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What Is The Difference Between Car Scrapping And Car Breaking?

It’s a question we’re asked regularly.

When people decide to get rid of an old, damaged or non-running vehicle, they often hear the terms car scrapping and car breaking used interchangeably.

While the two processes are closely linked, they aren’t actually the same thing.

Understanding the difference can help explain why some vehicles are worth more than others and how specialist breakers assess the value of a car.

What Is Car Scrapping?

Car scrapping is the final stage of a vehicle’s life.

Once a vehicle has reached the point where it is no longer economical to repair, it will eventually be recycled for its raw materials.

Before this happens, environmentally harmful items must be removed and disposed of correctly.

This includes:

  • Engine oil
  • Fuel
  • Coolant
  • Batteries
  • Tyres
  • Other hazardous materials

Once the vehicle has been depolluted, the remaining shell is processed and recycled, allowing valuable metals such as steel and aluminium to be reused.

The scrap value of a vehicle is influenced by factors such as its weight and current scrap metal prices.

What Is Car Breaking?

Car breaking usually happens before the vehicle is scrapped.

Many vehicles that are no longer roadworthy still contain perfectly usable parts that can be reused on other vehicles.

Rather than sending these parts for recycling, a breaker removes them and makes them available to motorists and garages looking for affordable replacement parts.

Common parts recovered from vehicles include:

  • Engines
  • Gearboxes
  • Catalytic converters
  • Alloy wheels
  • Doors and body panels
  • Lights and mirrors
  • Suspension components
  • Electrical parts
  • Interior trim

This process helps reduce waste and provides customers with a more affordable alternative to buying brand-new parts.

Why Are Some Vehicles Worth More Than Others?

When a vehicle is submitted for a quote, it isn’t always valued purely on its scrap weight.

Vehicles that contain valuable reusable components are often worth more because those parts can be recovered and sold for use on other vehicles.

For example, a vehicle with a healthy engine, good gearbox and desirable parts may be worth considerably more than a similar vehicle that has already been stripped.

This is why two cars of the same age and model can receive very different valuations.

How Allstar Breakers Assess Vehicles

At Allstar Breakers, we assess every vehicle individually.

We consider factors such as:

  • The make and model
  • The age and mileage
  • The condition of major components
  • Demand for used parts
  • The current scrap value

This allows us to provide fair and competitive quotes for scrap, damaged and non-running vehicles.

Learn more about our Sell Non Running Car service.

Why Vehicle Breaking Benefits The Environment

Reusing vehicle parts helps reduce waste and lowers the demand for manufacturing new components.

Many parts still have years of serviceable life remaining, making reuse a sensible and environmentally responsible option.

Only once reusable components have been removed does the remaining vehicle proceed to the recycling stage.

This ensures that as much of the vehicle as possible is reused or recycled.

Need A Quote For Your Vehicle?

If you have a car, van or 4×4 that has reached the end of its life, we’d be happy to help.

Whether the vehicle is damaged, non-running or simply no longer worth repairing, we can provide a straightforward quote and arrange collection.

Call 01772 700 607 or complete our online enquiry form today.

You can also find out more about our scrap car collection service.