Honest Guide · April 2026
How Much Is My Scrap Car Worth?
Most scrap yards lowball you. We're a family-run Essex garage that shops your car around to multiple licensed yards and breakers to find the highest offer — usually £100+ more than any instant online quote. Here's what your car's actually worth in 2026 and how the broker model works.
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The honest 30-second answer
Most cars in the UK fetch £100-£500 as scrap. A small petrol hatchback sits near the bottom of that range. A heavy 4×4 or a desirable Audi sits near the top. Specialist or low-mileage cars can fetch £1,000 or more if there are valuable parts to salvage.
There is no reliable way to know your car's exact scrap value without a real person looking at it — and there's no reliable way to get the top price without shopping the car around to multiple buyers. That's exactly what we do. The instant online quotes you see advertised are the worst possible outcome, not the realistic one. More on that below.
What actually drives the price
Six things matter. The rest is just talk.
Vehicle weight
Most of the value is steel. A heavier car has more steel, so a Range Rover scraps for far more than a Fiesta even if both are knackered. Doesn't matter what the badge says — kilos is kilos.
Live scrap-metal price
Steel and other metals trade as commodities. Prices change daily. A car worth £200 this week might be worth £160 next week. We watch the market and quote off real numbers, not yesterday's rates.
Catalytic converter
The cat contains platinum, palladium, and rhodium. On some cars (especially diesels and certain Toyotas, Hondas, and BMWs), the cat alone can be worth £200-£500. If yours has been stolen or removed, expect the quote to drop significantly.
Make, model, and parts demand
Cars with strong parts demand (Audi, VW, Skoda, BMW, Honda) are worth more than the metal alone — but only if you find a buyer who actually breaks them. We shop your car to specialist breakers and yards across Essex and the UK, and pass on the buyer paying for the parts, not just the steel.
Mileage, age, and condition
Lower mileage means more salvageable internals — engine, gearbox, suspension. A 60,000-mile gearbox sells for far more than a 200,000-mile one. Rust matters too: corroded body panels are worth less for resale.
Does it run? Is it complete?
A running car is worth £50-£200 more than the same model as a non-runner. Missing engine, missing wheels, stripped interior — each missing piece comes off the price. We still take incomplete cars but the quote reflects reality.
Typical UK scrap prices today
Ballpark ranges for a complete, average-condition car as of May 2026. Scroll down for model-by-model prices. These are not quotes — your car's actual value depends on the six factors above.
| Type | Examples | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Small petrol hatch | Fiesta, Corsa, Polo, Yaris, Aygo | £80 - £180 |
| Medium saloon / hatch | Focus, Astra, Audi A3, Golf, Octavia, 1 Series | £150 - £350 |
| Large saloon / estate | Mondeo, Audi A4/A6, Passat, 3 Series, C-Class | £200 - £450 |
| SUV / 4×4 | Q5, X5, Range Rover Sport, Tiguan, X-Trail | £300 - £700 |
| Premium / specialist | Audi RS, Porsche, low-mileage Land Rover, AMG | £400 - £1,500+ |
| Van / pickup | Transit, Vivaro, Sprinter, Hilux, Navara | £250 - £800 |
Specialist Audi, VW, Skoda, SEAT and Porsche cars often sit at the upper end of these ranges because parts demand is strong and we know which breakers pay top whack for them — see our VAG group page.
Scrap values by make + model (2026 UK prices)
Real ranges based on quotes we've sourced from Essex and UK breakers in the last 90 days. The high end is what a healthy runner with all parts intact (especially the catalytic converter) will fetch through the right buyer — we shop your car around to find that buyer. Updated May 2026.
