Yes, you can scrap a car with no wheels - but you may receive less money for it.

Scrapping a car often happens after an accident. If your car gets so damaged that the repairs would cost more than the car's total value, your insurers might well suggest you write it off and sell it for scrap. But will scrap car dealers even accept a car that's damaged beyond recognition?

On the blocks by Simon Law is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED

[more]

You can scrap your car even if the car is missing crucial parts, like wheels. One question that we frequently receive here at A&L Vehicle Recycling is 'can I scrap my car if a part is missing'. In the vast majority of cases, we will be happy to take your car no matter how bad the damage is.

However, we will ask you about the condition of your car when we call to discuss your quote, as this may impact how much money we're able to offer for it.

Click here to request a free, no-obligation quote for your old car.

Scrapping a car with no wheels

Contact us to scrap your car, even if it has no wheels. If your car does not have wheels, this will have an effect on its accessibility, which may force us to offer a lower price for it.

When we collect your car, we need it to be accessible to us so that we can retrieve it. This means that it should be parked on solid ground with inflated tyres. That way, we can easily and safely winch it onto our recovery vehicle.

Collecting a car without wheels requires the use of a crane, rather than the winch we normally use, so this would make the collection process more complicated. On top of this, a car's weight is a major determining factor when calculating its scrap value. Without wheels, your car will be lighter than normal, meaning you'll get less money for it.

Should you replace your car's wheels before scrapping?

Consider investing in some second-hand wheels and fitting them to your old car before you scrap it. This will mean it can roll onto the recovery vehicle, which makes collection much easier and increases the value of the quote (which will hopefully cover the cost of the wheels).

If you have any other questions about scrapping your car, don't hesitate to get in touch! We will be more than happy to assist you.

Get a Scrap Car Quote

In order to crack down on cars being stolen and sold for scrap, the government have introduced stricter regulations surrounding the scrap market in the last decade or so.

These days, if you want to scrap a car, you’ll have to prove that the vehicle is yours to proceed. This makes it a lot more difficult for criminals to sell stolen cars to scrap dealers.

[more]

However, there are plenty of lawful reasons why someone might want to scrap a car on behalf of someone else. In these cases, there are ways around it. Keep reading to find out how.

How can I scrap a car that's not in my name?

It is possible to scrap a car that’s in someone else’s name; you just need to provide certain documents that prove you have permission to do so from the car’s owner.

Here’s what you’ll need to show the scrap dealer:

• Photo ID of the car’s owner
• The V5C signed by the owner
• Proof of address of the owner
• A signed letter from the owner to show you have their permission to scrap the car

If someone has passed away unexpectedly and you are now in possession of their car, you can still scrap it without a letter of permission. In these circumstances you can provide the same documents as stated above but with the addition of a copy of their death certificate if possible.

Click here for further information on what documents you need to scrap a car.

Scrap a car with A&L Vehicle Recycling

A&L Scrap Car Dealers are a well-established car recycling yard located in Barry, South Wales. We offer the best prices for scrap cars, whatever condition they’re in. We can collect the vehicle from you or you can drop it to our yard.

Click below to get a FREE no-obligation quote today!

Get a Quote

There comes a time when even the best car reaches the end of its life, whether it‘s written off in a crash or simply growing too old for the roads. Whatever the reason, it can be difficult to know when to bite the bullet and give the car over for scrap. To help you decide, here are 5 signs that it’s time to scrap your car.

 [more]

When To Scrap Your Car

Your car has been written off

There are two reasons why your car might be written off:

1) The car is damaged beyond repair.

2) The repairs would cost more than the car is worth.

Both of these are a perfect example of when you should scrap your car. If your car has been written off, your best bet is usually to scrap it and put the money towards a new one.

Your car is old

If your car is older than 12 years and/or has over 100,000 miles on the clock, you might be considering trading it in for a newer model. Unfortunately, you probably won’t get very much for it in a part-exchange if the car isn't valuable. It might be time to consider scrapping it instead. Scrapping your car could earn you a nice little deposit to put towards your next car.

Your car has little value

All cars depreciate in value, but some lose value quicker than others. According to Motor Finance Online, the top 5 fastest-depreciating car brands of 2025 are:

1. DS
2. Polestar
3. Mitsubishi
4. Tesla
5. Jeep

Is your car from one of the above brands? If you bought your car at the height of its trendiness, you may find that just a few years on, it has lost a lot of its value. Alternatively, your car might have been cheap to begin with and is worth very little now. In these cases, it’s much easier to hand it over to a scrap dealer than to find a buyer.

Your car has poor fuel efficiency 

Things like constant minor repairs and poor fuel efficiency can lead to high maintenance and running costs. In these cases, it would most likely be easier and cheaper to just scrap the car entirely. 

You need to get rid of your car fast

Putting your car on the market and waiting for someone to make an offer can be a long-drawn-out process. Once you've decided you want a new car, it can be frustrating to wait a long time to be rid of your old one. It might be time to take a faster route.

