If your old car is on its last legs and you fancy treating yourself to a newer model, you may be wondering: when is the best time of year to buy a new car? This blog will go over the best times to purchase a new car so that you can avoid busy periods and times of year with poor stock selection and high prices. Let’s get started!

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Best Time of Year for Great Car Deals

End of Financial Quarters

Perhaps the best time of all to buy a new car is at the end of the financial quarters in March, June, September and December. During these months, dealers are working hard to meet their sales targets, meaning they are more willing to be flexible and offer you a great deal!

Quieter Months

Quiet periods like the post-Christmas slump in January and months in deep summer like July and August tend to be slower for dealerships, meaning dealers can pay you more individual attention and may be more willing to negotiate their prices than usual.   

New Model Launches

Buying a car just before a new model launch is also a smart move for saving money as many dealerships offer great discounts and incentives on older stock to help make room for the upcoming new models. You may haver to sacrifice the newest tech and styling, but many dealerships clear out their old stock with deals like 0% financing or cash back, making the previous year’s model a fantastic deal!

Plus, in most cases when you buy an older model, you can drive it off the lot almost immediately, avoiding waiting times.

Plate Change Months

Many people wait until new plates are released in March and September, meaning that during February and August, many dealerships see fewer buyers despite still being under the same pressure to shift stock. This makes these months a great time of year to purchase a new car, especially if you’re looking for a good deal!

Best Time of the Week to Visit

Mid-Week

Weekdays are far less busy than weekends, giving you more time with the salespeople and better negotiation chances.

Bad Weather

Cold and wet weather days also mean fewer customers, leaving dealers keen to sell cars for great deals.

Do you want a new car but can’t fathom how you will pay for it? Why not scrap your old car and put the money towards a new one?

At A&L Vehicle Recycling, we have been responsibly scrapping and recycling cars for over 10 years, so you can trust us to give you the best deal possible for your old vehicle!

If you want to check out how much your car could be worth, click the button below to generate a FREE instant quote.

Get a FREE Scrap Car Quote!

If your car has been written off, failed its MOT or is simply too expensive to repair, you may be considering selling it for scrap. At A&L Vehicle Recycling, we understand that knowing a rough timeframe of how long the scrapping process will take is useful, especially if you need to fit scrapping your car around your work and other responsibilities.

That is why we have created this blog post to give you a rough idea of how long it will take from when you request your scrap car quote, to when you receive the money in your bank account! Let’s get started!

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Step 1: Getting a Quote – Less Than 5 Minutes

Using our easy FREE quote calculator, you can get a no-obligation quote for your scrap car in just a few clicks! Simply provide your vehicle’s registration and your postcode to find out the value of your car. We may also ask you a few questions on whether the car has any damage, whether it starts and drives and whether you have access to the keys, service history and registration certificate. If you are unable to answer any of these questions, we will make some basic assumptions about its condition.

The quote we give you will be valid for seven days and there is no obligation to accept! If you do choose to accept the scrap car quote, we will contact you by phone or email to arrange a suitable and convenient date and time for a drop off or collection.

Step 2: Waiting for Collection – Typically Within 24 hours

If you’re unable to drop off your car yourself, you will need to wait for collection. At A&L, we are usually able to arrange collections within 24 hours of contact and offer our collections from Monday to Sunday between 7am and 7pm.

Step 3: Prepare Your Car – 10 Minutes

Before your car is collected, you will need to take some time to clear it out and prepare the necessary documents. Make sure that you clear out any rubbish, remove phone chargers and decorative items, clear the glove box and check under the seats for any forgotten items. Don’t stress about thoroughly cleaning the car though – after all it’s going to be scrapped anyway! You will then need to get your identification, keys, logbook, service history, MOT certificates and manuals ready if you have them.

For more information on what to do before you scrap your car, check out our Scrap Car Checklist.

Step 4: Collection – Typically 5 Minutes

If your car is easily accessible and you have all necessary documents ready to go, the collection should only take a couple of minutes. If your car has flat tyres, no wheels or cannot be safely winched into the back of our recovery vehicle, this process will take longer. To avoid any delays and disappointment, make sure that you discuss your car’s accessibility when arranging collection.

Step 5: Payment – The Same Day!

Scrap yards can no longer pay in cash for scrap cars due to the UK's Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013, a law designed to combat metal theft by making transactions traceable, therefore you will need to be paid via bank transfer or cheque for your vehicle. We aim to get this money paid into your bank account on the same day as your vehicle collection.

There you have it! At A&L, the average time from quote to collection is around 2 days and we aim to make the scrapping process as hassle-free and efficient as possible.

Click the button below to generate a FREE, no-obligation quote for your scrap car.

Get a Quote

If you have any questions about our scrap car process, please get in touch with us today!

If your car is old, damaged or non-running, you may be wondering: is my car worth more as scrap than selling or repairing it? There are several factors that contribute to the price paid for a scrap car, and we will explore in these in this blog so that you can make the right decision for your car (and your bank account!).

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What Factors Influence Scrap Value?

• Weight & Size: Heavier, larger cars are usually worth more as they can yield more metal for the scrappers.
  
