Direct local scrap car buyer
Scrap My Car in Hampshire & West Sussex
Failed its MOT or no longer worth repairing? Tell us about your car. We’ll consider its scrap and salvage value and confirm the price and collection arrangements.
Give an honest description of missing parts, damage, no keys, flat tyres, locked steering, seized brakes, car-park restrictions or difficult access. Accurate details help keep the quote accurate.
What to expect from collection
We will identify the vehicle, ask a few condition questions and use the collection postcode to plan the route.
Looking for a scrap car buyer near you? ScrapTrak buys unwanted, damaged, non-running and end-of-life vehicles directly across Hampshire and West Sussex, with collection included and payment by bank transfer.
Start with the registration and postcode. Tell us what is wrong with the car and where it is parked, then we will confirm the price and collection plan without passing you around a broker network.
- One local team from quote through to collection
- MOT failures, non-runners, damaged cars and vans considered
- Collection from homes, garages, workplaces and suitable roadside locations
- Scrap and salvage value considered where relevant
- Help with the V5C, DVLA notification and Certificate of Destruction where applicable
The simple route
How do I scrap my car?
You do not need to ring every scrap yard in the area or drive an unsafe car anywhere. Get the quote, agree the condition, book collection and complete the handover when the vehicle is collected.
Send the reg and postcode
The registration identifies the car. The postcode tells us which collection route covers it.
Tell us the condition
Say whether it starts, rolls and steers, what has failed and whether anything is missing.
Book collection
We agree a practical slot and plan around keys, parking restrictions and access.
Get paid and notify DVLA
After the checks, payment is made by bank transfer and the correct DVLA route is explained.
One team, fewer handovers
ScrapTrak is a direct local buyer, not a lead broker
Comparison sites can be useful when you want several companies to compete for the job. The trade-off is that the website taking your details, the buyer making the offer and the company collecting the vehicle may all be different businesses.
ScrapTrak works differently inside its local service area. We buy the vehicle directly, discuss the condition and access with you, arrange the collection and deal with any issue that needs resolving before the car is loaded.
That matters most when the job is not completely straightforward: no keys, locked brakes, a car inside a bodyshop, a vehicle stuck in a car park or a damaged car that may be worth more as salvage.
What direct buying means in practice
- You deal with ScrapTrak from the first quote
- The condition and access are discussed before booking
- Collection is planned around the actual vehicle
- Payment comes from the buyer collecting the car
- You have one point of contact if something changes
Vehicles we buy
You do not need a running, roadworthy car
People often search “sell my car for scrap” because repair no longer makes sense, the car has been sitting unused or they need a clean way to move it on. These are the vehicles we are asked about most often.
MOT failures
Rust, emissions, brakes, suspension and repair estimates that are too high for the car.
Non-runners
Flat batteries, seized engines, gearbox faults, electrical trouble and cars that will not move.
Accident damage
Collision damage, deployed airbags, insurance write-offs and uneconomical body repairs.
No keys
Lost keys, broken fobs and locked vehicles where recovery needs planning in advance.
Vans
Unwanted and non-running light commercial vehicles, including MOT failures and damaged vans.
Electric and hybrid cars
EV and hybrid vehicles assessed for battery condition, high-voltage damage and safe recovery.
Cat N vehicles
Repairable non-structural insurance write-offs that may still have salvage value.
Cat S vehicles
Structurally damaged write-offs assessed from the category, condition, completeness and access.
Not sure whether the car is really scrap? A newer, complete or parts-rich vehicle may be worth more through the salvage route. A tidy car that is still roadworthy may suit the wider Sell My Car service instead.
Main service hub
Find the right ScrapTrak page for your vehicle
This page is the starting point. The links below go into more detail when the vehicle, paperwork or collection needs a more specific answer.
The right commercial route
Scrap, salvage or sell: which route fits your car?
A vehicle should not be forced into a weight-only scrap price if useful value remains. Equally, a genuinely end-of-life car should not be dressed up as a retail car and passed to another owner.
End-of-life vehicle
Best when the car is badly corroded, stripped, severely damaged or worth mainly its recoverable materials.
Repair or parts value remains
Best when the car has one main fault, repairable damage or reusable components that can support a stronger offer.
