Scrap my car in Aberdeen

Aberdeen is further from Fort William than any other Scottish city we cover, a long drive east through the Highlands. The Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route takes a recovery truck around the outside of the city to Dyce, Bridge of Don, Kincorth and Cove Bay without touching the centre. Wherever the car is, from Rosemount, Torry and Woodside to Cults and Peterculter along the Dee, tell us whether it sits at the kerb, on a drive or in a shared car park, so we send the right truck. Aberdeen's Low Emission Zone has been enforced in the city centre since June 2024, so a petrol car below Euro 4 or a diesel below Euro 6 can no longer be driven into the centre without a penalty. Vans and pick-ups are welcome as well as cars: tell us the model and what still works.

Scrapping a car in Aberdeen starts with a message. Send us the reg, your postcode and a few words on the condition, and we reply with one figure rather than a range. Accept it and we book a collection date; turn it down and that is the end of it. There is no collection charge: distance is one of the things that sets the price, and the figure we agree is the figure you are paid.

Where in Aberdeen we collect

Our drivers cover Torry, Bridge of Don, Dyce, Cove Bay, Kincorth, Mastrick, Northfield, Rosemount, Cults, Bucksburn, Woodside and Old Aberdeen, across the AB10, AB11, AB24, AB25, AB12 and 7 more postcode areas. If your postcode is not listed, send it with the reg anyway and we will confirm on WhatsApp whether we can collect.

How collection works in Aberdeen

Aberdeen is about 160 miles from our Fort William base, so collection here is never arranged for the day you call. Jobs in the city and the nearby parts of Aberdeenshire are grouped into scheduled runs, and the date is agreed when you accept the price. The driver checks the vehicle against your description, sees your photo ID, takes the V5C if you have it and loads it, and you are paid by bank transfer. The licensed ATF issues the Certificate of Destruction and notifies the DVLA once the car is scrapped.

Before your scrap car is collected

It helps to sort the small things first. Find the logbook, or tell us now if it is lost, and keep your driving licence or passport nearby for the ID check. Empty the car: sat navs, dashcams, child seats, parking permits and anything tucked under the seats. A private plate you want to keep has to come off through the DVLA before the car goes, and our pre-scrap checklist lists the other jobs worth doing. A car on SORN has to stay off the public road until collection, and one parked on the street must be taxed, insured and have a valid MOT. If the car is in a garage, a shared court or a car park in Aberdeen, let us know how the recovery vehicle reaches it and whether anyone needs to open a gate or barrier.

What decides the price of a scrap car

When we price a scrap car we start with its kerb weight and that week's metal prices, which set the base rate. Then we check whether it is complete, since a missing catalytic converter or a set of wheels already sold takes value off, whether the engine or gearbox is still wanted as parts, and how far away the car is and how easily it can be loaded, which count in the figure rather than as a separate charge. Mileage rarely comes into it for a car priced as scrap. If yours has one fault and plenty of parts worth saving, ask about a broken car price instead. List anything already removed when you send the reg, and we turn all of that into one firm figure and say how long it stands.

Paperwork once your car is scrapped

Once the car leaves Aberdeen it goes to a licensed Authorised Treatment Facility. The facility removes fuel, oil, coolant, the battery and other hazardous parts, recovers anything reusable and sends the shell for recycling, and when the car is scrapped it issues the Certificate of Destruction and notifies the DVLA. Your own step is to tell the DVLA that you have sold the car to the motor trade; GOV.UK says you can be fined if you do not. Once the DVLA knows, the tax stops and any full months left are refunded automatically. Cancel your insurance after collection, and file the certificate somewhere safe.

Read our full guide to scrapping a car, see how the WhatsApp quote works, or send us the reg.