Best way to scrap my car UK: all you need to know about fees, best places to sell & more tips

Have an old or damaged car you won't find a buyer for? You can still get a few hundred quid by scrapping your car.

Type ‘scrap my car’ or ‘sell my car for scrap’ into your search engine and you’ll find that options tend to fall into two camps.

Some sites, like Webuyanycar and Jamjar, buy second-hand cars as well as offer a scrappage service.

Others, including CarTakeBack and ScrapCarComparison, will only offer scrappage.

Scrap my car UK: how it works

With most ‘cash for scrap’ car sites, you enter your car registration number for a free instant valuation.

In most cases, your car won’t even need to work, so it’s an easy way to get rid of a non-runner or car that’s failed its MOT or been written off.

There are some minimum standards to be met though: cars must be in one piece with all four wheels still attached.

Most scrappage companies offer a free collection service, although Webuyanycar is one that doesn’t.

We compared prices at all the major car-buying sites: here’s how they compared

How much will I get when I sell my car for scrap?

There’s no need to waste time cleaning up or fixing any minor issues when selling your car for scrap.

Car scrappers are only interested in the value of its metal, and as a general rule, the bigger and heavier your car, the higher the price.

So how much can you expect to get paid for scrapping your car?

That will depend on your car and company you sell to, but car scrappage site CarTakeBack says the average sum is £263.

They also provide typical prices for the 5 most scrapped cars in 2024.

The current average scrap value of a Ford Focus is £268, a Vauxhall Corsa is worth £218, a Ford Fiesta sells for £239, a Vauxhall Astra goes for £248 and a Vauxhall Insignia £315.

The golden rule here at Sell My Car Guide is to always take the time to shop around for online quotes from a few sites before selling a car for scrap.

Even though we’re only talking about small sums of money when selling for scrap, it could still be worth your while.

For starters, some car-buying companies will charge you a fee for selling while others don’t, and similarly only some offer a home collection service.

We’ve put together a short breakdown of how each of the main car-buying sites that purchase scrap cars work towards the end of this guide.

You’ll find it under the heading: ‘Selling my car for scrap: what are my options?’

But first, let’s explain a little more about how the process works and what you need to do before going ahead and scrapping your car.

How do I scrap my car in the UK?

Only scrap your car at an Authorised Treatment Facility (ATF), licensed by the Environment Agency.

This means certain rules are followed when dismantling and disposing of vehicles and it’s illegal to scrap a car anywhere else.

Once your car is scrapped, you should get a ‘Certificate of Destruction’ (CoD), sent within seven days.

This also triggers any tax refund due, which is paid directly by the DVLA.

VW Golf with bonnet up (Image: Isaac Levy – Pixabay)

What do I need to do before I scrap my car?

After you accept the valuation offer for your soon-to-be scrapped car, it’s not as simple as just handing over the keys.

Under the Scrap Metal Dealers Act, you must produce proof of ID, along with a valid V5C, vehicle registration document.

A photo driving licence with your current address plus a recent utility bill is usually sufficient.

When waving off your car, you need to fill in the yellow section of the V5C and send this to the DVLA.

This confirms you have sold your car to a motor trader or dealer.

Read: 7 questions you must ask before choosing a car-buying site

How will I get paid when I scrap my car? Cash or bank transfer?

It is illegal to pay cash for cars scrapped in England and Wales so payment must be made by bank transfer or an old-school cheque.

Most companies pay for scrapped cars by bank transfer, which is almost instant after you hand over your car.

However, Webuyanycar charge a fee for ‘same’ or ‘next day’ payment, otherwise, you must wait four days.

Sell my car for free: 5 car-buyers that won’t charge you any fees

What are my options when I sell my car for scrap?

Here’s how car scrappage works with some of the main companies in the market.

Scrap my car at CarTakeBack

CarTakeBack claim to be the UK’s largest scrap car recycling network and have scrapped over six million cars since 2005.

Cars are scrapped so there’s no chance it will be sold on.

To get a valuation, go to the website and enter your registration details. Quotes last for seven days.

CarTakeBack offer free collection across the UK within two working days, which is available Monday to Saturday between 7am – 7pm.

You will also get a four-hour ‘collection window’ and in some cases can even arrange a Sunday pick-up.

You can also opt to drop off your car at one of its 300 branches.

Payment is made by bank transfer and usually in your account straight after collection.

No fees to pay with this one.

Read: selling your car at auction? Read our guide first!

Scrap my car at Webuyanycar

Webuyanycar aren’t a ‘scrap car’ site but they promise to buy cars in any condition,

However, the big downside is they don’t offer collection.

This means you need to take your car to one of its 500 centres, and get yourself home afterwards, which could be a big problem if you’ve a non-runner to scrap.

There’s also no promise your car will be scrapped, as Webuyanycar say it won’t make a final decision at the point of sale.

Payment is slow compared with CarTakeBack and ScrapCarComparison, taking four days,

Its ‘Immediate Payment’ service costs £29.75, which means money in your account on the same day, but this is only available if your car is valued at £500 or more.

Webuyanycar says it will send the money within 15 minutes, but adds it can take banks up to two hours to process the transaction.

Alternatively, it’s £24.75 for next-day payment (again, your car must be worth at least £500).

Finally, as your car may be sold on for spares, you’ll get a notification from the DVLA of a ‘change in ownership’ rather than a Certificate of Destruction.

Scrap my car at ScrapCarComparison

After putting in your registration details, ScrapCarComparison said it will compare prices offered from over 100 buyers so you can choose the best one.

Online quotes are only valid for 24 hours, much less than some other companies, so you need to make a quick decision.

You can sell any make and model, in any condition, even non-runners or vehicles without an MOT.

Collection is free. It’s arranged through one of ScrapCarComparison’s partners, all of whom are checked and vetted and offer a service across the UK.

Payment is made by the collection company, not ScrapCarComparison.

With bank transfer payment can be made instantly on collection or you can have a cheque.

Scrap my car at Jamjar

You can scrap any car through JamJar, from non-runners to flood-damaged vehicles, or those with engine or gearbox problems.

Once you put in your registration, valuation offers come in from Jamjar’s network of recycling centres so you’re not selling to Jamjar direct.

After you choose which buyer’s quote to accept, you arrange collection with them, which can usually be done within three days of accepting the offer.

There may be a collection fee, depending on the company, so check before agreeing to sell.

Payment by bank transfer is made by the buyer, usually within two hours of handing over your car.