Sometimes, you just have to let go. Have some perspective. Reframe things. Ask yourself some searching questions; should that old banger sitting in your drive be a source of eternal embarrassment or a ticket to quick cash? Indeed, once you’ve decided your long and often arduous relationship with your car has run its course, then there’s no shame in accepting it’s destined for the scrap heap.
When you’re planning to scrap your car there a few things to bear in mind to get the best possible deal from the process. These are those; our 5 IDEAL tips for scrapping your car.
KNOW THE LAW AROUND CAR SELLING & SCRAPPING
In the UK, somewhere between 6 million and 7 million cars are sold every year. A further two million are scrapped. Under the (commendably) strict environmental policies of the EU, cars must be disposed of in a particular way. Laws and regulations which were brought in to reduce the rate of theft of metals such as copper mean that it is illegal for car owners to be paid cash on the spot for their vehicles. Note that this doesn’t mean that you can’t get any money for scrapping your car, just that paper money ought not change hands. All this means is that it’s important to keep on top and in the know about changes to laws surrounding the subject.
Be aware of services who give you a quote and then offer to collect your car and pay you cash almost instantly. This is illegal, and you should avoid such arrangements. Reputable car scrapping services will recycle any parts they can on your vehicle, as well as provide you with a certificate of destruction. It’s not illegal to get paid for scrapping your car as long as all the guidelines are followed, culminating in a payment by cheque or by bank transfer once your vehicle has been processed.
PREPARE FOR SCRAPPING
If your vehicle is more or less past it, and making money on it as a whole unit looks optimistic, then you could sell its various parts separately for scrap. It may seem bleak, but it’s better than nothing, right? Before you take the leap, make sure your old car is ready to be taken apart and sold. Cars, much like that drawer next to your bed, accumulate a lot of stuff over time; some useful, some not so. Do a thorough clear-out and check every nook and cranny before you bid farewell to your wheels. Remember, too, to cancel license plates and insurance to avoid any extra costs slipping your mind later down the line. What’s more, you should use up all of the petrol in the car; that’s extra money right there which you don’t want to be donating.
BE AWARE OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER…
One of the parts of the car that many people claim is the most valuable is the catalytic convertor. But what is it and is it worth removing before your car is scrapped?
Your car relies on its fuel system and one of the additions to this system is a catalytic converter, an item which controls the harmful emissions that come from the engine. It does this using catalyst substances which in turn cause a chemical reaction mitigating those emissions and ensuring that they do not make their way out of the exhaust pipe. Without a catalyst convertor, your car is going to be pumping out hydrocarbons, nitrous oxide and carbon monoxide, all into the environment.
They might not look like much, similar to an exhaust silencer, but the catalyst convertor is a valuable part of the car. The main reason for this is that they contain precious metals including platinum, rhodium and palladium, all of which can be worth a fair amount of money if the part is opened and these materials removed.
…BUT BEWARE REMOVING IT YOURSELF
You might want to make the most money possible from your car, but for the majority of us, it’s not advised that a catalytic converter is removed from your car. The main reason for this is because the materials that are within the part, the ones that ensure that the chemical reaction occurs when the part is heated up next to the engine, are incredibly harmful.
If you are not aware of the process or the best way to remove the convertor then you’re going to put yourself at a risk of injury, which can be serious, and also of damaging that part of your car too.
If you damage the convertor when you remove it, then you are going to reduce the value that it can be sold for, which is the exact opposite of what you are going to want to do. Therefore, it’s a much better idea to trust the removal of all the parts in your car to an expert. Not only can they make sure that all the parts are removed in a safe way, but also that they are removed in a way that is going to make sure that you get the most money for your car when it is scrapped.
CONSIDER CHARITY
Several charitable organisations exist who will gladly take your car, arrange the scrapping of it and use the money for charity. If philanthropy is your thing (and it should be), then this channel should appeal. Charitycar.co.uk, giveacar.co.uk, cartakeback.com and Oxfam’s dedicated donation service are just a few of the major players here. They’ll even collect your car and give you a choice in which charity receives the donation.
