As SMMT reported another poor month for the new car market – a 35.5% year on year drop to new car sales, we were thankful to see stability in the average prices being paid for scrap cars in February. After an increase to start off the new year, February has seen scrap car prices plateau. The average scrap car price remained above £200, as in January, meaning prices are again at the highest levels seen in all of the last 12 months.
February’s average was £1 above that seen in January, so still a minor increase! Prices were also up by 31% compared to February 2020. We’re nearing almost a year since the first nation lockdown, meaning year on year comparisons in the coming spring months will be interesting to see.
There are many factors that can influence the scrap value of your car, including the global demand for scrap metal, as well as the make, model, age, weight, condition, and location of your car.
About the CarTakeBack Scrap Car Price Index
The CarTakeBack Scrap Car Price Index is a rolling monthly index covering the last 13 months. It’s updated monthly using the prices paid for scrap cars at CarTakeBack recycling centres throughout the UK. We’ve taken into account that cars come in all shapes and sizes, which has an effect on their scrap value, the prices show what the average car would be worth. This means that the index gives a great indication of the movement in the value of scrap cars from one month to another.
The top scrapped car with CarTakeBack was again the Ford Focus, as it has been for the last eight months. The average scrap price for a Ford Focus increased by a considerable 14% in January, however in February the average value dropped by 3% to £189, compared to £195 in January.
The average age of the Ford Focuses scrapped was 16 years.
February again saw little change to the top five cars scrapped during the month, the Vauxhall Corsa dropped from 2nd place to 3rd, switching places with the Ford Fiesta.
The Vauxhall Corsa and Peugeot 206 have both seen the biggest increase, 5%. The Vauxhall Astra saw the biggest decrease of just 4%.
Tip: you can move this table side to side on mobile devices if required.
| Make & Model | Average Scrap Value January | Average Scrap Value February | Percentage Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Focus | £195 | £189 | -3% |
| Ford Fiesta | £184 | £186 | 1% |
| Vauxhall Corsa | £182 | £191 | 5% |
| Vauxhall Astra | £210 | £202 | -4% |
| Peugeot 206 | £164 | £164 | 5% |
Check out previous scrap car price updates >
Find out how much your scrap car is worth instantly, you just need your car registration and your postcode. There’s no obligation and quotes are valid for 7 days, so if prices did change during that time, you’d still get the best price for your scrap car.
