Scrap yard near me? We collect instead, free of charge
A firm price before anything moves, a recovery vehicle to your address, and payment by bank transfer into your account.
- Any make, any condition
- Firm price in writing on WhatsApp
- No admin fees
Most people searching for a scrap yard want the same thing: a car gone, some money for it, and proof that it has been dealt with properly. You do not need to find a yard, get the car there and negotiate at a weighbridge. Motor Salvage Group collects end-of-life cars from your address across Scotland and England, free of charge, and pays by bank transfer to an account in your name.
When a car is scrapped, it goes to a licensed Authorised Treatment Facility, which is what a vehicle scrap yard must legally be. There it is depolluted, stripped of reusable parts and recycled. The facility notifies the DVLA and issues a Certificate of Destruction.
We have no yard in any of the towns we serve: our only premises are in Fort William, in the Highlands. We say so plainly, because a scrap yard that does not exist is no use to you. What we offer instead is a collection that saves you the trip, and you can read how a collection works, from quote to payment before you send anything.
What a licensed scrap yard actually does
A vehicle scrap yard has to hold an environmental permit as an Authorised Treatment Facility, issued by SEPA in Scotland or the Environment Agency in England. When a car arrives, the battery is removed, and the fuel, oil, coolant, brake fluid and air-conditioning gas are drained into sealed storage. Tyres, the catalytic converter and any parts with resale value are taken off. The bare shell is then crushed and sent for shredding, where steel, aluminium and other metals are separated for reuse. Only a permitted facility can issue the Certificate of Destruction.
Why collection beats taking the car to a yard
Driving a car with no MOT, tax or insurance to a yard is illegal, and towing one on public roads without the right equipment is unsafe. Yards also tend to price on weight at the gate, leaving little room to discuss the car. With collection, you send the registration and a description, receive a firm price in advance and have the car taken away on a recovery vehicle. Collection is free: distance is one of the things that sets the price, so the figure we quote already allows for the journey, and the figure we agree is the figure you are paid. You do not have to move the car anywhere.
Where your car goes after collection
Cars we buy for scrapping go to a licensed Authorised Treatment Facility partner. When the car is scrapped, the facility records it, notifies the DVLA and issues a Certificate of Destruction. Your own step is to tell the DVLA you have sold the car to the motor trade, either online with the V5C reference number or by filling in the yellow V5C/3 slip and posting it. That ends your responsibility for the car, and your vehicle tax is then cancelled automatically, with any full months left refunded.
How scrap yard prices are set
A scrap yard price starts with the weight of the vehicle and the current market rate for scrap metal, which moves from week to week. Our price also takes in the make and model, the condition, any parts with value and the distance our driver has to travel. That is why we cannot print a fixed price per tonne or per car. Send the registration and an honest description and you will receive a firm figure, with how long it stands. Provided the car matches that description on collection, the figure we quote is the figure paid.
Not sure which service you need? It does not matter. Send us the reg and we will tell you the best route, or read how the process works.
Three steps. One WhatsApp message.
You never fill in a long form or wait on hold. Send the reg, we do the rest.
- 1
Send your reg on WhatsApp
Message us your registration and postcode, with a line on condition and a photo or two if the car is damaged. Or use the quote form, which opens WhatsApp with your details filled in.
- 2
Get a firm price
We price on weight, make and model, condition and completeness, demand for its parts, distance and that week's metal prices, then reply with one figure. No range, and no haggling on the doorstep if the car is as described.
- 3
Collected and paid
We agree a collection date. The driver checks the car against your description and sees your ID, and you are paid by bank transfer.
What decides the price we pay
We do not publish a price list because every car is different. These are the five things that move the number, so you know exactly what you are being paid for.
- Weight
Scrap value starts with the metal. A heavy estate or 4x4 carries more steel and aluminium than a small hatchback, so it is worth more as scrap.
- Make and model
Cars with sought-after engines, gearboxes or panels can be worth more than their weight, because those parts are reused rather than shredded.
- Condition and completeness
A complete car with its catalytic converter, battery and wheels prices higher than one that has been stripped. Non-runners are fine; missing parts change the figure.
- Distance and access
There is no collection charge. How far the car is from our routes, and whether it needs a winch or a smaller truck, are built into the price we quote, so the figure we agree is the figure you are paid.
- Metal prices that week
Scrap steel and catalytic converter metals move in price from week to week. That is why we tell you how long a price stands when we send it, and why we do not promise a figure months ahead.
Scrap yards and end-of-life recycling in your town
Local details, postcodes and collection notes for each area.
Other services
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Free collection, payment by bank transfer and a Certificate of Destruction from the licensed facility when the car is scrapped. Send your reg for a firm price.
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Learn moreQuestions people ask us
Is there a scrap yard near me that I can drive to?
We cannot speak for other businesses, but you may not need one. Motor Salvage Group collects from your address free of charge, so the car never needs to be driven or towed. Our only premises are in Fort William, and the cars we buy for scrapping go to licensed treatment facilities.
Can I drop my car off with you instead of waiting for collection?
We have no yard in any of the towns we serve: our only premises are in Fort William. Our base is not a public scrap yard, so almost every car we buy is collected on a recovery vehicle from the address you give us. If you live near Fort William and delivering would genuinely suit you better, message first and ask.
What happens to my car at the treatment facility?
It is depolluted first: the battery is removed and the fuel, oils, coolant and refrigerant are drained. Reusable parts and the catalytic converter are taken off. The shell is crushed and shredded so the metals can be recovered. When the car is scrapped, the facility notifies the DVLA and issues the Certificate of Destruction.
Do scrap yards pay by weight?
Weight and the scrap metal price are the starting point, but they are not the whole story. Our quote also considers the make, model, condition and parts value, and the distance to collect. Send the registration and a description for a firm figure rather than a rate per tonne.
Who issues the Certificate of Destruction?
Only the Authorised Treatment Facility that scraps the car can issue it. When a car we buy is scrapped, the licensed partner facility records the vehicle, notifies the DVLA and issues the certificate. What ends your responsibility for the car is your own notice to the DVLA that you have sold it to the motor trade.
Do you take cars that have been sitting for years?
Yes. We do not need the car to start, hold air in the tyres or have paperwork in perfect order. Tell us the condition and whether the V5C is available, and our driver brings the right recovery vehicle.
Skip the scrap yard: get a firm price for collection
Send your reg on WhatsApp for a firm price, or call us. Free collection, paid by bank transfer.