Scrap car prices can seem opaque from the outside. One dealer quotes £180, another quotes £250 for the same car. Prices shift from one week to the next without any obvious reason. Understanding how dealers calculate their offers helps you make sense of this variability and puts you in a better position to negotiate or find the best deal.
The core formula
At its simplest, a scrap car quote is calculated like this:
Steel price per tonne: fluctuates with the commodity market (approx. £130 to £200/tonne in 2026)
Catalytic converter: typically £20 to £200 depending on make and model
Adjustments: condition, battery, location, non-runner deduction
This is the basic model. In practice, dealers also factor in their operating costs, the distance of collection, and how much processing capacity they currently have. But weight and steel price are by far the dominant factors.
Steel price: why quotes change weekly
Steel is a global commodity traded on markets. Its price moves with demand from construction, manufacturing and infrastructure projects worldwide. When global steel demand is high, scrap metal prices rise. When demand falls, so do prices.
This is why a quote you received last month may be different from a quote you receive today. The car has not changed — the price of steel has. It also means that there is no single correct scrap price for a given car; the right price is whatever the current market supports.
Weight: the most important fixed factor
Your car's kerb weight is the most important factor dealers control. A heavier car simply contains more steel and therefore commands a higher price. Weight is typically estimated from the make, model and year rather than actually weighed on collection (though some large dealers do weigh vehicles at the gate).
This is why large SUVs, estate cars and people carriers fetch more in scrap than small city cars, even when the smaller car is newer or in better condition.
The catalytic converter
Catalytic converters contain platinum, palladium and rhodium — precious metals with a much higher value per kilogram than steel. A dealer who processes the cat separately will pay more for a car that has its cat intact.
The value of the cat varies significantly by vehicle. Diesel cars and larger-engined petrol cars tend to have higher-value cats. Certain Japanese makes — Honda and Toyota in particular — are known for higher precious metal content. Some premium brands with larger cats can add £100 or more to the scrap value.
Removing the cat yourself before collection is a bad idea. The dealer prices on the assumption the cat is there. If it is missing, the offer will be revised downward, and some dealers may withdraw entirely.
The battery
A standard 12V lead-acid battery has modest scrap value — typically £5 to £15. For hybrid and electric vehicles, the high-voltage battery pack is worth significantly more. Some EV battery packs are suitable for second-life reuse and may attract a premium from dealers set up to handle them. See our guide: What is an electric car worth for scrap?
Condition adjustments
Running vs non-runner
A car that does not run is usually worth slightly less — typically £20 to £50 less — than an identical running car. This reflects the fact that non-runners sometimes have components already removed, and that processing them requires a flatbed in all cases rather than having options for storage or movement. See our guide: Scrapping a car that does not run.
Missing components
If significant parts are missing — the engine, the gearbox, the catalytic converter, the battery — the dealer will adjust their offer accordingly. The car is worth less as scrap if it contains less of the metal they are buying.
Location and collection costs
Dealers factor the cost of collection into their offer. A car within five miles of their processing facility costs relatively little to collect; one that requires a 100-mile round trip costs considerably more. This is why quotes can vary significantly depending on your postcode. A dealer whose truck is already scheduled to pass through your area may offer more than one who would have to make a special trip.
Tip: If one dealer offers significantly less than others and collection is included in all quotes, it may be because your location is not convenient for their routes. The higher offer from a dealer closer to you is not too good to be true — it reflects their lower collection costs.
How dealers make their margin
A dealer pays you a price for the car, collects it, processes it at an ATF, and sells the resulting materials to steel mills and precious metal refiners. Their margin is the difference between what they pay you and what they receive from the processors. This margin is relatively thin, which is why dealers are careful about costs and why quotes reflect live market prices.
What you can do to improve your quote
- Compare at least three dealers — variation between quotes is normal and can be significant
- Leave the catalytic converter and battery in place
- Declare condition accurately to avoid quote revisions on collection
- Check live scrap metal prices — if steel prices have recently risen, this is a good time to sell
- Consider whether a dismantler (who can sell parts as well as scrap) might pay more than a scrap-only dealer