Audi scrap values
VAG group cars have the strongest parts demand we see. Engines, gearboxes, DSG units, and CCM modules sell fast. Catalytic converters on petrol A3/A4 are often the single most valuable part — £200-£500 alone if intact.
| Model | Avg weight | Typical range | Quote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audi A1 | ~1,100kg | £130 - £220 | Get quote → |
| Audi A3 | ~1,300kg | £150 - £260 | Get quote → |
| Audi A4 | ~1,500kg | £180 - £320 | Get quote → |
| Audi A5 | ~1,550kg | £200 - £350 | Get quote → |
| Audi A6 | ~1,700kg | £220 - £380 | Get quote → |
| Audi Q3 | ~1,600kg | £240 - £400 | Get quote → |
| Audi Q5 | ~1,900kg | £280 - £480 | Get quote → |
| Audi Q7 | ~2,300kg | £350 - £600 | Get quote → |
BMW scrap values
Diesel BMWs (especially 320d, 520d, X5) carry premium scrap value because of their DPF + catalytic converter content. Hybrid models hold particularly well. Manual gearboxes from M-Sport trim sell at retail through breakers.
| Model | Avg weight | Typical range | Quote |
|---|---|---|---|
| BMW 1 Series | ~1,350kg | £150 - £260 | Get quote → |
| BMW 2 Series | ~1,400kg | £170 - £290 | Get quote → |
| BMW 3 Series | ~1,500kg | £200 - £340 | Get quote → |
| BMW 4 Series | ~1,550kg | £220 - £360 | Get quote → |
| BMW 5 Series | ~1,700kg | £240 - £400 | Get quote → |
| BMW X1 | ~1,500kg | £200 - £340 | Get quote → |
| BMW X3 | ~1,800kg | £280 - £480 | Get quote → |
| BMW X5 | ~2,100kg | £320 - £550 | Get quote → |
Ford scrap values
High-volume cars with steady parts demand. Fiestas and Focus models from 2012+ are still being bought for daily-driver repairs — gearboxes, alternators, and electronics all move quickly. Cats on petrol Fiestas typically £80-£150.
| Model | Avg weight | Typical range | Quote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Ka | ~950kg | £90 - £160 | Get quote → |
| Ford Fiesta | ~1,050kg | £100 - £180 | Get quote → |
| Ford Focus | ~1,400kg | £140 - £260 | Get quote → |
| Ford Mondeo | ~1,550kg | £180 - £320 | Get quote → |
| Ford Kuga | ~1,650kg | £220 - £380 | Get quote → |
| Ford Transit (van) | ~2,100kg+ | £280 - £550 | Get quote → |
Volkswagen scrap values
VAG group again — Polo, Golf and Passat hold strong parts demand alongside their Audi siblings. DSG gearboxes and 1.4 TSI engines are in particular demand. Tiguan and Touareg fetch SUV-tier money.
| Model | Avg weight | Typical range | Quote |
|---|---|---|---|
| VW Up! | ~950kg | £100 - £180 | Get quote → |
| VW Polo | ~1,150kg | £120 - £220 | Get quote → |
| VW Golf | ~1,350kg | £150 - £280 | Get quote → |
| VW Passat | ~1,500kg | £200 - £340 | Get quote → |
| VW Tiguan | ~1,750kg | £280 - £420 | Get quote → |
| VW Touareg | ~2,200kg | £320 - £550 | Get quote → |
Vauxhall scrap values
Volume cars — lots of supply, so per-unit margins are tighter. But Corsas and Astras still sell as runners or for parts up to ~£250 if intact. Insignia and Mokka X carry a small premium for their newer parts.
| Model | Avg weight | Typical range | Quote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vauxhall Corsa | ~1,050kg | £100 - £180 | Get quote → |
| Vauxhall Astra | ~1,300kg | £140 - £240 | Get quote → |
| Vauxhall Mokka | ~1,400kg | £180 - £300 | Get quote → |
| Vauxhall Insignia | ~1,500kg | £180 - £320 | Get quote → |
| Vauxhall Zafira | ~1,500kg | £160 - £280 | Get quote → |
Mercedes-Benz scrap values
Mercedes parts move at retail prices through specialist breakers — interior trim, gearboxes (especially 7G-Tronic), and electronics. AMG-trim cars fetch significantly more even at scrap.