Still usable or roadworthy
Best when the vehicle has enough condition and market value to be bought as a complete road car rather than scrap.
Tell us the honest condition once. ScrapTrak can then consider the car’s scrap baseline, salvage potential and complete-vehicle value before confirming the most sensible route.
Collection included
Free scrap car collection across covered areas
Collection is included when the vehicle is within the service area and matches the condition and access described. We collect from homes, workplaces, garages, bodyshops, business yards, private land and suitable roadside locations.
The collection is easiest when the car rolls, steers and has keys, but those are not always essential. Tell us about the difficult parts before the day so the correct equipment can be arranged.
- Does the car start, roll, steer and brake?
- Are all four wheels fitted and do the tyres hold air?
- Are the keys available?
- Is the vehicle blocked in or behind a locked gate?
- Is it in a multi-storey, underground or height-restricted car park?
- Does a garage or recovery yard need advance release authority?
Where we regularly collect
- Driveways and residential roads
- Garages, workshops and bodyshops
- Business premises and trade yards
- Recovery compounds and storage sites
- Car parks where height and access allow
- Rural properties, farms and private tracks
Get ready for collection day
A few checks beforehand can prevent a wasted visit. If the car is at a garage, workplace or storage compound, speak to the person controlling access before arranging the handover.
Clear your belongings and information
- Check the boot, glovebox, door pockets, sun visors and under the seats for belongings and documents.
- Remove parking permits, toll tags and removable accessories you intend to keep.
- Where possible, remove saved addresses, paired phones and personal information from the vehicle’s system.
- If you want to keep a private registration, complete the DVLA process before selling or scrapping the car.
Arrange the handover
- Have the keys, V5C if available, and the identification and ownership information agreed at booking ready.
- Tell us beforehand if another person will hand over the vehicle or a third party must authorise its release.
- Confirm gates, site opening hours and space for the collection vehicle; arrange for any blocking vehicles to be moved.
- Keep the quote reference handy and tell us promptly if the vehicle’s condition or location has changed.
What your car is worth
What affects a scrap car quote?
The registration and postcode are the starting point, not the whole valuation. The vehicle has to be identified, checked for completeness and matched to the most sensible scrap or salvage route.
How to compare scrap car quotes
A useful quote tells you what you will receive and what is included. Before choosing a buyer, check that each offer covers the same vehicle, collection address and condition. A headline estimate for a complete, easily accessible car may not describe a vehicle with missing wheels or seized brakes.
Ask whether the amount is an estimate or a confirmed offer, how long it remains valid and what circumstances could change it. Compare the amount payable after any agreed charges, including collection. Keep the quote and the description you supplied so you can refer to them at handover.
If something changes after you request a ScrapTrak quote, such as the car moving to a storage yard or a part being removed, tell us before collection. That gives us time to check the price and plan the recovery.
Four points to confirm
- The amount you will receive and any agreed costs.
- The collection arrangements for your actual address.
- When payment is made and which checks come first.
- Whether the vehicle is being bought for scrap, repair or resale.
Payment and DVLA
Paperwork should be clear before the car leaves
The vehicle needs to come off your name properly. The exact paperwork depends on whether it is completely scrapped through an Authorised Treatment Facility or transferred for salvage, repair or parts reuse.
V5C logbook
Have it ready where possible. If it is missing, tell us before collection and read the no-V5C guide.
Bank transfer payment
Payment is made after the vehicle and authority to sell are checked. Cash is not permitted for a vehicle being scrapped in England or Wales.
DVLA notification
Use the correct transfer or scrapping route and keep the confirmation. ScrapTrak explains what applies to the job.
Certificate of Destruction
A CoD applies when an eligible car or light van is completely scrapped through the ATF process, not when it is sold for salvage.
Private number plates
Retain or transfer the registration before collection and wait for the V778 and replacement V5C.
Vehicle tax
DVLA handles cancellation and any refund for complete remaining months once it receives the correct notification.
After collection: keep the right records
Keep your collection record and payment confirmation, and check that the correct DVLA notification has been completed. You remain responsible for telling DVLA when you sell, transfer or scrap your vehicle, so keep its confirmation as well.
If anything on the record is unclear, contact us with the registration and collection date. Keep these details together until the paperwork is resolved.
