When your car has reached the end of its lifespan, vehicle scrapping offers an easy solution. However, many car owners are influenced by misconceptions that make the scrap process seem daunting and risky. In reality, choosing to scrap your car is a simple, profitable and eco-friendly decision.

Let’s take a look at 5 common car recycling myths and set the record straight about vehicle scrapping.

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1. Scraping a Car Is Not Environmentally Friendly

One of the biggest misconceptions about car scrapping is that it is not environmentally friendly. This view likely comes from the outdated image of scrapped cars piled up in junkyards or in landfills – which is not the case today!

Modern car scrapping is a sustainable process where every part of the car is stripped and either reused, resold or recycled, minimising waste and the need for new resources. Authorised Treatment Facilities (ATFs) follow strict environmental guidelines when scrapping cars to ensure that they are dismantled with care and any hazardous materials are removed and safely disposed of.

So, when scrapped properly, your car can actually contribute to a healthier, more sustainable environment!

2. You Must Deliver Your Car to the Scrapyard

This is not always the case – many scrappers actually offer free collection from your location (we do at A&L!).  This service resolves the issues you may be facing if your car cannot be driven due to mechanical or legal issues, like an MOT failure.  

3. You Can Scrap Your Car With Any Service Provider

This is not true. If you are in the UK, you legally must send your car to an Authorised Treatment Facility (ATF). Using an unauthorised facility that isn’t fully licensed or registered is not only illegal but can be very damaging to the environment – so be careful of who you do business with!

If anyone is offering you cash for your scrap car or will not provide you with a formal certificate of disposal, they are most likely an unauthorised scrapper and you should steer clear!

4. Only Old Cars Can Be Scrapped

There are many reasons why someone may want to scrap their car other than its age.  For example, if it has failed its MOT, is uneconomical to repair or even if it’s just unwanted, it is a candidate for scrapping. In fact, modern cars have more valuable parts and materials meaning that you can receive an even higher value for your scrap car if it’s relatively new!

5. Scrapping a Car Is Not Profitable

Another common misconception is that scrapping a car is not profitable, which is not necessarily true. Although the value of a scrap car is usually lower than the value of a new car, you can still receive a good amount of money for your scrap vehicle – or at least more than you would get if it’s sat unused on your drive!

The price you get for your scrap depends on a range of factors like the car’s make, model, age and condition, the value of scrap metal and demand for parts at the time.

If this blog has cleared the doubt from your mind about vehicle scrapping, contact us at A&L Vehicle Recycling today for a free and accurate instant scrap car quote!

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A low emission zone (LEZ) is an area that limits access to the most polluting vehicles with the aim of reducing pollution and improving air quality. Low emission zones (also known as ‘clean air zones’) help to make cities heathier and more attractive places to live, work and visit.

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How Do Low Emission Zones Work?

Low Emission Zones used Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) camera to monitor vehicles and detect those who do not comply with the emission standards. Vehicles that don’t meet the standards may be subject to a penalty charge notice.

The entry criteria for these zones is based on Euro emission engine classification standards. This means that drivers of diesel cars and vans must adhere to Euro 6 emission standards (generally cars registered from 2016) and petrol cars and vans must meet Euro 4 emission standards (generally cars registered from 2006).

Which UK Cities Have Low Emission Zones?

• London
• Bath
• Birmingham
• Bradford
• Bristol
• Portsmouth
• Oxford
• Sheffield
• Tyneside (Newcastle & Gateshead)
• Aberdeen
• Dundee
• Edinburgh
• Glasgow

There are also plans to introduce LEZs to areas of Greater Manchester.

How Do Low Emission Zones Affect Car Scrapping Rates?

Recent studies have shown that in areas where low emission zones have been introduced, there has been a huge increase in motorists looking to scrap their cars. In fact, one study has shown that in some areas of Scotland there has been a 64% increase in people looking to scrap their cars compared to the this time last year.

This is because motorists in Scotland and the rest of the UK now face hefty fines if they drive older petrol and diesel cars into city centres, meaning that in many cases, non-compliant cars have become too expensive to run.  

The value of these older cars has also dropped considerably since the introduction of penalties, so for many owners, opting to scrap their older polluting wheels so they can get newer, lower emission ones is the most sensible and convenient decision.

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If you’re living in a low emission zone and need to scrap your car, you can trust us at A&L Vehicle Recycling to make the process as easy and stress-free as possible.

Simply click the link below and enter your registration and postcode to generate a FREE instant quote for your car or contact us directly and a member of our team will be happy to help!

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Alternatively, check out our Scrap Car FAQs for more information.

If you own a car that has been written off, you’re probably wondering how you will dispose of it. This blog will go over what options are available to you depending on your car’s write-off category and then discuss how you can use our services at A&L Vehicle Recycling to dispose of it responsibly.

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What Does It Mean When a Car is Written Off?

When a car is written off (also known as a total loss), it means that it has been damaged to the point where it’s too unsafe to drive and the total costs of repairs will cost more than the car itself.

In the UK, cars that are written off are categorised into one of four categories:

Category A: The car is completely destroyed and beyond repair

Category B: The car is too damaged to be repaired but some parts are salvageable.

