Non-runners
Scrapping a car that will not run
Dead battery, seized brakes, flat tyres or no keys at all: a car that will not move is still collected. It just needs a winch, and a little more information.
Non-runners
Moving a car that cannot move itself
Recovery trucks load non-runners with a winch, so a car that will not start is routine. What helps is knowing in advance whether the wheels turn and the steering works, because a car with locked brakes or a seized wheel needs a different approach.
Cars that have stood for a long time often have soft or flat tyres and brakes that have stuck on. None of that stops a collection; it just changes how the car is loaded.
Tell the buyer
- Whether the wheels turn and the steering is free
- Whether you have keys (the steering lock matters)
- How the truck can reach it
- Any tyres that are flat or missing
Awkward cases
Situations that sound harder than they are
- 01
No keys
The steering lock stays on, so the car is winched and guided carefully. You still need to prove the car is yours.
- 02
Flat or missing tyres
The driver may use skates or a lifting method for wheels that will not roll.
- 03
Stood for years
Brakes and wheels may be seized. Describe how long it has been parked.
- 04
Behind a building
Long winch runs are possible, but the truck must be able to line up with the car. Photos help.
The route
How a collection is arranged
Four stations, the same wherever you live. The postcode decides who comes; you decide whether and when.
- 01
Your postcode
Give us the registration plus the postcode of the street, drive or yard where the car sits. That postcode picks the buyer.
- 02
The buyer for that area
The licensed buyer responsible for that patch reads the details and replies with a figure for the car.
- 03
A slot that suits you
Happy with the figure? Pick a day and a time window for the truck. Turn it down and that is the end of it, with nothing to pay.
- 04
ATF and certificate
Payment arrives by bank transfer, the car heads to an Authorised Treatment Facility, and its destruction is logged with the DVLA.
FAQs
Non-runners: questions
Short answers to what people ask before booking.
More on the full FAQs page.
My car has been on a driveway for years. Can it be collected?
Yes. If it has been off the road it should have a SORN in place; if it does not, sort that or scrap it promptly.
Do I need to be there?
Usually, yes, to hand over keys and documents and to sign the car over. If you cannot be, agree an alternative with the buyer beforehand.
Do I have to accept the offer?
No. An offer is just that. You can think about it, ask questions or say no, and nothing is owed.
How am I paid?
Into your bank account. Cash for scrap has been banned in England and Wales since the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013, so expect a transfer, never notes.
Cars we collect
Other cars we collect
Seven situations we see most. Open the one that matches yours.
- 01
MOT failures
Repairs cost more than the car is worth to you.
- 02
Insurance write-offs
Every category, bought back or not.
- 03
Accident damage
Bent, burnt or flooded, collected as it stands.
- 04
Mechanical failure
Engine, gearbox, clutch or electrics gone.
- 05
Salvage cars
Worth more as parts than as a car.
- 06
Old and unwanted cars
Sitting unused, unloved or simply surplus.
Find out what your car is worth
Two details, the reg and the postcode, put your car in front of the licensed buyer for your area. Their figure, your decision.