The base figure: scrap metal weight
The floor price for any scrap car starts with its weight. Scrap steel prices are tracked by commodity markets and move regularly — sometimes week to week. A typical family saloon weighs around 1,200–1,400 kg, a large estate 1,500–1,800 kg, and a small hatchback 1,000–1,200 kg. Multiplied by the current per-tonne rate for vehicle scrap, this gives the base value before anything else is considered.
That is why heavier vehicles — large SUVs, estates and people carriers — tend to attract higher base values than small city cars. More metal means more value, regardless of condition.
Catalytic converters: the biggest single variable
The catalytic converter is usually the most valuable single component on a scrap car, and whether it is there can move the quote by £100–£300 depending on the vehicle. Catalytic converters contain platinum group metals — platinum, palladium and rhodium — which are valuable whether or not the car runs.
These metal prices are volatile; palladium in particular has swung sharply in recent years. Diesel and hybrid converters have different compositions and are valued differently.
If your catalytic converter has been stolen — disproportionately common on certain Toyota, Lexus and Honda models — say so at the quote stage. Buyers will factor it in, and a missing cat found on collection day leads to a revised figure regardless.
Running vs non-running: the logistics impact
A running vehicle is generally worth a little more than a non-runner, but often by less than people expect. The main difference is logistics: a non-runner needs a recovery truck rather than being driven away, which adds to the buyer's costs.
Non-runners are still quotable and collectable, including cars that have stood for months or years. The effect on the quote depends on the cause. A flat battery or a seized brake calliper is minor; a damaged chassis or fire damage affects the recoverable value far more.
Parts value and salvage potential
Some vehicles are worth more broken for parts than as raw scrap. A car with low mileage, desirable components or parts in short supply may attract an offer above the base scrap rate.
Buyers who run a dismantling business alongside their ATF licence can offer more for these vehicles because they recover value through parts resale.
Other components that affect the price
The battery contributes to the quote — as scrap and, for hybrid or electric vehicles, as a potentially valuable reusable component. Hybrid battery packs have a strong secondary market.
Alloy wheels on higher-specification cars have more value than standard steel wheels, particularly if undamaged.
Non-ferrous metals — aluminium components and copper wiring — add to the recoverable value, though these are usually already reflected in the weight-based figure.
Collection access and distance affect the buyer's costs. A car on a main road with easy access costs less to collect than one in a narrow terrace, a multi-storey car park or behind locked gates. Difficult access rarely prevents collection, but it can show in the quote.
Why quotes move over time
Scrap car prices are not static. The base steel rate and precious metal prices can shift over weeks or months, so a quote from three months ago may differ from today's. Market conditions, buyer demand and parts resale trends all feed in.
How to get the strongest quote
Give complete, accurate information. State the real condition of the vehicle, including damage, mechanical faults and any missing parts. Say whether the car starts and moves, whether keys are available, and whether there are access restrictions where it is parked.
Accurate details let a buyer make a firm offer instead of hedging to cover surprises. Understating problems rarely helps — it usually leads to a revised offer on the day.