Scrap Car Prices and Buying Guide Rates

That old car sitting in your driveway or yard is worth more than most people realise. The trouble is that most sellers accept the first figure they are offered without understanding how a scrap car is actually valued.

Here is the simple truth: we buy your vehicle for the metal it contains, weighed on a verified weighbridge, not for the parts inside it. A standard 1,500kg sedan carries a baseline scrap value of around R6,000 before any towing is deducted. Where your final payout lands depends on weight, the catalytic converter, the recoverable copper and aluminium, the car's condition, and how far we travel to collect it.

In this guide we break down exactly how that valuation works, what drives your quote, and how to get the strongest honest price for your car.

Quick Facts & Key Takeaways

• Most scrap cars pay between R3,000 and R6,000, roughly 13% to 20% of the vehicle's retail value.
• We pay on metal content by weight, plus the precious-metal value of the catalytic converter, not on parts resold to third parties.
• A 1,500kg sedan sits near R6,000 on Heavy Melting Steel at about R4.00 per kilogram, before towing.
• Recoverable copper wiring, aluminium and the lead battery lift the figure above bare steel weight.
• Payment is same-day EFT, never cash, straight into your account once the car is weighed at.

How do you work out what a scrap car is worth?

Your car's value comes down to how much metal it holds and what that metal is worth on the day. We are a direct buyer, so there is no middle layer: you deal with our yard, we weigh the vehicle, and we pay you.

What role does vehicle weight play?

Weight is the foundation of every scrap car valuation. A heavier vehicle holds more recoverable steel, so it carries a higher base value. Your car's registration, make and model simply help us place it in the right weight bracket before it goes over the weighbridge.

Heavy Melting Steel sits at around R4.00 per kilogram. For a typical 1,500kg sedan that works out to a baseline of roughly R6,000 in steel alone, before towing. A large bakkie or SUV carries more metal and therefore a higher figure; a small hatchback carries less. You can see the current grade rates on our steel and iron scrap prices page, and rates do move with global demand, so a car sold this month may fetch a slightly different amount next month.

Which metals inside your car add value?

Beyond the steel body, a car holds several other metals we recover and weigh separately. This is what "salvageable" really means at our yard: metal we reclaim and pay you for, not parts we sell on.

The catalytic converter matters most. Declare it up front, because a car with its converter still fitted is worth meaningfully more than one that has been stripped. If you would rather handle it on its own, you can sell your catalytic converter separately, and the same goes for any loose copper you want to sell.

How do daily scrap metal prices affect your quote?

Scrap metal prices shift daily with global supply and demand, and that moves what we can offer. When steel, copper and aluminium are trading strongly, payouts climb; when they soften, so do quotes. We adjust our rates to the market rather than to a fixed price list, which is why it is always worth asking us for today's rate before you commit.

You can get a feel for the numbers yourself: estimate your load with our calculator or check the current scrap metal prices we are paying, then send us your car's details for a firm figure.

What else affects your scrap car payout?

Weight and metal prices set the baseline. Two more things move the final number: the condition of the car and how far we travel to fetch it.

How does the condition of the car affect its value?

Condition matters, but not in the way many sellers expect. We pay on metal, so a crumpled, burnt-out or flooded car still holds its full steel value. What genuinely lowers a payout is missing metal: a stripped catalytic converter, removed wiring, or an engine and radiator already pulled out all reduce the recoverable material. A few things that trim the figure:

• A missing or stripped catalytic converter
• Wiring or the radiator already removed
• Heavy rust that has eaten away body panels
• Parts of the car already dismantled and gone

An intact, complete car, damaged or not, always weighs and pays better than one that has been picked over.

How do distance and towing affect what you receive?

Where your car sits in relation to our yard affects your net payout, because collection carries a real fuel and labour cost. A car close to costs us less to fetch, so more of the metal value reaches your account. We collect, and we are upfront about any towing deduction before you agree, never as a surprise at the end.

The legal side: deregistering your scrap car

There is one step many sellers overlook. To legally scrap a permanently unfit vehicle, you must obtain a SAPS ( Police Service) clearance certificate and personally submit an Application for Deregistration of Vehicle (ADV) form to your registering authority. Doing this yourself protects you: if the car is not deregistered, you remain liable for ongoing licensing fees and fines.

It is worth checking whether your car is already deregistered. Under Road Traffic Management Corporation rules, the eNaTIS system automatically deregisters a vehicle that has not been licensed for four consecutive years, which can cut down your paperwork.

When you are ready, bring your ID and NATIS document, scrap your car with us. We weigh it on a verified weighbridge, agree the figure with you, and pay by same-day EFT. Reach us on WhatsApp, through the website form, or by email at reclaimetaltraders@mail.com.

Frequently asked questions

How do you work out what my scrap car is worth?

We weigh your vehicle on a verified weighbridge and pay on the metal it contains, mainly steel at around R4.00 per kilogram, plus the recoverable copper, aluminium and the catalytic converter's precious-metal value. Most cars land between R3,000 and R6,000, roughly 13% to 20% of retail. Ask us for today's rate before you commit.

Do I need to deregister my car?

Yes. To legally scrap a permanently unfit vehicle you must obtain a SAPS clearance certificate and submit an Application for Deregistration of Vehicle (ADV) form yourself. If your car has not been licensed for four years, eNaTIS may already have deregistered it automatically. Bring your ID and NATIS document when you sell.

What is the catalytic converter worth?

The catalytic converter is usually the most valuable single part of a scrap car, because it contains platinum, palladium and rhodium. A car with its converter still fitted is worth meaningfully more than a stripped one, so declare it up front. You can also sell it on its own if you prefer.

Do you collect scrap cars?

Yes. We collect and the surrounding from our yard at. Distance affects the towing deduction, which we confirm before you agree, and once the car is weighed we pay by same-day EFT, never cash.