Do you want to turn your scrap car into some serious cash or at least free up your garage? If so, it’s time to let go and take it to a car breaker.
When you do this, you will not just earn money—you will also contribute to sustainable practices.
Selling your old car to an auto wrecker doesn’t mean it will be gone forever. What it really means is you’re turning what was once deemed worthless into something rewarding for some people through recycling.
This blog aims to introduce you to the best car breakers in London who can turn your trash car into a goldmine.
How much do car breakers pay in London?
Car breakers in London pay between £20 and £200 for used, salvaged car parts, and £100 to £500 for a whole vehicle. The price mainly depends on the car’s model, weight, and market demand.
How I chose the best car breakers in London
- Service area: I picked the ones that operate in most parts of London, with some even operating outside the city.
- Service quality: I selected car breakers that collect cars on a scheduled time, follow the scrapping regulations, and pay as soon as they get the vehicle.
- Pricing: I opted for those that offer a reasonable price based on the car’s condition.
- Customer service quality: I looked for car breaks that reply quickly once a request for a quote has been submitted on their website.
- Licensed facility: It’s important that the business is a registered treatment facility and can issue necessary certificates after the operation.
1. 302 Scrap Cars & Recovery
Address: 13 Pinners Cl
Phone: +44 7926 908608
Business hours: Available 24 hours
302 Scrap Cars & Recovery’s 24/7 operation is a plus for me. They are the only auto wrecker on my list that operates for 24 hours straight.
I also appreciate that they buy cars in any condition. They will get your vehicle from your garage, even if it doesn’t have wheels.
What’s better is that they will pay you a fixed price if your vehicle is still complete. It doesn’t matter if your car is still working or not, they’ll pay you a fair price based on your car’s model.
It’s also worth noting that they are a fully licensed Authorised Treatment Facility (ATF). This means that the government regulates their scrapping process.
Most importantly, it’s great that they issue a Certificate of Destruction (CoD). They do this to help you get a discount on buying your new car.
However, they only buy select types of cars. They don’t purchase large vehicles.
Would recommend them 100%
“We called up several ‘24 Hour’ businesses and Andy was the only one who didn’t keep us waiting until the next morning and came within 20 minutes at 3am! He was so nice and gave us a very good deal to scrap my car! He went out of his own way to let us stay in the car until the next morning near his garage since we had nowhere to stay, and also dropped us off at the nearest tube station at 5am in the morning. He didn’t need to go the extra mile, but he did so because it was convenient for us! We definitely thought Andy was too good to be true, but honestly he’s just a genuine guy with a heart of gold! I would 100% recommend Andy and his services to anyone!”
-Anchalaa Sivam, Google Review
Professional, honest, and friendly
“Andy came to look at the car and buy it the same day I called him. He was professional, honest, and friendly. The price was better than most other motor traders, and it’s definitely worth going with Andy for the fast, efficient, no-pressure car buying service he offers. If your car has no faults then it’s still worth selling it elsewhere for a higher price. But if your car is damaged, a non-runner, or has a mechanical fault so you can’t use it any more and need to sell it then Andy/302 are by far the best option and I would use them every time.”
-Matt Doyle, Google Review
2. Scrap My Car Quickly
Phone: +44 7468 150150
Business hours:
- Mon-Sun: 8 AM – 9 PM
I appreciate Scrap My Car Quickly’s wide service areas. They buy vehicles in the whole city of London and some places in Essex, so more customers can use their services.
Not only this, they’re open every day from early morning to late evening. This makes them more accessible, allowing customers to schedule an inspection during their free time.
I appreciate that they pay immediately as well, sometimes even before the car collection. They will transfer money to your bank account once the inspector clears everything.
Another great thing is that they collect cars right away after the inspection. This is an advantage, especially if you want to dispose of your vehicle quickly.
Additionally, the fact that they buy motorbikes is a big factor. They are the only shop on my top list that purchases two-wheel vehicles.
The only thing I don’t like about them is their 3-month ownership policy. This means that you can only sell your vehicle if you prove to them you’re the owner for at least three months. This is a bad policy as we don’t know when accidents might happen.
Fast and great service
“I had a really old car that i wanted to scrap, and unfortunately I lost the V5C for the vehicle (which costs £25 to replace) I spoke to a few scrap companies that are local to me and neither of them phoned back to organise a time etc. Called this company, he gave me a quote on the spot, no issues with the lost V5C. The driver came the following morning, nice and early and exactly when he said he would. He was friendly and professional, and payment was received into my bank account the minute my scrap vehicle was loaded onto the truck. Overall a great service, and will definitely use and recommend this scrap dealer.”
-Az .1, Google Review
Glad that I tried them
“Have put off scrapping our car for weeks because I thought it was going to be a long winded hassle Decided to give this firm a try and so pleased I did. I was called back about an hour after contacting them and within a couple more hours our car had been picked up. A price was agreed and the money was transferred by the time they arrived. I was kept informed the whole time and would thoroughly recommend them”
-Christine Davies, Google Review
3. Scrap Car Kings
Address: Lysander House, 20 Temple St
Phone: +44 7944 495495
Business hours:
- Mon-Fri: 8 AM – 6 PM
- Sat: 8 AM – 3 PM
- Sun: 8 AM – 2 PM
Scrap Car Kings’ longevity in the industry is impressive. They’ve been scrapping almost all kinds of vehicles for over a decade, showing their reliability as a junkyard that buys cars at a competitive price.