If you’re in a hurry, the fastest way to get rid of your car is by selling it for scrap. Here at A&L Vehicle Recycling, we can give you a quote and arrange a collection within 24 hours!

Scrap your car with A&L Vehicle Recycling

If you decide that scrapping your car is the best option, you must seek out an authorised treatment facility (ATF) to get rid of your vehicle legally and efficiently. Here at A&L, we will buy cars in any condition, including damaged cars and cars with high mileage. Simply click below to receive your quote.

Scrap Your Car

According to UK car reviewer Auto Express, the most scrapped car of 2023 was the Ford Focus.

An annual tally reported that 798,363 cars and light commercial vehicles (LCVs) were scrapped in 2023, and a whopping 42,637 of them were Ford Focus models. That’s approximately 5 per cent, or 1 out of every 20 scrap vehicles.

[more]

The Ford Focus has been a family favourite on UK roads since 1998! Unsurprisingly, it was also the most scrapped car of 2022 and 2021.

Let’s take a look at some more of last year’s ‘victims’…

Top 10 most scrapped cars 2023

After the Ford Focus, the Vauxhall Astra was a close second. 35,578 of them were scrapped in 2023.

Below are the top 10 most scrapped cars of the year:

1. Ford Focus - 42,637
2. Vauxhall Astra - 35,578
3. Vauxhall Corsa - 34,405
4. Ford Fiesta - 32,935
5. Vauxhall Zafira - 26,898
6. Volkswagen Golf - 25,903
7. Renault Clio - 14,955
8. Ford Mondeo -14,218
9. Volkswagen Polo - 13,722
10. BMW 3 Series - 13,642

The question is, will the Ford Focus remain king of the scrapyard in 2024, or will a different car snatch the crown this year? Well, that’s up to you...

How to scrap your car

There are many reasons to scrap your car. Whether it’s damaged beyond repair or you’d just like the extra cash, we at A&L Vehicle Recycling will scrap your car regardless of the condition it’s in.

Before you get paid, there are just a few simple steps you need to take.

First, enter your registration and postcode into our FREE quote generator so we can provide you with an offer.

Then, if you’re happy to accept, simply arrange a time to drop off your vehicle or organise a collection with one of our dealers! It really is as simple as that.

To find out what documents you’ll need with you, read our latest guidance: What Documents Do I Need to Scrap My Car?

You can also head over to our FAQs page for further information at the link below.

Scrap Car FAQs    Scrap My Car

If you’d like to scrap your car because it’s failed its recent MOT but you’re not sure how the whole process works, you’re in the right place!

This handy guide explains everything you need to know about getting your MOT failure to the scrap yard once you’ve arranged to sell it.

[more]

Can I drive my car to be scrapped if it’s failed its MOT?

No. You cannot drive your car to be scrapped if it has failed its MOT. Once you’ve organised for your car to be sold to a scrap yard, the only safe way to get it there is to arrange for it to be collected by the scrap dealer.

Driving a car anywhere without a valid MOT is not permitted, unless your situation falls under the following exceptions to the rule:

• You’re driving your car to a pre-arranged MOT test at an authorised test centre
  
  
• You’re driving your car to a pre-arranged garage appointment to repair it

It’s important that these appointments are pre-arranged so that they can be confirmed by the company you’re using should you need to prove this for any reason.

Even if you do meet the above criteria, your car also needs to be in a roadworthy condition and you must have special cover from your insurance company.

Arranging your MOT failure to be collected

While it’s perfectly legal to sell your car without a valid MOT, it’s very important that you do not attempt to drive it to the scrap yard yourself.

Fortunately, we at A&L Vehicle Recycling can collect your car from you. Our scrap car collection service is FREE of charge and, depending on the time of your call and your location, we can even offer same-day pickup!

On the day of collection, we just need you to have the following items ready:

• Proof of identity
  
  
• Keys (including the locking wheel nut, electronic keys and security codes) if you have them
  
  
• Documents (such as logbook, service history, MOT certificate and manuals) if you have them

We also kindly ask you to please remove all personal belongings and rubbish from the car.

Once we arrive, we will:

• Check that your car matches your quote
  
  
• Check and take a copy of the identification provided
  
  
• Take care of all DVLA paperwork
  
  
• Sort payment

To arrange for your MOT failure to be collected, get in touch with us today at the link below. A member of our team will be happy to arrange a collection at a time that suits you.

Arrange a Collection

MOT failure FAQs

What if I get caught driving without a valid MOT?

If you were to drive your car after failing the MOT, there would likely be serious consequences. Typically this offence will result in a fine of up to £1,000 which could increase if your vehicle is in a particularly dangerous condition. You could also be looking at points on your license or even being banned from driving.

How much can I get for scrapping my MOT failure?

Here at A&L Scrap Car Dealers, we can offer top prices even for a vehicle that has a reached the end of its life.

If you decide to sell your MOT failure to us, we will take into consideration the age and condition of the car (as well as any repairs needed) when providing you with a quote.

To find out how much your car could be worth, simply provide us with your postcode and registration and we can give you a free, no-obligation quote.

Request a Quote   Sell MOT Failure