What happens if my car is in poor condition?

A lot of Car.co.uk customers get in touch with us to explain the poor condition of the car they’re hoping to scrap – our answer is always the same; don’t worry!

When we provide a quote, it is based on the scrap value of your vehicle, rather than the overall condition. That scrap value is calculated by considering the weight of the car – alongside the parts we know can be salvaged for recycling purposes.

Our team handle enquiries from people with cars in all conditions, including:

  • Un-roadworthy vehicles
  • MOT failures
  • Junk and salvage cars
  • Fleet vehicles
  • Insurance write-offs
  • Damaged cars
  • Flood-damaged vehicles
  • Non-runners
  • Part-exchange cars
  • Foreign cars that are not UK registered

Whether your car is simply getting old – or if it’s sustained serious damage, we’ll always work hard on your behalf to find an excellent price.

 

How much is my car likely to be worth?

We won’t just offer you a set price when you get a quote to sell your scrap car through our service – we handle each enquiry individually, to make sure you get the best price possible.

What’s more – we work with a network of specialist scrap partners around the UK. Since our specialist scrap partners are equipped to deal with particular makes and models, this often means that we can find you a truly unbeatable price.

 

Other related FAQs

Looking for more related content to this? We’ve picked a selection of related topics that you may find helpful

Yes, our network of dismantlers can scrap vehicles that are registered in other countries. You’ll need to inform the governing body in the country that the car is from; usually by sending them the completed registration document.

Yes, you can. Before your car is collected, you’ll need to ‘retain’ your registration with the DVLA; either online or through the post. Your registration will then be held on a retention certificate, ready to transfer to another car.

It’s illegal to sell a car with outstanding finance, so before you scrap a car you need to have paid off the outstanding finance amount. Technically, a car with outstanding finance is the lender’s property, not yours.

To scrap your car legally, the three absolute musts are you must use an Authorised Treatment Facility (ATF), ensure your logbook (V5 certificate) is completed correctly, and, if the vehicle’s to be destroyed, obtain a CoD (Certificate of Destruction).

ATF stands for ‘Authorised Treatment Facility’ - another name for a scrap yard, breaker’s yard or vehicle dismantler that meets with strict government guidelines relating to the handling processing of End of Live vehicles.

It’s illegal to scrap someone’s car without their permission and take payment. The Scrap Dealers Act requires that individuals scrapping cars provide photo ID and proof of address and are never paid in cash, ensuring transactions can be easily traced.

Yes – it’s important that you inform the DVLA when you scrap your car, as you could be liable for any on-going charges relating to it if you don’t. The quick and easy way to inform the DVLA is by completing and returning section 9 (or section 4 on post-April 2019 documents) of the V5C log book form.

No problem. A Certificate of Destruction (COD) can be issued to you when your car is scrapped, but you need to make us aware of this prior to collection.

No. It’s important that your car is free of rubbish and personal belongings - as our scrap partners are not equipped to deal with anything other than the car.

End of Life Vehicle (ELV) is the term used to describe a car that is no longer suitable for use – either through wear and tear or damage. ELVs must be recycled at authorised treatment facilities.