Two cars that look identical can be worth very different amounts. Here's what's really going on under the hood of a scrap car valuation.
People often assume a scrap car is priced purely on weight, like a load of steel. The good buyers don't work that way — and that's why offers vary so much. After years of buying cars across New Zealand, here's how I arrive at a number.
Before a car is ever weighed, we look at what can be reused. Engines, gearboxes, alternators, starter motors, panels, lights, glass, wheels and electronics all have a resale market. A complete car with in-demand parts is worth far more than the same car stripped, because those parts go back into keeping other cars on the road.
What's left after parts is the shell. Its value depends on weight and the mix of ferrous (steel) and non-ferrous (aluminium, copper) metal. Scrap-metal prices move with global commodity markets, so the "per-tonne" figure isn't fixed week to week.
Popular makes — Toyota, Holden, Ford, Nissan, Mazda — have deeper parts demand, which lifts offers. Rare or import-only models can go either way depending on whether parts move.
Running cars, and cars that are complete and undamaged, are worth more. But even a dead, flood-damaged or written-off car keeps real value in parts and metal.
Where the car is affects the maths slightly — a remote pickup costs more to service — but because we operate nationwide, removal stays free and the impact on your offer is small.
See typical ranges on our scrap car prices page, or get a firm figure with an instant quote.
No. A fair valuation counts reusable parts first, then the metal by weight and grade. That's why complete cars are worth more than stripped ones.
Different buyers value parts differently, and scrap-metal prices move with global markets. A buyer who resells parts can usually pay more than a flat weight price.
Usually no — we value the whole car, and a complete vehicle generally nets you more than selling bits separately and scrapping the rest.
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