Scrapping your old motor can be a great option when its resale value is too low, or the repair costs are too high.
An Authorised Treatment Facility (ATF) can buy your car regardless of its condition, as they will ultimately destroy the vehicle, rather than return it to the road.
If you want to maximise the money you make on your old car, you may attempt to remove the most valuable parts to sell separately before you scrap your car. In many cases, selling any key components that are in good condition separately can help you raise more cash than you’d get by simply selling to an ATF.
However, this can be a time-consuming process – and with these parts stripped away, your car’s scrap value will be reduced.
If you’re wondering if you should scrap your car now or sell my car for parts, this guide will tell you everything you need to know!
We’ll cover all the key considerations when scrapping a car with missing parts – and highlight the most valuable parts that you should consider removing. Finally, we’ll list the pros and cons around ‘breaking’ your car to help you make an informed decision.
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Is it possible to scrap a car with parts missing?
While you can absolutely scrap a car with missing parts, it’s worth understanding how and why this will reduce its scrap value:
- Scrap value is the value of a non-functioning motor sold for its parts to be recycled or disposed of. The quote is based on the vehicle’s weight and the market price of the materials. When you scrap your vehicle, it’s important to let the scrap dealer know about any parts that are missing, so that they can give you an accurate price.
- On the other hand, you may want to salvage your car. ‘Salvage value’ refers to the value of a vehicle that has been damaged or written off. This is typically higher than scrap value because it includes the potential for repair or resale. If your motor could be roadworthy with some minor repairs, then it may be worth looking into salvaging instead.
Which parts should you consider removing?
Before scrapping your car, it’s worth knowing which important items and components it’s in your interest to remove:
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Personal belongings: Firstly, you should remove any personal items of value. This may include phone chargers, sunglasses, shoes, jackets, CDs, sat navs – and dash cams.
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Personalised number plate: If your car has a private number plate that you want to keep, you’ll need to take it off by obtaining a V778 form, which gives you the right to retain the plate, or transfer it to another vehicle.
In short, you’ll need to take off your private plate before scrapping your car – otherwise the plate will be transferred to the scrap dealer at the point of sale. Our number plate retention guide explains the process to follow.
There are also certain parts that might be worth removing and selling separately, if you have the tools and know-how. The components listed below are the most valuable - and the easiest to sell when in good condition:
- Engines
- Airbags.
- Seats.
- Gearboxes.
- Catalytic converters.
- Infotainment systems.
- Wheels and tyres, especially alloys.
The prices you’ll get for these parts will vary depending on your car’s make, model, trim – and their condition. If you salvage any parts that are in high demand with limited availability, you can expect them to fetch higher prices.
Is it worth ‘breaking’ your car?
‘Breaking your car’ to sell for parts online or at auction could potentially make more you more cash than scrapping it. Providing your car hasn’t been deemed a Category A write-off, you can sell almost any component.
However, it’s worth noting that stripping out parts from a car requires a significant amount of time and skill. You’ll need the right tools to remove parts without damaging them, as damaged parts are difficult to sell, not to mention less valuable. You’ll also need a safe space to store the salvaged parts until they are sold.
Some parts, like seats and wheels, are fairly straightforward to remove. This job only requires a few basic tools - and not much skill. Meanwhile, removing other components, such as the engine, needs more consideration and technical skill.
If you enlist a mechanic to help you remove the parts, it could cost you more than their resale value. So, if you can’t do it yourself, then it might be better to leave the car intact and sell it to a professional who can.
Breaking your car will also inevitably mean the handling and disposal of hazardous and environmentally damaging materials. To avoid breaking the law, ensure you’re handling everything correctly, and disposing of materials following the Environment Agency’s guidelines.
It’s also important to remember that a Category A write-off cannot be salvaged for parts or restored for road use. Your only options in this scenario are to scrap the vehicle or sell your car to a car buying service such as webuyanycar.
What happens to the parts after scrapping?
After they’re sold for scrap, vehicles are taken to government-regulated scrap yards known as Authorised Treatment Facilities, (ATFs). Scrap dealers are responsible for putting vehicles through a de-pollution process before dismantling and recycling their parts.
Thanks to environmental efforts, most components in modern vehicles now have the potential to be recycled. Car batteries are 99% recyclable into new ones. Precious metals can be extracted from catalytic converters for jewellery, and bodywork stripped and melted down to form new structures.
From tyres to glass, the reuse and recycling possibilities from scrapping are almost endless. Therefore, scrapping your car could be a great option if you want some extra cash - and are keen to do your part for the environment too.