// Get a quote
How much is my scrap car worth in 2026?
The honest answer is "it depends", but here's what it depends on, and what sort of numbers you should expect for cars on the road in Scotland today.
// What changes the price
Three things, roughly in order
01
Weight & metal content
Scrap-metal prices in 2026 sit around £170–£200/tonne for shredded steel. A small hatchback weighs about a tonne; a 4×4 can be twice that. Size dominates.
02
Catalytic converter
Removed before crushing. A diesel cat from a 2010s SUV can be worth £200–£400 on its own; a 1990s petrol cat is worth £15. The metal prices inside vary weekly.
03
Reusable parts
If yours is a model people actually buy parts from (Astra, Focus, Polo, Qashqai, Civic, Fiesta) and the running gear is intact, we pay above scrap. Uncommon premium = worse at the budget end.
Rough price ranges (2026)
| Car type | Typical scrap price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Small hatch (Polo, Fiesta, Corsa) | £150–£300 | More if running, less if shell-only |
| Mid saloon/hatch (Focus, Astra, Civic) | £200–£400 | Plenty of demand for parts |
| Mid estate (Mondeo, Passat, Octavia) | £250–£500 | Heavier = more steel |
| Large 4×4 / SUV (Qashqai, X-Trail, X3) | £300–£600 | Big cat, big body, premium |
| Van (Transit, Vivaro, Sprinter) | £300–£900 | Wide range, depends on condition |
| Premium German (BMW 5/7, Audi A6/A8) | £250–£700 | Less than you'd think, parts often slow |
| EV (Leaf, Zoe, i3, end of life) | £500–£3,000+ | Battery dominates value |
| Cat S/N write-off (any modern car) | +25–60% over base scrap | Driveable + rebuildable = bonus |
EVs follow different rules: the HV battery can dominate value. Age, condition and battery health matter more than model name alone. See our EV scrapping page. Send your reg + a couple of photos for a real quote within the day — calculators that promise an instant number are designed to look impressive, not be accurate.
// Red flags
How to spot a dodgy quote
No authorised treatment route
Walk away. The vehicle's legal liability can stay with you if it isn't scrapped through the proper ATF route.
"Subject to inspection"
A deduction waiting to happen on collection day. Insist on a firm quote against photos and reg.
No clear DVLA paperwork route
Future tax, insurance or PCN exposure. A proper buyer explains the DVLA step before booking.
// Where to next
Next step depends on the car
End-of-life · Glasgow
Free collection, same-day bank transfer.
End-of-life · Edinburgh
Same flow on the Lothians side.
Worth more for parts · Glasgow
Sell as a parts donor instead of scrap.
Worth more for parts · Edinburgh
Same on the east coast.
Damaged or EV
Cat S/N salvage and end-of-life EV battery handling.
Fleet / insurer · Glasgow
Commercial volume work, auditable paperwork.
Fleet / insurer · Edinburgh
Lothians-side commercial dismantling.
The regulated process
Six-step ATF walkthrough.