Scrapping a car doesn’t have to be hard work! Our UK-wide network of scrap partners and specialist dismantlers means we make it easy to find the very best offers in the area.

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Where to scrap a car near me

Where to scrap cars

When a car needs repairing and the repair cost is more than the car is worth, it’s probably time to scrap it. If the cost of repair is slightly under the value of the car but you know that other items such as tyres and brake pads will soon need replacing, it could be time to get rid of the car.

If your vehicle has been involved in an accident, it may not be repairable and the insurance company might therefore declare it a write off that needs to be scrapped.

The car must be taken to what is officially called an Authorised Treatment Facility (ATF), but is more commonly known as a scrapyard or breaker’s yard.

Many people search for ‘where to scrap cars near me’. The answer is simple, you can find a scrapyard through the official government website. Simply enter your postcode to see a list of scrapyards in your area. The only information this provides is the name and address of the scrapyard and a link to find it on online maps.

If you want to find out more about the scrapyards near you, try a Google search for “scrap my car” or use other search engines. The search result will show both scrapyards near you and national organisations that will scrap your car. A scrapyard that is not nearby may offer you less money for your car as they’ll have to travel further to collect it.

There are also price comparison sites where you can compare offers from several scrapyards. You can’t guarantee to find an offer on these sites that is higher than other local scrapyards. Getting the best price from a local scrapyard takes some research.

What the local scrapyard does with your car

There are several ways that the scrapyard can make a profit after buying your car. The metal in all cars is worth money and can be recycled. Parts can also be removed from the car and sold. If you take out parts to sell before the car goes to the scrapyard, then you’ll receive less money for it.

Sometimes an unroadworthy car can be repaired by the scrapyard for less than your local garage charges. It can then go through its MOT and be sold on.

Who not to sell the car to

Don’t sell the car to someone who offers cash as this is illegal. ATFs have to pay you by cheque or bank transfer.

If someone offers to take the car off your hands but doesn’t offer any money, it is not wise to give your car away. All cars have value, if only for their scrap metal worth.

Your legal obligations

You need to give your logbook to the scrapyard, but tear off and keep the yellow portion that says that you’ve transferred ownership of the car. You’re legally obliged to tell the DVLA that the car has been scrapped. Failure to report that the car has been scrapped can lead to a fine of up to £1,000. 

Bear in mind that if there are any whole months left on the car tax, then you can apply for a refund.

When your car reaches the end of its life, sell it to a local ATF who will collect it from your home. If you're looking to scrap your car today you can rely on our Scrap My Car service that will automatically find the best price from your local scrap yard.

Other related FAQs

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

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.

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.

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.

Someone else can scrap your car for you but they must take it to an authorised treatment facility (ATF) and hand over all appropriate paperwork for it to be done legally.

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 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.

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.

When a car is scrapped, any hazardous materials are removed, along with any parts considered harmful to the environment. Tyres will be removed for recycling, the car will then be crushed and separated into plastic, fibre and metal, and recycled.

The answer unfortunately is no. Once your MOT has expired you must get it renewed immediately. If you’re found to be driving without a valid MOT certificate, you could be fined up to £1,000.

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.