What actually happens to my car after it's scrapped?
From your driveway to the shredder — the exact journey a scrap car takes through a Hampshire ATF, what gets recycled, and what gets destroyed.
Once we load your car onto the truck, it goes through a five-stage process at an Authorised Treatment Facility (ATF). Roughly 95% of the vehicle's weight is recycled — steel, aluminium, glass, plastics and precious metals from the catalytic converter.
Stage 1 — De-pollution
Fuel, oil, coolant, brake fluid, air-con gas and battery acid are drained and stored for licensed disposal. Airbags are deployed safely. This step is what separates an ATF from a scrap yard.
Stage 2 — Parts salvage
Reusable parts — engines, gearboxes, alternators, catalytic converters, wheels, panels — are removed and sold as spares. This is where a lot of your car's scrap value comes from.
Stage 3 — Shell crushing
The stripped shell is crushed flat, transported to a metals shredder, and turned into fist-sized chunks.
Stage 4 — Metals separation
Magnets pull out steel. Eddy-current separators isolate aluminium and copper. Non-metals (plastic, foam, glass) go to further recycling streams.
Stage 5 — Paperwork
DVLA is notified, a Certificate of Destruction is issued in your name, and the vehicle record is closed. You get an email copy for your files.
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