  
• Demand: Luxury or rare cars and popular models (think Fiesta, Corsa, Golf) have a high demand for parts which increases their value.
  
  
• Condition: A complete car with working essential parts (like a battery, engine and gearbox) will be worth more than a damaged car that is stripped down or rusted out.
  
  
• Current Scrap Metal Prices: Prices of scrap metal can fluctuate and influence the amount you get for your scrap car.

When Is a Car Worth More as Scrap?

• Major Damage: If repairs cost more than the car’s resale value, scrapping is the smarter choice.
  
  
• MOT Failure: If your car has failed its MOT due to structural or emissions issues, it can be incredibly expensive to fix and scrapping may be a better option.
  
  
• Age or High Milage: If you have an older car that is no longer in demand on the used market, your resale value will probably be low and it is best to scrap the car instead.
  
  
• Parts in High Demand: If your car is a popular model, its engine, alloys and body panels can be very valuable to buyers who need replacements.

In general, if your car is a popular model with working parts or a large vehicle that can offer lots of metal, it has good scrap potential. However, if your car is neither large or a popular model, a running car can usually get you more when sold than it can as scrap.

At A&L, we have been responsibly scrapping and recycling cars for over 10 years, so you can trust us to make the scrapping process as hassle-free and transparent as possible.

If you want to check how much your car could be worth, click the button below to generate a FREE instant quote for your vehicle.

Get a Scrap Car Quote

If you have ever handed your old car over for scrap and got cash in return, you might have questioned how the scrap yard makes any money when they pay YOU the customer for your scrap metal! In this blog, we will explore how scrap yards make money through purchasing and processing scrap metal and vehicles. Let’s get started!

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Selling Scrap Metal

The primary way that scrap yards make money is by purchasing and processing scrap metal and selling it on, often to larger recyclers or manufacturers, for a profit. The core business model for scrap yards is to buy low, process and sell high – this is how they generate revenue while still paying you for your scrap. Plus, scrap metal is far cheaper than mining and refining new metal, so buyers rely heavily on scrapyards to supply raw materials.

Selling Scrap Vehicles & Components

Scrap yards also buy end-of-life vehicles and remove and sell any functional or rare parts – this can be highly profitable! The remaining components can then be scrapped for their metal and sold for more profit. In order to maximise their profit, scrap yards aim to maximise material recovery by recycling a high percentage of the car’s components.

Other Revenue Streams

Some scrap yards charge service fees for recycling certain materials, particularly if they are hazardous and hard-to-process. In addition to this, some scrap yards offer services like vehicle pick up and towing for a fee, this helps to offset operational costs and adds another revenue stream.

At A&L Vehicle Recycling, you don’t have to worry about paying for vehicle pick up, as we offer a fast and FREE scrap car collection service that has been tailored with your convenience in mind. We even offer same day pick up depending on your location!

To arrange your scrap car pick up, reach out and contact us today. To find out how much you can get for your scrap car, use the button below to get an instant, no-obligation quote.

Get a Quote

If you’re turning in your old car for scrap, you may be wondering whether you can keep the number plate for your new vehicle. Maybe the number plate was personalised, has sentimental value or just has a nice ring to it – whatever your reasoning is, it IS possible to transfer a number plate from a scrapped car, but timing is crucial. Keep reading to find out more!

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When Should I Transfer My Number Plate?

You can only transfer a number plate from a scrapped car if you applied to retain it before the car was officially scrapped with the DVLA. Once a vehicle is scrapped and a Certificate of Destruction is issued, its standard registration number is retired permanently and cannot be recovered or transferred. 

How to Transfer Your Number Plate

You can apply for the right to retain and transfer your number plate on the DVLA website or by post.

Before you fill out this application, you need to ensure that your car adheres to the following eligibility criteria:

Your car must be…

• Registered with the DVLA.

• Eligible for a MOT certificate (you don't need to have a MOT at the time of application).

• Consistently taxed or declared SORN for the last 5 years.

When filling out your V317 document, if you want to transfer your plate directly to another vehicle, you need to fill out Section A, include the vehicle’s V5C logbook, pay the £80 transfer fee and send it to the DVLA. This can be done online and by post.

If you want to keep your plate but you don’t have another car to transfer it to immediately, leave Section A of the V317 form blank, and complete Section B to apply for a retention certificate. Include the vehicle’s V5C logbook and pay the £80 retention fee, and your V778 retention form should be sent to you shortly. This certificate is valid for 10 years and can be renewed.

What Happens After I Transfer My Number Plate?

Once the transfer is complete, you will receive a new V5C logbook. You should then…

1. Fit New Plates: You must fit the new, replacement number plates to the car before it can be driven or scrapped.
   
   
2. Inform Your Insurance Company: Make sure that you inform your insurance company so that your policy is linked to the correct car and plate.
   
   
3. Proceed with Scrapping: Once you have the new documentation and plates fitted, you can safely scrap the car. 

At A&L Vehicle Recycling, we aim to make the car scrapping process as easy as possible. If you want to find out how much you can get for your scrap car, use the button below to get an instant, no-obligation quote for your vehicle.

Get a Quote

If you have any questions about our scrap car process, please get in touch with us today and a member of our team will be happy to help!