Scrap car prices in the UK are driven primarily by the price of steel on the global commodity market. When steel prices rise, scrap car quotes go up. When they fall, so do the offers you receive. Understanding where prices are now — and why they move — helps you decide whether this is a good time to scrap your car or whether waiting might get you more.
Current price range (October 2026): UK scrap steel is trading at approximately £140 to £165 per tonne for shredded scrap metal. This gives most standard cars a base scrap value of around £150 to £300, before additions for the catalytic converter and adjustments for condition.
Prices move weekly. The figures on this page reflect conditions at the time of writing. Get a live quote to see what dealers are actually offering for your car today.
How per-tonne price translates to your quote
The price per tonne that dealers pay processors is not the same as what they offer you for your car. Their offer also has to account for collection costs, processing fees, and their operating margin. As a rough rule, the amount a dealer offers per tonne for a complete vehicle is typically 70 to 85 percent of the shredded scrap rate they receive from the processor.
If shredded scrap is at £150 per tonne, a dealer might effectively pay you the equivalent of £105 to £125 per tonne for your car's weight. On a 1.2-tonne hatchback, that gives a steel-based value of around £126 to £150, before the catalytic converter and any other adjustments are added.
Scrap steel prices by grade in the UK (2026)
| Material | Approximate price per tonne |
|---|---|
| Shredded automotive scrap (typical vehicle) | £140 to £165 |
| Heavy steel / HMS 1 | £130 to £155 |
| Aluminium (wheel alloys, engine blocks) | £800 to £1,200 |
| Copper (wiring, radiators) | £5,000 to £7,000 |
| Lead (batteries) | £700 to £900 |
These figures are approximate market rates. The price you receive as a private seller will be lower than the processor rate, as dealers and ATFs take their margin in between.
How have prices moved in 2026?
Steel prices in the UK have remained broadly stable through the first three quarters of 2026, with modest upward pressure from infrastructure investment in Europe and recovering construction activity in Asia. UK prices have ranged from approximately £130 to £175 per tonne for automotive grade scrap through the year, with the mid-year period seeing the strongest prices.
If you are considering waiting for prices to rise before scrapping, it is worth noting that steel prices are unpredictable and the difference between a high and low period may only translate to £20 to £40 on a typical car. For most people, the convenience of scrapping now outweighs the potential gain from waiting.
What affects scrap steel prices?
- Global demand from construction and manufacturing. When major economies are building and producing, demand for steel rises and scrap prices follow.
- Energy costs for steel mills. Recycling scrap steel into new steel requires energy. When energy prices rise, mills pay less for input material to protect their margins.
- Import and export restrictions. The UK scrap market is influenced by export demand from Turkish, Indian and Asian steel mills, which are major buyers of European scrap.
- Exchange rates. Because scrap is traded internationally, currency movements affect what UK exporters can achieve and therefore what they pay domestically.
- Seasonal patterns. Scrap prices often soften slightly in winter when construction slows, though this effect has become less predictable in recent years.
Catalytic converter prices in 2026
Platinum, palladium and rhodium — the precious metals in catalytic converters — have their own separate price markets. Palladium and rhodium in particular saw very high prices in 2021 to 2022, but both have since retreated significantly. In 2026, a typical petrol car catalytic converter adds roughly £30 to £80 to your scrap quote, depending on the make and model. Larger cats from diesel SUVs and certain premium marques can be worth more. See our guide: What is a catalytic converter worth for scrap?
Getting the best price now
The most reliable way to get the best scrap price is to compare multiple dealers at the same time. Prices between dealers for the same car can vary by £30 to £80 even when market conditions are identical, because collection costs, local demand and capacity differ. A comparison site gives you several live offers instantly without having to ring round.