I was amazed at the wide range of cars they are willing to buy. They even buy vehicles that are not registered in the United Kingdom. Some cars they buy are damaged cars, those with an insurance write-off, and fleet cars.
I was also surprised that they buy cars that still function well. They are willing to buy still-running vehicles that have been used for less than eight years. This is great if you’re planning to buy a new car and don’t want to keep your old one anymore.
But what I love most about them is that they will handle all the paperwork for you. For example, they can send the CoD to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) on your behalf.
The only negative thing I noticed about them is that they only buy complete vehicles. This means they will not buy your car if it’s missing even just one wheel.
Excellent service
“Excellent service can’t fault them at all. Fast response after I filled out the online quote, phoned next day to arrange and they even offered to pick the car up within the hour but was at work till 5pm. They paid into the account not long after I got off the phone. The driver mimm was excellent, very pleasant and extremely helpful with the hole process of the paperwork and car. He arrived early and waited for me to finish work at 5:30pm he still had to drop the car off at the yard in London then head back to grays after. I would definitely recommend these guys to anyone needing to scrap there cars. 5 star service.”
-Paul Leech, Google Review
Can’t recommend them highly enough
“Massive massive thank you to Jack and co! Having been mucked about by another company it just highlighted how decent and professional Scrap Car Kings are. Once I filled out the form Jack contacted me straight away with a quote, talked me through the process and arranged the pick up date/time. On the day the driver showed up as arranged, really friendly (I was a bit upset to see my car go!) and sorted everything out quickly and simply – and the money was even in my account before they showed up! I can’t reccommend them highly enough! Thanks Jack :)”
-Sarah Anderton, Google Review
4. National Scrap Car
Phone: +44 800 862 0958
Business hours:
- Mon-Fri: 8 AM – 8 PM
- Sat: 8 AM – 5 PM
- Sun: 9 AM – 2 PM
National Scrap Car is another car breaker on my list that operates in the London and Essex areas.
I really love that they offer a free car collection service, which is very beneficial if your place is far from their shop. I think it complements their wide service area and makes them even more accessible.
But what really sets them apart from other businesses on this list is they are the only ones who buy electric and hybrid vehicles. Specifically, they buy electric cars that are deemed uneconomical and unroadworthy.
I also appreciate that they don’t immediately scrap cars. They assess both the scrap value and the salvageable parts. If they think there are parts worth salvaging, they keep them.
After that, they will connect you with trusted buyers who might be interested in your car’s salvaged parts. I like this as it rids you of the stress of scouring the market on your own to find a buyer.
On the other hand, some clients said they sometimes take a day or two to collect a car from the garage.
All went very smooth
“I was very dubious at first , however I cant fault this company. they gave me a fair price for the car and stuck to it on collection. It all went very smooth and once the car was collected they called me to say the payment had been approved would be in by 6pm same day . The payment was in less then 10 minutes after the call. A big well done to this company , I was kept informed and the driver phoned when he was on his way to pick the car up. If I ever have another car to scrap , I will call them first.”
-Andrew Cheetham, Google Review
Quick, easy, and no-risk transaction
“I recently sold my car to BMS Salvage through National Scrap Car. The initial offer made in the National Scrap Car email to me was quickly reduced when I phoned the company. But after some negotiation we arrived at a satisfactory price. The car collection instructions were clear and the collection was made as arranged. There were no last minute deductions from the agreed price. Matt at National Scrap Car was a tough negotiator, but polite and fair. I probably could have obtained a little more from local breaking firms, but selling through National Scrap Car was quick, easy and no risk.”
-John Alderson, Google Review
5. Metro Breakers
Address: Metro Breakers, Colindeep Ln
Phone: +44 7979 350352
Business hours:
- Mon-Fri: 9 AM – 5 PM
Metro Breakers is another enterprise that operates in London and adjacent areas. They are also willing to buy vehicles in the Hertfordshire area.
I admire them for being the only car breaker on my list that purchases large-sized vehicles. They buy trucks of any size from four to 18 wheels, aside from standard and medium-sized vehicles.
I also appreciate that they collect cars from accidents. Once the investigation is over, they collect vehicles in the area where the accident happened. Most car breakers prefer to collect cars at your garage or the towing area.
Lastly, I deeply appreciate their immediate issuance of CoD. Unlike some companies, they can issue this document in less than a day after dismantling your car. Normally, CoD issuance takes a couple of days to a week.
On the other hand, I was a bit disappointed that they don’t buy cars without wheels.
Lovely customer service
“One phone call and was all sorted…scrapping my old car Very quick and straightforward to deal with. The staff on phone were very helpful, and made it so easy and simple to arrange the disposal of my old car, they confirmed date and time. Car picked up exactly when they said. The driver Andy who collected the car was professional and friendly, scaned my log book, the office processed and within a few minutes they emailed me a Confirmation of Destruction Certificate from DVLA before they took my car. I would definitely recommend this company. Definitely worth doing business with. Lovely customer service. Thank you.”
-Braulio Luis, Google Review
They made it really simple
“I was dreading organising scrappage and dealing with the admin of the scrappage claim with tfl, but Metro Breakers have made it really simple. Andy responded immediately to all contact and queries. Certificate of Destruction was issued within hours of collecting our car and, as they’re accredited, Metro Breakers automatically inform DVLA of the scrappage so all I need to do is upload the Certificate as it was sent to me today. Such a relief to have it sorted so quickly and easily. Can’t thank or recommend them enough.”
-Sarah bhathena, Google Review
