steering inside a restricted car park.
The starting point
Vehicle weight and body type
Weight is one of the strongest influences on a pure scrap value. A large estate, SUV, 4×4 or van normally contains more recoverable material than a lightweight city car.
That does not mean you can multiply the kerb weight by a public steel price and know the offer. A complete vehicle also contains glass, plastics, tyres, fluids and interior materials, and it has to be collected, depolluted and processed safely.
Weight provides the baseline. The final value comes after completeness, parts, salvage potential and collection have been considered.
Typical direction of value
- City cars and superminis usually start lower
- Family hatchbacks and saloons sit in the middle
- Estates, MPVs and crossovers often start higher
- Large SUVs, 4×4s and vans often have the strongest weight baseline
- EV and hybrid vehicles need an individual assessment
More than the badge
Make, model, age and mileage
The make and model identify the weight and specification, but they also help show what a dismantler or repair buyer may be able to reuse. A popular engine, scarce gearbox, expensive headlight or desirable trim can add value that is not visible in the metal weight alone.
A premium badge does not automatically guarantee a higher offer. A complete heavy car often values well, but missing parts, difficult damage or weak parts demand can still pull it down.
High-impact component
How the catalytic converter affects car scrap value
The catalytic converter is part of the exhaust system and can contain valuable platinum-group metals. The original converter expected on the vehicle can therefore make a meaningful difference to the valuation.
Tell us if it has been stolen, cut out, replaced with an aftermarket unit or removed during an unfinished repair. Do not assume the rest of the car will keep the same value after the converter has gone.
Removing it yourself can also leave a harder vehicle to transport and a lower complete-car offer.
What we need to know
- Is the converter still fitted?
- Is it believed to be the original unit?
- Has the exhaust been cut or dismantled?
- Has it been replaced with an aftermarket converter?
- Is there theft or damage around the exhaust?
Alloy wheels can help in two ways
They contain different material from steel wheels and, on some vehicles, the original wheels may also have reusable-parts value.
The effect depends on the model, condition and whether the full set is present. One damaged wheel is not the same as a complete usable set.
Wheels and recovery
Do alloy wheels increase scrap car value?
They can, but the bigger practical issue is often whether the car can still be moved. A vehicle on all four wheels with inflated tyres is easier to recover than one sitting on blocks or missing a wheel.
If wheels have been removed, tell us how the vehicle is supported and send a photograph of the parking position. A different recovery setup may be needed.
Vehicle completeness
How missing parts change the value
Removing parts to sell separately can look profitable, but it often leaves a lower-value vehicle that is harder to move. The parts below affect the quote in different ways.
| Part or detail | How it can affect value | How it can affect collection |
|---|---|---|
| Catalytic converter | Often a meaningful reduction when the expected unit is missing. | Cut exhaust sections should be described before loading. |
| Engine or gearbox | Removes weight and possible salvage value. | The vehicle may be unbalanced, dismantled or difficult to roll. |
| Wheels and tyres | Missing original wheels reduce completeness and possible parts value. | A wheelless vehicle needs specialist recovery planning. |
| Battery | Usually a smaller value issue than an engine or converter. | Can prevent electronic steering, neutral selection or parking-brake release. |
| Body panels, lights or interior | Can remove reusable-parts value from a salvageable model. | Sharp edges, loose parts and open bodywork may need securing. |
| Keys | Keys do not change the metal weight, but can help preserve salvage value. | Locked steering and electronic handbrakes can make loading harder. |
| V5C logbook | Does not change the amount of metal in the car. | Missing paperwork can require extra ownership and DVLA checks. |
Do not guess. If you are unsure what has been removed, send photographs. A quote based on a complete car cannot be relied on if major components are missing when the driver arrives.
Condition-specific value
MOT failures, non-runners and accident-damaged cars
MOT failures
A failed MOT does not erase the vehicle's value. Weight and completeness still matter, and a car with one expensive defect may have salvage potential.
Non-runners
A car that does not start can still be complete and useful for parts. The diagnosis, mileage and whether it rolls and steers all matter.
Accident damage
Repairable damage, straight mechanical components and reusable panels can lift the value above a basic scrap figure.
Describe the actual fault rather than saying only “non-runner” or “damaged”. A seized engine, flat battery, broken gearbox and deployed airbags create very different values and recovery jobs.
Choose the stronger route
Scrap value versus salvage value
A damaged or faulty car can sit in one of three commercial routes. The best value comes from identifying the right one rather than forcing every vehicle into the same calculation.
Value led by recyclable materials
Usually suits end-of-life vehicles with severe corrosion, extensive faults, heavy stripping or little realistic parts demand.
Value remains in repair or parts
Often suits complete accident-damaged cars, non-runners, Cat N and Cat S vehicles or cars with one expensive fault.
Still too useful to scrap
A roadworthy or easily repairable vehicle may be worth more through the complete-car route than either scrap or salvage.
