Sell my broken car: non-runners and damaged cars bought as they are
Repair bills bigger than the car's value need not mean scrap: working parts still count towards the price.
- Any make, any condition
- Firm price in writing on WhatsApp
- No admin fees
A car that will not start, has a fault the garage cannot fix cheaply, or has just failed its MOT is still worth something. Motor Salvage Group buys broken cars as they are, so you do not pay for repairs, list the car online or wait for a private buyer who wants a test drive the car cannot give.
A broken car is not always a scrap car. When the engine, gearbox or other parts are in demand, or the fault is confined to one component, the car can be worth more than its metal, and our price reflects that. Send the registration, your postcode and what is wrong, and we reply with a firm figure. Collection is free, there is no admin fee, and we pay by bank transfer to an account in your name.
This route suits cars with a mechanical or electrical fault: non-runners, failed MOTs, warning lights, and engine or gearbox failures. If a crash or an insurer's write-off ended the car's life, a salvage price usually counts the surviving parts more fairly. If it is just worn out, scrapping it is the simpler route. Our only base is in Fort William and we collect across Scotland and England.
Why sell a broken car instead of repairing it
Repair quotes on older cars often come close to, or exceed, what the car would sell for once fixed. Paying for a new clutch, a head gasket or a diesel particulate filter on a car worth little makes no sense for many owners. Selling the car as it is means no repair bill, no MOT retest and no time spent advertising a vehicle that cannot be test driven. You get one price, one collection date and one payment, and the car is off your hands.
How we price a broken car
The price depends on the make and model, the age and mileage, the weight of the vehicle, what is wrong with it and whether parts such as the engine, gearbox, catalytic converter or panels still have value. Distance is part of the figure too, since the collection itself has no separate charge. Be honest about the fault when you ask for a quote. A car with a known problem is easy to price, and the figure we agree is what we pay, provided the car matches the description when the driver arrives.
Describing the fault
A clear description of the fault lets our firm price reflect the car, rather than allowing cautiously for the unknown. Tell us whether the engine turns over, whether it starts and then cuts out, and which warning lights are on. Pass on what a garage has said, including any fault codes or the MOT failure sheet. Say whether the car rolls, steers and brakes, and whether anything has been removed. A known fault backed by a garage report is easier to price than a car that just stopped: the more we know, the more precisely we can price it.
Collection, payment and what happens next
The car does not need to start, because it travels on a recovery vehicle, and it needs no tax or MOT if it is kept off the public road on SORN until collection; on a public road it must be taxed, insured and have a valid MOT. Remove your belongings and, if you have it, keep the yellow slip from the V5C and tell the DVLA online, with the 11-digit reference, that you have sold the car to the motor trade. The driver compares the car with the description you gave and looks at your photo ID, then loads it and takes any keys and paperwork. As a rule, the cars we buy go to a licensed Authorised Treatment Facility; when a car is scrapped there, the ATF issues the Certificate of Destruction and notifies the DVLA. We pay by bank transfer to an account in your name once the driver has checked the car and your ID.
Your other options for a broken car
You could sell privately, but a car that cannot be driven cannot be test driven, many buyers will expect a large discount for the unknown, and you have to describe the fault accurately. A dealer may take it in part exchange, although the allowance for a non-runner is often modest. A scrap-only buyer is likely to price mainly on weight. Selling to us means one firm figure that counts the parts, free collection and payment by bank transfer. If there is finance outstanding, it must be settled first: on hire purchase or PCP the car belongs to the lender until the final payment.
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 and completeness
Every car has a base value in its metal. A complete car, with its catalytic converter, battery and wheels still fitted, is worth more than one that has been stripped.
- Make, model and age
Newer and popular models have engines, gearboxes and panels that are in demand, which can lift a broken car above its scrap value. Mileage counts here too.
- What is wrong with it
A fault confined to one part, such as a clutch or turbo, leaves the rest of the car's value intact. A seized engine or several failures at once lower the figure.
- Distance and access
Collection is free, with no separate charge. How far we travel and how easy the car is to load are part of the price, so the quote already allows for them.
- Metal prices that week
Scrap metal prices move from week to week, so we tell you how long the price stands when we send it.
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
Do I need to fix anything before selling my broken car?
No. We buy cars as they are. There is no point spending money on repairs, an MOT retest or even a wash. Describe the fault honestly when you ask for a quote so the price reflects the car, and leave the rest to us.
Will you buy a car that does not start?
Yes. A car that will not start is loaded onto a recovery vehicle, so it only needs to be reachable. Tell us if the wheels are locked, a tyre is flat, the handbrake is stuck on or the car is in a garage, so the right vehicle and equipment are sent.
How much will I get for my broken car?
It depends on the make, model, age, mileage, the fault, whether the main parts are in demand and how far we travel to collect. We do not publish fixed prices because every car is different. Send the registration and a description of the fault for a firm figure. There is no collection charge or admin fee: the journey is already allowed for in the quote.
Is my broken car worth more than scrap?
It can be. A scrap price is mostly weight and metal. A broken car with a sought-after engine or gearbox, a newer model, or a fault confined to one part can be worth more, because those parts still have value. Tell us exactly what is wrong and we price the whole car, not just its weight.
Can I sell a broken car without the V5C?
Usually, yes. Tell us when you ask for the quote: we ask for photo ID and proof you own the car, such as a purchase receipt, and you write to the DVLA about the sale instead of using the online service. If you have the V5C, hand it to the driver but hold back the yellow V5C/3 slip, then tell the DVLA online with the 11-digit reference, keeping the slip with your records, or fill in the slip and post it. If the logbook still shows a previous keeper, mention that too.
What happens to my broken car after you collect it?
As a rule, the cars we buy go to a licensed Authorised Treatment Facility, where they are depolluted, usable parts are recovered and the rest is recycled. When a car is scrapped, the ATF issues the Certificate of Destruction and notifies the DVLA. A car broken for parts at an ATF is still an end-of-life vehicle, so it still gets a Certificate of Destruction.
How do I get paid when I sell my broken car?
By bank transfer to an account in your name, never in cash, because the law requires a traceable payment for scrap vehicles. Have your account details ready when you accept the quote.
Sell your broken car as it is: get a firm price
Send your reg on WhatsApp for a firm price, or call us. Free collection, paid by bank transfer.