Can I Scrap a Car Without Wheels or Flat Tyres?

Scrap collectors generally require your car to be complete and have four wheels attached. This is because vehicles without wheels can’t be safely winched or loaded onto a recovery truck. If your car can’t roll or steer, it’ll need a specialist truck with extra equipment.

The main reasons you’ll need the wheels boil down to practicality and safety. When a car can’t move freely, it’s very difficult to load without damaging the truck, the vehicle or the surrounding area. Even if the car’s in bad shape, the scrap collector still has to be able to handle it efficiently.

This is precisely why we always ask about your car’s condition before arranging collection. Once we know whether it’s free-rolling, flat-tyred or missing wheels, we can send the right type of recovery truck for the job.

How our scrap collection works

Scrapping your car is simple and straightforward. Once you accept your quote, we’ll arrange a free collection from your location and handle everything from there.

Here’s how the process works:

• Get a free scrap car quote. We’ll tell you exactly how much your car’s worth in scrap metal and reusable parts.
• Book your free collection. Choose a time that suits you and confirm your car’s details.
• Give us some basic information. We’ll ask about the car’s condition, which includes whether it rolls, steers or has flat tyres.
• We pick up your vehicle. Our recovery driver collects your car from wherever it’s parked and takes it to a government-approved Authorised Treatment Facility (ATF).
• You get paid on the spot. You’ll receive payment once the collection and paperwork are complete.
• We handle the paperwork. The ATF officially scraps the car. We’ll handle the DVLA notification and de-registration on your behalf. Then, you’ll get your Certificate of Destruction.

For loading purposes, it’s preferred that your car is free-wheeling and can roll. This makes it quicker and safer to load onto the truck. We can still collect cars that are accident-damaged or not roadworthy, but we need to know in advance because it affects what type of recovery vehicle we send and how we prepare for the pickup.

Can I scrap a car with flat tyres?

Yes, you can still scrap a car with flat tyres. As long as the vehicle can roll (which it usually can, even with a flat), collection won’t be a problem.

When we collect your car, our recovery team will either tow it or load it onto a recovery truck or car transporter. In most cases, the car is either driven or gently pushed onto the truck’s bed. If it can’t move easily, the driver will use a winch to pull it safely into place.

Flat tyres might make loading a little slower, but they won’t prevent us from collecting your car. Just mention it when booking so we can bring the right equipment.

Can I scrap a car with no wheels?

No, you can’t scrap a car that has no wheels through standard collection.

In reality, you’ll struggle to find a scrap dealer willing or able to collect a car without wheels. Most recovery trucks rely on a high-powered winch to pull vehicles onto the bed and without wheels, there’s nothing to roll or support the car.

If the vehicle can’t roll because it’s missing its wheels, it needs to be lifted using a Hiab, which is a type of truck-mounted crane designed to lift and move heavy loads. This is a specialist recovery method that most scrap dealers don’t offer because it requires specific equipment and trained operators.

When you can have missing wheels

In some cases, you can still scrap a car that’s missing one or two wheels — as long as it can still roll or be safely winched. For example, if a wheel’s been removed temporarily or the car’s resting on a spare, recovery is usually still possible.=

Will missing wheels affect scrap value?

Yes, missing wheels will significantly reduce your car’s scrap value. Scrap collectors pay based on the weight and completeness of the vehicle. When wheels are missing, the total weight drops, and the car is considered incomplete.

On top of that, collectors will need to use special equipment to recover it, which increases their costs. And that’s if they can even do it in the first place, which again, most cannot. As a result, the offer you get for a car without wheels will almost always be lower than for a complete vehicle, and they’ll pass those additional costs on to you.

If you want to get the best possible value, keep all four wheels attached, even if they’re damaged or have flat tyres.

Is it impossible to scrap a car with missing wheels?

It’s not impossible to scrap a car with missing wheels, just more complicated.

If you’re on a budget, one option is to fit temporary or second-hand wheels. They don’t have to be in perfect condition. They just need to allow the vehicle to roll so it can be safely loaded. Often, the higher scrap price you’ll get for a complete vehicle outweighs the cost of doing this.

Alternatively, you can look for a car scrapyard that offers crane or Hiab recovery. If you live in a more populated area like Central London, it’s more likely you’ll find one. If you can, they’ll be able to physically lift your car onto the truck for an additional fee.