When's the Right Time to Scrap Your Car?

For a number of reasons, there’s likely to come a time when your car just isn’t the best fit for you anymore. Maybe it no longer works properly, maybe it’s damaged, or maybe you’re just upgrading for a newer, more efficient model. But whatever the reason, you’ll end up in a position where you need to get rid of your old car in a way that’s responsible – and hopefully earns you some money in the process.

This is where scrapping a car can come in handy. Not only can it earn you some extra cash, but recycling your old car in this way can help it be turned into other useful materials – or broken up for parts that can help keep other cars on the road.

Scrapping a car involves selling old, unwanted, or even broken cars to a scrap yard or buyer. Typically they then scrap and recycle the cars into materials that can be used in other industries, or, if there are still roadworthy elements, they might salvage parts to fix other cars, or fix up the car itself and make it drivable again.

Not sure if scrapping your car is the right move for you? Check out some of the signs that it might be time to consider it.

Repair bills are creeping up

The longer you have a car, the more likely it is that you’ll find yourself spending more and more money on its repairs. While some cars remain reliable for an impressive amount of time – particularly if they’ve had a conscientious owner – it’s inevitable that older cars encounter more issues.

If this is the case, it’s worth looking at quite how much you’re spending on repairs and balancing this against the value of the car itself. If you find that it’s going to cost more to repair than it’s worth, then it might be worth considering scrapping it instead. This may become a particular consideration if your MOT test is approaching, or has just happened, and your car is no longer going to be deemed roadworthy and legal.

It’s worth considering that you can scrap cars in all conditions; whether it’s old, damaged, has recently failed its MOT, or is in fairly good nick.

You see visible rust or damage

Another key indicator that it may be time to upgrade is if you notice visible rust. Not only can this become a bit of an eyesore, but it can cause significant damage to several elements of your car – potentially making it unsafe to drive, particularly if it’s been left for a while. From the engine compartment to the fuel line, rust can be a silent killer for a car’s overall performance.

You may also want to consider scrapping your car if it’s encountered damage, or if it’s been declared a write off – meaning it’s beyond repair. You should be able to discuss scrap options with your insurance provider in a write-off situation, or you can do some research yourself to find potential offers.

Fuel efficiency is decreasing rapidly

With petrol prices continuing to sit at an all-time high in the UK, and our awareness and concern for the environment building, fuel efficiency is a hot topic. Older, badly maintained or damaged vehicles are likely to become increasingly fuel inefficient over time – meaning you’ll be forking out more and more money to fill up.

If that’s the case, not only will day-to-day driving be costing you more, but you might find that it hinders your ability to sell your car conventionally. With the rise of electric and hybrid vehicles and improved fuel efficient tech in newer models, potential buyers have wised up. Fortunately, fuel efficiency isn’t a consideration when scrapping a car, so you won’t encounter any blockers if you choose to go down that route.

The market is in a good place

Still not sure if now’s the right time to scrap your car? Well, one thing that may make the decision easier is getting some quotes. The scrap metal market is volatile, meaning that how much money you’d get for your car can fluctuate based on the current market value of the metals it’s made of.

Once scrapped, bits of cars are sold on to be made into household items or electrical products like phones and laptops, so when production of these is higher, the value of the materials increases. Doing some research online and getting a few potential quotes is a great way to get a feel for what the scrap market is doing, and see if it’s worth you making a call as things stand.

Need a second opinion?

Scrapping your car can be a quick and often hassle-free process, and a great way to leave yourself with some money in your pocket. If you’re not sure whether now’s a good time to scrap, or you want a second opinion on estimated repair costs before you make a decision, pop into your local Kwik Fit centre.