Recycling or repair?
Vehicles being scrapped must go to an Authorised Treatment Facility. When an eligible car or light van is completely scrapped, the ATF issues a Certificate of Destruction within seven days. A vehicle repaired and sold on does not receive that certificate simply because it was damaged or not running.
Ask which route applies before handover. The sale record, DVLA notification and Certificate of Destruction have different purposes.
Read GOV.UK’s guidance on authorised facilities and certificates.
Scrap my car near me
Local collection in Hampshire and West Sussex
Choose the nearest town or put the postcode into the quote form. Smaller villages are normally handled from the closest route, so the exact place does not need its own page before you ask.
South coast, central, north and east Hampshire routes
Collections include city streets, housing estates, rural roads, garages, trade sites and business parks.
Coastal, central and north-east West Sussex routes
Collections include coastal towns, villages, commuter areas, business premises and rural properties.
Hampshire towns
West Sussex towns
Not sure if we cover you? Enter the collection postcode or use the full locations hub. Use your full postcode to check collection availability, including towns without a separate location page.
Official information
Useful GOV.UK pages before collection
Find an ATF
Check authorised vehicle scrapyards using the official service.
Private number plate
Retain or transfer a personalised registration before the car leaves.
Ready to sell your car for scrap?
Start with the registration and postcode. ScrapTrak will confirm the vehicle, assess the condition and arrange free local collection if you accept the quote.
Common questions
Scrap my car FAQs
How do I scrap my car with ScrapTrak?
Enter the registration and collection postcode, describe the condition honestly and review the quote. If you accept it, ScrapTrak arranges collection, checks the vehicle and ownership details, pays by bank transfer and explains the correct DVLA steps.
Is ScrapTrak a direct scrap car buyer?
Yes. ScrapTrak buys vehicles directly within its Hampshire and West Sussex service area. It is not a lead broker selling your enquiry to a list of unrelated buyers.
Is scrap car collection free?
Collection is included across covered areas. Give the correct postcode and mention car parks, gates, narrow roads, flat tyres, locked steering or other access issues before the collection is booked.
Can you collect a car that does not start?
Yes. Non-runners are regularly collected. Tell us whether the car rolls, steers, has inflated tyres, has working brakes and can be placed in neutral.
Can I scrap a car without an MOT?
Yes. An expired or failed MOT does not prevent collection. Do not drive an unsafe vehicle to a scrap yard; arrange collection instead.
Can I scrap a car without the V5C logbook?
Often, yes, although extra identification and ownership checks may be required. Tell us before booking and follow the correct DVLA notification process.
Can you collect a car without keys?
Often, yes. Missing keys can mean locked steering, an electronic parking brake or a more difficult loading job, so the collection needs to be planned correctly.
Do you buy accident-damaged and written-off cars?
Yes. ScrapTrak considers accident-damaged, Cat N, Cat S and unrecorded damaged vehicles. A complete vehicle may have salvage value above a basic scrap-by-weight figure.
How much is my scrap car worth?
The quote depends on the exact vehicle, weight, completeness, catalytic converter, alloy wheels, condition, missing parts, salvage potential, postcode and collection access. Use the registration and postcode for a current figure.
What is the difference between scrap and salvage?
A scrap vehicle is normally valued mainly for recoverable materials and processed as an end-of-life vehicle. A salvage vehicle still has repair or reusable-parts value and may be worth more than a weight-only scrap offer.
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.
Will I receive a Certificate of Destruction?
An eligible car or light van receives a Certificate of Destruction when it is completely scrapped through the Authorised Treatment Facility process. A vehicle transferred for repair or salvage does not receive a CoD simply because it was damaged.
Can you collect from a garage, workplace or car park?
Usually, yes. Collection can be arranged from homes, garages, bodyshops, workplaces, private land and suitable car parks. Third-party sites may require release authority, opening-hour coordination and cleared storage charges.
What areas do you cover?
ScrapTrak covers many towns and surrounding areas across Hampshire and West Sussex. Enter the postcode or use the locations hub to check the nearest collection page.
Should I remove parts before scrapping the car?
Usually not. Removing the catalytic converter, alloy wheels, battery, engine, gearbox or other components can reduce the quote and make the vehicle harder to recover.