Scrap my van or sell it? How to tell which pays more
A scrap yard pays for metal. A parts buyer pays for what still works. Those are two completely different numbers, and for most broken vans the second is higher — sometimes by hundreds of pounds. This page explains how to work out which route is right for your van.
| Feature | Selling to RubbishVans | Scrapping at a yard |
|---|---|---|
| What is being paid for | Scrap value plus the parts and components with a resale market | Weight of metal at the day's scrap price |
| Effect of a good engine or gearbox | Raises the offer | No effect — it is weighed the same |
| Recent work or new parts fitted | Counts towards the offer if you tell us | No effect |
| Collection | Free collection where eligible, arranged around you | Some yards collect, others expect delivery |
| Paperwork | We handle the DVLA notification | You should receive a Certificate of Destruction from an ATF |
| Best for | Vans with usable parts, a sound body or desirable spec | Stripped shells, fire and flood damage, heavily corroded vans |
Choose Selling to RubbishVans when
- The engine, gearbox or body panels are still sound
- You have had significant work done recently
- The van is a common model with strong demand for parts
Choose Scrapping at a yard when
- The van has already been stripped of anything useful
- It is fire, flood or severely corrosion damaged
- You want a Certificate of Destruction and nothing else
It is illegal to be paid in cash for scrap
Under the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 it is against the law in England and Wales for a scrap metal dealer to pay cash for a vehicle. Payment must be by bank transfer or cheque. Anyone offering you notes on the doorstep is not operating legally — walk away.
Always tell the DVLA
Whichever route you choose, the DVLA must be told you no longer own the van. If it goes for destruction you should receive a Certificate of Destruction from an Authorised Treatment Facility. If it is sold on, the change of keeper must be notified. We handle this for every van we buy and send you confirmation.
Get both numbers
Take two minutes to get a scrap quote by weight, then complete our form. Comparing the two is the only way to know which is genuinely better for your van — and we would rather you checked than wondered.
Common questions
- How much is my van worth as scrap?
- Scrap value tracks the weight of the vehicle and the current metal price, so it moves week to week. It is the floor of what your van is worth, not the ceiling.
- Do I need the V5C?
- It makes everything faster, but you can still sell without it — we will explain the extra DVLA step when we speak.
- Can I keep the number plate?
- Yes, if you retain or transfer the registration with the DVLA before the vehicle is collected.