Local recovery
How collection access affects the quote
Collection is included across covered areas, but the recovery job still has to be understood. A car parked on a clear driveway is different from one inside a low multi-storey, down a muddy track or behind another immobile vehicle.
Access details help us send the right recovery vehicle and avoid a failed collection. They do not need to be perfect; photographs can explain awkward positions better than a long description.
- Road, driveway, garage, yard or car park
- Height limits, narrow gates and steep ramps
- Keys, steering lock and electronic parking brake
- Flat tyres, seized brakes and missing wheels
- Blocked access and third-party release requirements
Keep the quote strong
How to protect your car's scrap value
What does not usually add to a pure scrap price? Remaining vehicle tax, a recent service, a full fuel tank and cosmetic cleaning are not added pound-for-pound. They may matter if the car has salvage or resale potential, but they do not change the metal weight.
Current local market
Use this guide with the live Scrap Car Prices data
This page explains the vehicle-level calculation. The Scrap Car Prices page holds the latest local summary, broader guide ranges and the complete explanation of market movement.
The separate monthly index is the permanent home of manager-reviewed historical averages, medians, typical ranges and qualifying vehicle counts for Hampshire and West Sussex.
Local service
Scrap car valuations across Hampshire and West Sussex
The registration identifies the car. The postcode confirms the local route and collection access. Use the locations hub for the full list, or choose one of the main collection areas below.
Hampshire
West Sussex
Payment and paperwork
The value is only one part of a proper handover
When a vehicle is completely scrapped, it must use the Authorised Treatment Facility route. Eligible cars and light vans receive a Certificate of Destruction through that process. If the vehicle is transferred for salvage rather than destroyed, different DVLA paperwork applies.
Turn the guide into a real value for your car
Enter the registration and postcode, then tell us what is fitted, what is missing and where the vehicle is parked.
Common questions
Scrap car value FAQs
How much is my car worth for scrap?
The exact value depends on the registration, weight, condition, completeness, catalytic converter, alloy wheels, missing parts, salvage potential, postcode and collection access. Use the live quote form for the vehicle-specific figure and the Scrap Car Prices page for current local market context.
Is scrap car value based only on weight?
No. Weight gives the metal-value baseline, but the quote can also reflect reusable parts, the catalytic converter, alloy wheels, engine and gearbox, vehicle completeness, local demand and the work needed to collect it.
Does the make and model affect scrap value?
Yes. The make and model identify the likely weight and specification, and they can also show whether engines, gearboxes, panels, electronics or other parts are in demand.
Does mileage matter when a car is being scrapped?
Mileage matters less to pure scrap than weight and completeness. It matters more when the vehicle has salvage potential because lower-mileage mechanical components may be more useful.
Will a missing catalytic converter reduce the value?
Usually. The catalytic converter contains valuable materials and is expected to be present on many vehicles. Tell ScrapTrak if it is missing, stolen, cut out or replaced so the quote is based on the car as it stands.
Do alloy wheels increase a car's scrap value?
They can help, particularly when the original alloys are complete and usable. Missing wheels can also make collection harder, so the effect is not only the material value.
How do missing parts affect the quote?
Missing engines, gearboxes, catalytic converters, wheels, batteries and body parts can reduce value and may change the recovery equipment needed. Give a complete list before collection.
Does an MOT failure make a car worthless?
No. A failed MOT can still leave the car with scrap or salvage value. One expensive fault may support a salvage route, while severe corrosion and several major failures may leave a scrap-led value.
Can a non-running car be worth more than scrap?
Yes. A complete non-runner can still have value in its drivetrain, panels, interior, electronics and other reusable components. The age, model, mileage, diagnosis and completeness all matter.
How is an accident-damaged car valued?
The assessment considers the pre-damage vehicle, the type and location of damage, insurance category, repair potential, reusable parts, missing components and collection access.
What is the difference between scrap value and salvage value?
Scrap value is led mainly by recoverable materials and completeness. Salvage value also considers repair potential and reusable parts, so a complete damaged or faulty vehicle can be worth more than a weight-only scrap price.
Is collection included in the value?
Collection is included across ScrapTrak's covered Hampshire and West Sussex areas. The postcode and access details are considered before the collection plan is confirmed.
Can I get a quote without keys or a V5C?
Often, yes. Missing keys can affect recovery, while a missing V5C can require extra identity and ownership checks. Tell ScrapTrak before booking so the quote and paperwork are based on the real situation.
Does remaining vehicle tax add to the scrap value?
No. Vehicle tax is separate from the vehicle offer. Once DVLA receives the correct notification, it handles any refund for complete remaining months.
How will I be paid?
ScrapTrak pays by bank transfer after the vehicle and ownership details have been checked. Cash payment for a vehicle being scrapped is not permitted in England or Wales.
Why might a quote change at collection?
A quote may need reviewing if the vehicle is materially different from the description, such as an undeclared missing catalytic converter, removed wheels, different model, additional damage or access that requires a different recovery setup.