How Is a Scrap Car’s Value Worked Out?

A scrap car valuation is not a fixed price per car. It starts with the car’s weight and is adjusted for what is on it, what can be reused, its condition and where it is. This guide explains each factor, where to find the weight, and why the figure is given subject to contract.

Facts checked against GOV.UK and the law on 28 October 2026.

Weight is the starting point

Much of a car is metal, and scrap metal is bought and sold by weight. So the starting point for a scrap valuation is how heavy the car is. A large estate or a 4x4 will usually start higher than a small hatchback, simply because there is more of it.

You can find the figure on your V5C log book. The registration certificate uses standard codes, and box Gis the ‘mass in service’ of the vehicle with its bodywork (harmonised registration certificate codes). It is a standard figure for the car as built, in kilograms. Your actual car can weigh less if parts have gone, or more if it carries extras.

For a quick weight-based starting point, try the scrap car value calculator. Treat it as a guide, not a valuation.

Metal prices move

The price that recyclers get for steel and other metals changes with the market. A valuation reflects prices at the time it is given, which is one reason two quotes weeks apart for the same car can differ. It is also why we do not publish fixed prices per car: any figure would be out of date quickly and would not reflect your car.

Not all of a car is steel. Aluminium wheels and engine parts, copper in wiring and motors, and the precious metals in the catalytic converter all count differently.

The catalytic converter

The Environment Agency describes catalytic converters as exhaust components that contain small amounts of precious metals, which makes them valuable (Environment Agency on GOV.UK). The amount varies by car, so the converter can make a real difference between models. If yours has been stolen or replaced with a straight pipe, say so: a car without its original converter will be valued lower.

Removing the converter is part of the normal depollution an authorised treatment facility carries out (GOV.UK: ELV guidance for waste sites). It is not something to take off yourself before collection.

Parts that can be reused

An authorised treatment facility can either completely scrap a car or repair and sell it (GOV.UK). Between the two, working parts are often removed and sold. That means a car can be worth more than its metal if it has:

an engine or gearbox in good order;
undamaged body panels, doors, lights or glass;
good wheels and tyres;
interior and electrical parts that are in demand.

Demand for the model matters here. Parts from cars that are common on the road are needed for repairs, so they sell. A rare or very old model may have fewer buyers for its parts, though some have enthusiasts who want them.

Condition: what is missing and what is wrong

The valuation is adjusted for the car's condition. The main questions are:

Is anything missing? GOV.UK says a facility can charge a fee if you have removed essential parts such as the engine, gearbox, bodywork or wheels (GOV.UK: how to scrap your vehicle). Missing parts lower a valuation.
Does it run? A car that starts and drives is easier to collect and its parts can be tested. See non-running cars.
Damage: accident damage, flood damage and heavy corrosion all affect what can be reused. See accident damaged cars.
Keys and paperwork: no keys can make loading harder (scrapping with no keys).

The car's MOT record on GOV.UK's MOT history service is a quick way to give an accurate picture of its condition and mileage.

What makes little difference

Some things owners worry about rarely change a scrap valuation much:

Cleaning the car. A valeted car is nicer to collect, but it does not change its weight or the condition of its parts.
Low fuel. Fuel is drained during depollution. There is no need to fill or empty the tank.
Tax and MOT status. A car does not need a valid MOT or tax to be collected and scrapped. An MOT matters more if the car is likely to be repaired and resold. See MOT failures.
Emissions zones. Being non-compliant for ULEZ or a Clean Air Zone does not change the metal in a car. See ULEZ non-compliant cars.

Location and collection

Collection is free to you, but it still costs the collection company time and fuel. Where the car is, how far it is from the facility, and how easy it is to reach and load all feed into what can be offered. A car on a drive with clear access is simpler than one in a back garden, an underground car park or a narrow lane. Tell the collection company about access when you enquire. More on free scrap car collection.

Why the figure is subject to contract

You get a valuation in pounds from a person at the collection company, based on what you tell them. It is given ‘subject to contract’. When the car is collected it is inspected, and the valuation can be revised if its condition differs from what you described: parts missing, damage not mentioned, or a car that was said to run and does not.

The simplest way to avoid a change on the day is to describe the car accurately at the start:

the registration and the mileage;
whether it starts, drives, rolls and steers;
anything missing, including the catalytic converter, wheels or the battery;
any damage, and the failure items if it has failed its MOT;
whether you have the keys and the V5C.

You are paid on collection by a lawful method such as bank transfer, not cash (why scrap cars are not paid in cash). For what we accept, see cars we accept, and for more on pricing, see scrap car prices.

Questions people ask

Where do I find my car’s weight?

On the V5C log book, in box G, “mass in service”. It is a standard figure for the car as built, so the actual weight of your car can differ, for example if parts have been removed.

Why do two similar cars get different valuations?

Because weight is only the starting point. Missing parts, the catalytic converter, whether parts can be reused, demand for that model, and how easy the car is to collect all change the figure.

Why is the valuation subject to contract?

Because it is based on your description. The car is inspected on collection, and the valuation can be revised if its condition differs from what you described, for example if parts are missing.

Does a car that runs get more than one that does not?

Often, because a running car may be repaired and resold or have parts that can be tested and reused. But a non-runner can still have valuable parts and metal, so it is worth getting a valuation either way.

Will removing parts myself get me more?

Usually not. GOV.UK says a facility can charge a fee if essential parts such as the engine, gearbox, bodywork or wheels have been removed, and a car missing parts will be valued lower.

Sources

Who does what

Scrap A Car For Cash (operated by Lead Stack Ltd, company number 15877625) takes your enquiry and passes it to an affiliated vehicle collection company that covers your area.
The collection company values the vehicle, collects it free of charge and pays you on collection, in line with the terms you agree with them.
If the vehicle is completely scrapped, that happens at an authorised treatment facility (ATF), which gives you a Certificate of Destruction. A vehicle that is repaired and resold instead does not get one.

More detail: how it works and our terms and conditions.

Get a free valuation

Enter the registration and postcode, or call us, and the collection company covering your area will contact you with a free, no-obligation valuation.

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