Scrap car vs part-exchange — which pays more in Hampshire?

It's one of the most common Hampshire scenarios: you're buying a new car, the dealer offers £100–£300 to take your old one 'off your hands', and you're wondering if scrap collection would pay more. The short answer: often yes on cars over 12 years old, and almost always on non-runners and MOT-failures.

When scrap beats part-exchange

• The car has just failed its MOT and the dealer knows it
• Non-runner, seized engine, gearbox failure or major electrical fault
• Over 12 years old with high mileage
• Cat S / Cat N insurance history that scares the dealer's used-car buyer
• Larger cars, SUVs and vans — where weight and cat converter add real scrap value

When part-exchange wins

• The car is under 8 years old with full MOT and drives well
• The dealer is desperate for used-car stock and offers over book value
• The part-ex price is only 'against the deal' — you don't lose it if you walk away
• The convenience of driving one car in and another out matters more than the extra £150

How to compare properly

Get the dealer's part-exchange figure in writing. Get our scrap quote by sending the reg to WhatsApp. Compare like for like — and remember the dealer offer is often padded into the new-car discount, so ask them to split it out. If our scrap price beats the part-ex figure by £50 or more, take the scrap.