Category S (formerly known as Cat C): The car has structural damage but is repairable.

Category N (formerly known as Cat D): The car has non-structural damage and can be repaired.

Can I Scrap a Written Off Car?

Generally, yes! However this answer does vary depending on the severity of the damage and the category of the write off.

Category A Write-Offs

These cars are completely destroyed and cannot be repaired, resold or scrapped for parts. In this case, the only option is to have it disposed of by an authorized treatment facility like us at A&L Vehicle Recycling.

Category B Write-Offs

These cars cannot be repaired or resold in any way for road use but can have some parts salvaged. An auto recycling company can then purchase the car from you for parts.

Category S & N Write-Offs

These cars are usually still in a condition where they can be repaired or resold. If repairing the car is not financially viable, you can sell the parts for scrap.

How Do I Scrap My Write-Off?

If your car has been written off, your insurance company should handle getting the car scrapped for you as long as you follow these steps:

1. First, get in touch with your insurance company and confirm that the car is a write-off and if so, what category it fits into.
   
   
2. Make sure you tell the DVLA your car has been written off to avoid the £1,000 fine.
   
   
3. If you’ve received a payout from your insurance company, the car may still belong to them. If this is the case, you'll need to transfer ownership back to yourself and ensure the car is legally yours before scrapping it.
   
   
4. Find an authorised treatment facility that you trust will recycle your vehicle responsibly – like us at A&L Vehicle Recycling!

When you scrap a car with us at A&L, we will issue a Certificate of Destruction that is registered online with the DVLA. This will instantly mark the vehicle as scrapped and permanently close the vehicle record.

If you have any questions regarding our services, please don’t hesitate to contact us and a member of our team will be happy to help. Alternatively, check out our Scrap Car FAQs for more information.

Scrap Car FAQs

Did you know that the time of year you sell your scrap metal can make a significant difference in how much you earn? While scrap metal prices fluctuate almost daily, there are still certain times of year that are better for selling. In this blog, we will break down the seasonal trends that affect scrap metal prices and discuss which time of year is best for you to sell your scrap.

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Factors That Affect Scrap Metal Prices

Supply and Demand: The prices of scrap metals like copper, aluminium and steel are closely tied to construction, technology and transportation and therefore prices fluctuate depending on how high the demand is for each industry.

Global Events: Major global events, like the COVID-19 pandemic, can have a significant impact on scrap metal prices. When the scrap metal supply was suddenly cut off and many scrap yards had to close indefinitely, prices for scrap skyrocketed.

Fuel Prices: When fuel prices rise, scrap metal becomes more expensive to process and move, thus making it more expensive to buy.

Other factors include changes to currency, economic events and the risk of oversupplying.

The Best Times of Year to Sell

Summer

Summer marks the peak of construction season when building projects are ramping up, causing the demand for scrap metals often used in infrastructure like steel, copper and aluminium to rise.

Additionally, as the weather warms up, it becomes easier to transport large quantities of scrap metal, meaning that transport costs become lower which leads to better overall scrap prices.

Spring 

Most people receive their tax refunds in the Spring and so have more money in their pockets to spend on auto parts, increasing the demand. Many salvage yards will pay more for your scrap during this time of year in order to keep their scrap yards full to meet the increase in demand. 

Autumn

Early Autumn is another time of year that industries like construction see heightened activity. Many construction crews are trying to finish projects before winter sets in, which results in an increased demand for scrap metal.

Many scrap yards also have annual budgets to meet, meaning towards the end of the year they may offer better prices in order to meet their targets and clear out their yards for winter.

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While the price of scrap metal is driven by a variety of factors, the general consensus is that spring and early summer are the best times to sell, thanks to the demand from different industries and the mild weather.

If you’re looking to sell your scrap, make sure you shop around to find the best deals and ensure that you’re working with a trusted recycler, like us at A&L Vehicle Recycling.

Click the button below to get a quote price for your scrap metal, or if you have questions about our prices, contact us at A&L Recycling today!

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When you request a scrap car quote on our website, you will be asked: ‘Does the vehicle have alloy wheels?’. Alloy wheels are wheel rims manufactured using magnesium or aluminium alloys (or both) and are incredibly valuable - this blog aims to unpack why.  

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Manufacturing

One reason why alloy wheels are so valuable is because they are far more expensive to source, manufacture, buy and repair than steel wheels. This is due to the fact that they are made from metals in their most enhanced form and so require a lot of time and resources to create.

Performance

As alloy wheels are much lighter than steel wheels, they lead to far better handling and acceleration of your vehicle.

They also have a lower unsprung weight, which helps to promote better traction and brake performance, reducing the risk of brake failure.

Visual Appeal

Perhaps one of the most common reasons that people opt for alloy wheels is because they can make your car stand out from other vehicles. You can even purchase alloy wheels with different finishes, designs and cuts depending on what you want their final look to be.

The flashier the wheels look, the pricier they probably are!

Durability

Aluminium alloy wheels are more resistant to rust and corrosion than steel wheels making them more desirable and thus, more expensive.

Whether or not your car has alloy wheels, we at A&L will offer you a fair price for it. Click the button below to get an instant quote for your vehicle!

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