Would you get more money for scrapping your car – or selling it?

We help you decide.

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Scrap it?

If your car is at least ten years old you can trade it in and receive £2,000 towards the cost of a new car or van.

If you are going to scrap your car, make it quick. The government has set aside a limited fund of £300m and demand is high.

Chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), Paul Everitt, said: “There has been a good response to the scheme ahead of the official start date and industry is confident that this will be translated into additional orders.”

To buy a new car under the scheme, your car or van must meet the following requirements:

• Up to 3.5 tonnes
• First registered in UK on or before August 31, 1999
• Currently registered with DVLA to the registered keeper, or currently on Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN)
• Road legal with an MOT certificate
• Registered by an owner with a full UK address
• Owned by the current driver for at least 12 months

New vehicles must be:

• Passenger cars or small vans up to 3.5 tonnes
• Registered in the UK
• Brand new without any previous keepers
• UK specific
• Registered to the keeper of the scrapped vehicle

Dealers will organise the paperwork – all you need is your car and proof of ownership.

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Sell it?

If you think your car is worth more than £2,000 it could be more profitable to sell it.

You can get a rough idea of your car’s value by searching for similar models on Auto Trader.

If your car was first registered after August 31, 1999, it’s not eligible for the scheme and selling may be the best option. However some manufacturers are offering good deals without the scrappage incentive.

Trading it in

You can trade in your old vehicle towards the cost of a new car. But you may get less money for trading your car in instead of selling it.
It’s a good idea to visit car dealers and get an idea of your car's trade-in value first – anything you get over this will be a profit.

Find out what your car's worth with a Glass’s valuation

If a dealer offers less than £2,000 for your car and it meets the requirements for the scrappage scheme, opt for scrapping it instead.

Selling privately

If you can sell your car for more than £2,000 you may be able to get more money to spend on a new one.

When setting a price for your car, take depreciation into account, which is how much a car’s original purchase price is lost over time.

All cars depreciate at different rates, depending on the make, model, mileage, condition and age. Cars in low supply and high demand depreciate slower than abundant cars which no one wants to buy.

If you’re unsure what your car is worth, consider getting a valuation. If it’s more than £2,000 selling privately could be the better choice.

Advertise your car on Auto Trader now

Follow our essential selling tips to ensure you get the best price:

• Cleaning your car
• Setting a price
• Wording the advert
• Dealing with buyers
• Seal the deal
• Complete selling guide

Are you scrapping your motor for a new one? Have your say on the Auto Trader Blog