Forum Topic

Selling or Scrapping an Older Car

My mother has been offered £1 by the main Ford dealer to part exchange her 14-year-old somewhat battered but roadworthy Ford Focus automatic.Unsurprisingly, she has decided to sell it privately.Does anyone have recent experience of what might be the best places to sell it or scrap it?Thanks!

Phil Kay ● 3163d12 Comments

Thanks to everyone for their advice and suggestions.In the end, she went to webuyanycar in Hayes and was offered what she thought was a decent price for the car - £350.As the MOT had expired and it needed a few things done, she was quite pleased.  Finding the service book with at least a few stamps in it was worth an additional £150, according to the franchise owner.  I was surprised, as I've twice taken cars there and never been offered what I considered was a reasonable amount.

Phil Kay ● 3142d

Re. the £18 that went to charity.Ah, yes.  The great modern 'charity' racket, er, 'industry'. 'Charity' - these days, one of the most corrupted and misleading of words.

Aubrey Houseman ● 3145d

If you can be bothered or are lucky enough to have use of an off road space,Scrapping a car can be very profitable and the ultimate in recycling.Everything, right down to small bits of trim and fastenings can be sold via ebay.Sometimes just for a few pounds plus postage.Someone, somewhere needs that odd shaped no longer available grommet.Some people will even by the shell. Buyer collects etc.An older car can often yield over a thousand pounds when sold off bit by bit.Often some small garages will buy for a reasonable amount to do this very thing on a small car by car basis. It keeps the apprentices occupied and teaches them how to dismantle rather then thrash.

Mark Kehoe ● 3145d

I recently disposed of my 17 year old car with 45000 on the clock and 6 months MOT. I uses a charity web site and my nominated charity received £18 ! I was not very happy but could not do anything. Better to go direct to a scrap merchant and then donate the money you raise.

Keith Mason ● 3145d

I recently disposed of my 17 year old car with 45000 on the clock and 6 months MOT. I uses a charity web site and my nominated charity received £18 ! I was not very happy but could not do anything. Better to go direct to a scrap merchant and then donate the money you raise.

Keith Mason ● 3145d

Hi Phil, a quick dig around in my emails reveal:http://www.cartakeback.comThey essentially arrange for a scrap merchant in the area to come and collect the car. Hope it all goes well.Lee.

Lee Page ● 3160d

Thanks everyone for those responses.Lee - do you remember the name / website for the co you used?ThanksPhil

Phil Kay ● 3161d

There are many companies online now that offer a service where they quote you the value of your car, which is caluculated by the value of scrap per tonne you accept and they'll collect, take the log-book (minus the retaining slip) and then send you a certificate confirming the destruction of the vehicle once crushed.I've used a service such as this in the past which is straight forward.Remember to claim back any VED (vehicle excise duty) for remaining full months if applicable.

Lee Page ● 3161d

£145 is about the going rate for scrap.

Charles Campbell ● 3161d

There is a car crusher in the Hythe Road Industrial Estate, off Scrubs Lane, although I do not know whether they take complete vehicles or just the stripped body.

Christopher Bell ● 3162d

These days, any car is worth circa £100 scrap value (hence virtually no abandoned/dumped old cars are seen on the roads any more).  If you've decided to scrap the car, there are two options:(i) If one is happy with today's notion of 'charity organisations', one can donate a car thus:  http://giveacar.co.uk/(ii) If one wants to pocket the cash oneself, then drive or transport the car to company 'EMR Scrap Metal' at 4 Transport Ave, Brentford TW8 9HF.  (Drive to the bottom of Transport Avenue, bearing right, half way along).  The last time I visited, EMR took scrap cars.  Give them a call first, just in case - and ask what identification you will need to produce:  phone 020 8847 2417.  Open 7am - 4pm Mon - Fri.

Aubrey Houseman ● 3162d

It will be worth more than that as scrap. Wherever you sell it make sure you follow the instructions on the paper "log book", obtaining full details of the purchaser and retaining and sending the correct parts of the form.

Christopher Bell ● 3162d