Valuation
Scrap car valuation
A scrap car is worth its weight in metal, plus or minus what is bolted to it. Enter your registration and we look up the exact kerb weight, price it against today’s rate, and adjust for condition — so the number you see is a valuation of your car, not an average.
What we pay today
Live figures from our pricing on 7 September 2026, for a typical example of each type in average condition — complete, with the catalytic converter, wheels and battery in place — collected near Mexborough. Today’s base rate is £150.00 per tonne.
| Small hatchbacke.g. Ford Fiesta, Vauxhall Corsa | from £150 |
| Family hatchbacke.g. Ford Focus, VW Golf | from £190 |
| Saloon or estatee.g. Ford Mondeo, BMW 3 Series | from £215 |
| SUV or 4x4e.g. Nissan Qashqai, Land Rover Freelander | from £240 |
| Vane.g. Ford Transit, Vauxhall Vivaro | from £335 |
The five things that decide a scrap value
1. Weight
Scrap metal is traded by the tonne, so the starting point is the car’s kerb weight — the figure on the V5C or in the manufacturer’s data. A Ford Fiesta is around 1,050 kg; a Land Rover Discovery over 2,400 kg. That is why a big old 4x4 nobody wants to run is worth twice a tidy little hatchback.
2. Today’s scrap metal price
Steel prices move with world demand, and scrap car prices follow them week to week. Our rate is updated as the market moves, which is why we quote live rather than publishing a fixed list.
3. The catalytic converter
The platinum, palladium and rhodium inside a catalytic converter make it the most valuable single component on most cars. A car with its cat is worth more; a car where it has been cut out is worth less, and we ask specifically so the price is right first time.
4. Completeness and condition
Engine, gearbox, wheels, battery, doors: each missing part takes weight and value off. Whether the car starts and rolls matters too, because a seized car takes longer to recover. Accident damage on its own does not reduce a scrap price much — bent panels weigh the same as straight ones.
5. Where it is
Distance from our yard affects recovery cost. Collection is free throughout our area; the further ring carries a slightly lower rate to cover the fuel. Your postcode is part of the valuation, so the figure you see already includes that.
Scrap or salvage?
Not every unwanted car should be scrapped. If yours is under about ten years old, or has damage to one end but a good engine, a salvage buyer may pay more than its weight in metal. Our valuation tells you when that is likely; read more on the damaged car page.
Common questions
Why does the valuation ask about the catalytic converter?
Because it is the single most valuable part on most scrap cars. The precious metals inside are worth more than the rest of the car’s steel put together on some models, so a car with the cat missing is priced noticeably lower.
Does mileage matter?
Not for scrap. Mileage matters when a car is being resold; a car going for recycling is priced on weight and completeness. A 250,000-mile diesel estate is worth more as scrap than a 60,000-mile city car simply because it weighs more.
Will the price change on the day?
Only if the car is not as described — a missing catalytic converter, no engine, wheels gone. The driver checks and tells you before anything is loaded. If the car is exactly as you told us, the price is the price.
Is my car worth more as salvage than scrap?
Sometimes. A car that is damaged but relatively new, or has a sought-after engine or parts, can fetch more from a salvage buyer than from recycling. Our valuation flags this and we will tell you honestly if you should be talking to a salvage buyer instead.