| Model | Avg weight | Typical range | Quote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercedes A-Class | ~1,350kg | £150 - £260 | Get quote → |
| Mercedes B-Class | ~1,400kg | £170 - £280 | Get quote → |
| Mercedes C-Class | ~1,500kg | £200 - £340 | Get quote → |
| Mercedes E-Class | ~1,700kg | £240 - £400 | Get quote → |
| Mercedes GLC | ~1,850kg | £300 - £500 | Get quote → |
| Mercedes GLA | ~1,500kg | £220 - £380 | Get quote → |
Toyota scrap values
Hybrid Toyotas (Prius, Auris, Yaris Hybrid) carry premium scrap value because of their battery packs — sometimes £400+ for the battery alone if still healthy. Cats on Toyota petrols are also valuable (high palladium content).
| Model | Avg weight | Typical range | Quote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Aygo | ~950kg | £100 - £180 | Get quote → |
| Toyota Yaris | ~1,100kg | £120 - £220 | Get quote → |
| Toyota Corolla | ~1,300kg | £150 - £260 | Get quote → |
| Toyota Auris | ~1,350kg | £150 - £260 | Get quote → |
| Toyota Prius | ~1,400kg | £200 - £400 | Get quote → |
| Toyota RAV4 | ~1,650kg | £280 - £450 | Get quote → |
Other popular scrap values
Skoda and SEAT share VAG engines and gearboxes — same parts demand as Audi/VW. Honda hybrids and CR-V hold value well. Nissan Qashqai is the UK's most-scrapped SUV, lots of supply so per-unit margins are tight.
| Model | Avg weight | Typical range | Quote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skoda Octavia | ~1,350kg | £150 - £280 | Get quote → |
| Skoda Fabia | ~1,100kg | £120 - £220 | Get quote → |
| SEAT Leon | ~1,350kg | £150 - £280 | Get quote → |
| Honda Civic | ~1,350kg | £160 - £280 | Get quote → |
| Honda CR-V | ~1,650kg | £260 - £420 | Get quote → |
| Nissan Qashqai | ~1,500kg | £240 - £400 | Get quote → |
| MINI Cooper | ~1,250kg | £150 - £260 | Get quote → |
| Land Rover Discovery | ~2,300kg | £400 - £800 | Get quote → |
| Range Rover Sport | ~2,400kg | £500 - £1,200+ | Get quote → |
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We collect every make and model across Essex and the UK — same-day collection, cash on the spot, paperwork done.
Free collection across Essex & UK · Cash same-day · DVLA paperwork handled
Why online instant quotes are usually disappointing
You've probably seen the websites. Punch in a reg, see a number in 10 seconds. Usually £40-£90 for a normal car. Then you call someone and the actual collector knocks another £20 off when they show up. Why is the number always so low?
- 1.They use the worst-case scrap-metal price. Whatever metal traders are paying for old steel today, the site assumes that's all your car is worth — even if reusable parts could double the price.
- 2.They don't account for parts value. Online tools have no way to know your car has a working engine, a recent battery, four good tyres, or a healthy catalytic converter. They quote as if everything is worthless.
- 3.They're middlemen, and middlemen need their cut. Most "instant quote" sites don't actually collect cars — they sell your details to a local collector. The collector pays the site for the lead, then has to make their margin on top. That margin comes out of your quote.
- 4.They lowball on purpose. A low quote is a "safe" quote. If they over-quote and a collector arrives to a worse car than expected, the deal falls through and the lead is wasted. Easier to under-quote and "upgrade" you in person.
The honest version: a real garage that asks three questions about your car (does it run, is it complete, what's the registration) can almost always beat any online instant quote. We do this every day on WhatsApp.
Four tips to get the best price
Get personal quotes — or use a broker
Skip the online forms. Either WhatsApp two or three local scrap collectors yourself and ask for a real quote, or use a broker (like us) that shops your car to multiple yards and breakers on your behalf. The variation between buyer quotes is usually £50-£150 for a normal car, sometimes more for desirable ones. A broker captures the spread instead of you doing the legwork.
Mention the catalytic converter is intact
If your cat hasn't been stolen or removed, say so up front. On certain cars (diesels, hybrids, some Hondas) this can be the single most valuable part. A buyer who knows your cat is healthy can pay £200+ more.
Flag any valuable extras
Recent tyres, fresh battery, working alloys, a sound engine, half-decent interior — these all add value if a garage breaks for parts. Don't undersell your own car.
