Car Scrap: Your Complete Guide to Selling Old, Damaged & Wrecked Cars in Australia

If you're thinking about selling car scrap—whether it’s an old vehicle, crash-damaged car, abandoned shell, or a car that’s too costly to repair—you’re in exactly the right place. Car scrapping has become one of the fastest-growing sectors in Australia’s recycling industry, and with the rise of transparent digital marketplaces like ScrapTrade, sellers now get better prices, faster payments, and reliable buyers nationwide.

This guide walks you through everything: how car scrap prices work, what parts add the most value, how to prepare your vehicle, where to sell it, and how industrial partners like Sands Industries support workshops, wrecking yards, and recyclers.

Why Car Scrap Is a Strong Market in Australia

Demand for car scrap continues to rise due to:

• High value of metals like aluminium, copper, steel, and catalytic converters
• Growing recycling and sustainability efforts
• Strong export markets
• Demand for second-hand auto parts
• Increase in decommissioned and end-of-life vehicles

Whether you're an individual seller or a business dismantling vehicles daily, scrap cars carry real value—you just need the right approach to unlock it.

What Parts of a Car Are Most Valuable as Scrap?

A scrap vehicle contains multiple valuable components:

High-Value Metal Parts

• Aluminium engines
• Alloy wheels
• Radiators
• Copper wiring
• Gearboxes
• Starters & alternators
• Catalytic converters (very high value)

Car Body Metal

• Steel panels
• Chassis components
• Frames and structural parts

Reusable Parts

• Doors
• Bonnets
• Bumpers
• Glass
• Interior components

Car scrap isn’t just "metal"—multiple categories bring profit.

What Affects Car Scrap Prices in Australia?

Car scrap pricing varies, but the main factors are:

• Vehicle weight
• Metal composition (steel, aluminium, copper, alloys)
• Condition of parts
• Market commodity prices
• Buyer demand
• Transport distance
• Fuel costs
• Whether the car is complete or stripped

How to Sell Car Scrap Easily Using ScrapTrade

ScrapTrade is transforming how Australians buy and sell scrap cars.

Why sellers love it:

• Free listing
• Sellers get instant offers
• Verified nationwide buyers
• No middlemen
• No hidden fees
• Buyers compete, increasing your final price
• Perfect for complete cars or car parts

Visit the marketplace:
https://scraptrade.com.au/

It works brilliantly for:

• End-of-life vehicles
• Accident-damaged cars
• Non-running cars
• Flood-damaged cars
• Burnt cars
• Stripped shells
• Cars without rego or paperwork
• Industrial auto dismantling operations

Upload your car—buyers will come to you.

How Sands Industries Supports the Car Scrap Sector

Tools, lifting equipment, workshop gear, weighing solutions, and safety equipment make car scrapping far more efficient. That’s where Sands Industries helps businesses scale.

They offer:

• Vehicle lifting tools
• Industrial weighing equipment
• Material handling machinery
• Cutting and dismantling tools
• Workshop equipment
• PPE and safety supplies

Explore their solutions:
https://sandsindustries.com.au/

If you're running a wrecking yard or workshop, the right equipment dramatically improves speed, safety, and productivity.

How to Prepare Your Car for Scrapping

A few simple steps can increase your payout:

1. Remove personal belongings

Check seats, boot, glove box, and compartments.

2. Identify valuable parts

Alloy wheels, engines, catalytic converters, and motors can raise the value.

3. Take clear photos

Buyers pay more when they can see the actual condition.

4. List your vehicle on ScrapTrade

Let offers roll in from verified buyers.

5. Arrange pick-up

Most buyers provide free tow-away services.

6. Finalise payment

Secure payment before the car leaves your property.

Who Benefits Most From Selling Car Scrap?

• Individual car owners
• Auto wreckers
• Mechanics
• Fleet and logistics companies
• Taxi operators
• Scrap yards
• Car auction houses
• Transport companies
• Industrial salvage teams

If you have old or damaged vehicles, you have income sitting on your property.

Smart Tip

If you're unsure whether your old car is worth scrapping or repairing, list it on ScrapTrade. Multiple buyers will give you instant price estimates—revealing its true scrap value.

Ready to Sell Your Car Scrap?

Whether you’re scrapping one car or handling large volumes, platforms like ScrapTrade make selling simple, fast, and profitable—while Sands Industries supplies the tools and equipment that keep your operations efficient.