// Comparison
Scrap or sell privately, which actually pays better?
Honest answer: depends on the car. For most end-of-life cars, scrap wins on the maths once you factor in the time and hassle of private sale. For tidy, recent models with valid MOT, private sale usually wins by £200-£500.
Scrap to us
Pros
- Quote in 60 seconds
- Same-day collection, often within hours
- DVLA paperwork done for you
- Same-day bank transfer
- No viewings, no time-wasters, no scams
- No MOT or running condition required
Cons
- · Lower top-line price than private sale on tidy cars
- · Final, not negotiable on the day
Sell privately
Pros
- Higher top-line price for a clean, MOT'd car
- Choose your buyer
Cons
- · 2-6 weeks of viewings
- · You pay the MOT to make it sellable
- · Meeting strangers and payment-fraud risk
- · You handle the V5C yourself
- · Liability if buyer doesn't tax/insure
- · Still selling at trade value if it's tatty
Quick decision rule
If the car has 12+ months MOT, runs cleanly, and is under 10 years old: private sale will probably pay £200-£500 more than we will, and that gap is usually worth the hassle.
If it's MOT-failed, written-off, over 12 years old, or has a known fault: scrap wins. By the time you've paid the MOT (£55) and an inevitable repair (£200-£600) just to make it sellable, you're behind on the maths, and you still have to find a buyer.
If you can't be bothered with a single viewing:scrap wins regardless. Your time has a value, and £30 isn't worth losing a Saturday over.
Where to start
Send us the reg + a couple of photos. We'll tell you what we'd pay within an hour. If the number makes private sale look better, we'll say so. If not, we'll book the truck.