Don't accept a low quote because you're in a hurry
Most decent collectors can be at your door same-day. If a buyer's offering £80 for a car that should be £200 and pressuring you to accept, message someone else.
Before you scrap — the legal bits
Five-minute admin to do before the collector arrives. Ignore these and you can run into avoidable problems.
Notify DVLA online (free)
Go to gov.uk and search 'tell DVLA you've sold or scrapped your car'. You'll need the V5C reference number. Submit. Done. This protects you from any future fines or charges associated with the car.
Get a Certificate of Destruction (CoD)
Only Authorised Treatment Facilities (ATFs) can issue a legal CoD. We deliver your car to a licensed ATF on your behalf and pass the certificate back to you within a day or two of collection. Keep it. It's your proof the car was legally destroyed.
Hand over the V5C to the collector
Or, if you prefer, tear off section 9 ('selling/transferring to a motor trader, dealer or insurer'), give that to the collector, and post the rest to DVLA yourself. Either way works.
Cancel insurance and tax
You can usually claim a refund on any unused months. Worth £20-£100 depending on when you scrap.
Retain personal plates BEFORE collection (critical)
If you have a private/cherished plate, apply for a retention certificate (form V317) on gov.uk BEFORE the car goes. Once it's collected and registered as scrap, you cannot recover the plate. We've seen people lose plates worth thousands because they forgot this step.
Frequently asked questions
How much is my car worth in scrap?
Most UK cars are worth £100-£500 as scrap in 2026. A small petrol hatchback sits near the bottom of that range; a heavy 4×4 or a desirable Audi sits near the top. The exact figure depends on the car's weight, the live scrap-metal price, whether the catalytic converter is intact, and whether the car runs and is complete.
How much do you get for scrapping a car in the UK?
In 2026 a typical UK car fetches £100-£500 when scrapped, paid in cash on collection. Online instant quotes often show only £40-£90 because they assume the lowest scrap-metal price and ignore reusable parts. A garage that shops your car around multiple licensed yards and breakers can normally beat that by £100 or more.
What is the minimum scrap value of a car?
The minimum scrap value of a complete car in the UK is around £80-£100 — roughly what a small, stripped petrol hatchback fetches on metal weight alone. Anything lower usually means parts are missing (engine, wheels, or catalytic converter) or the car isn't complete. Most cars are worth comfortably more than this minimum.
Will I get more money for my scrap car if it still runs?
Usually yes, but not always a huge amount. A running car has more salvageable parts, especially the engine and gearbox, so a garage that breaks cars for parts will pay more than one that just scraps the metal. Expect roughly £50-£200 extra for a runner depending on make and condition.
Can I scrap a non-runner car?
Absolutely. Most scrap cars don't run. As long as it's complete (engine, gearbox, body panels, wheels) you'll get a fair price. We collect non-runners across Essex and the UK with our recovery truck — no extra charge.
Do I need a valid MOT to scrap my car?
No. You don't need an MOT to scrap a car. You don't even need to drive it to us — we collect from your driveway with our recovery truck.
Can I keep my private number plate?
Yes, but you must retain the plate BEFORE the car is collected. Apply on gov.uk for a 'retention certificate' (form V317). Once the car is gone and registered as scrap, you can't get the plate back. This step is critical and we always remind customers about it.
How fast can you collect?
Same day in most of Essex. We aim to arrive within a few hours of your WhatsApp message during normal hours, and we cover the whole UK on longer notice. Collection and instant cash payment on the spot.
Why are online instant scrap quotes always low?
Online quote tools assume the worst possible scenario for every car: lowest scrap-metal value, no salvageable parts, no working catalytic converter. They also need to leave margin for the actual collector who buys leads from them. The result is a number that's always at the bottom of the realistic range. A real garage that knows your specific car can almost always offer more.
Get a real quote in 30 seconds
WhatsApp us with your reg number and a couple of details. We'll shop your car to our network of licensed yards and breakers and come back with the highest offer — usually £100+ more than any instant online quote. Free same-day collection across Essex, cash on the spot.
Same-day collection
Across Essex, often within hours
Cash on the spot
No bank transfers, no waiting
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Issued by an Authorised Treatment Facility