Quick answer
A damaged car is valued mainly on weight and the scrap metal price, then on what is missing, the catalytic converter, keys, V5C and write-off category. We Buy Scrap Cars Corby gives an instant online price, free collection and payment by bank transfer. Call 07598 314366.
- Price
- Instant online
- Collection
- Free
- Payment
- Bank transfer on collection
- Paperwork
- Certificate of Destruction
On this page
- What happens to value when a car is damaged
- How much is my damaged car worth?
- Write-off categories explained
- Does the category change the price?
- What affects the price of a damaged car
- Flood damaged cars
- Getting a damaged car loaded
- Will the price change on the day?
- Paperwork and payment
- Clearing out a damaged car
- Scrap or repair after damage?
- Related pages
What happens to value when a car is damaged
When a car is badly damaged, its value as a road car can drop sharply. Its value as scrap usually holds up much better. That is because scrap is priced mainly on weight, and a dented, crumpled or flood damaged car still contains most of its metal.
The things that really move a damaged car's scrap price are what has been lost or removed, and what the paperwork says about the car. This guide explains both.
How much is my damaged car worth?
Your damaged car's value starts with its weight and the current scrap metal price per tonne. We then adjust for what is missing, whether the catalytic converter is still fitted, whether you have keys and the V5C, and the write-off category if there is one.
You can see a figure straight away by entering the registration and postcode on our instant price page. No contact details are needed to see it. If you accept, George calls to talk through the damage and anything missing before collection.
Write-off categories explained
If an insurer has written your car off, it will be given a category. Each one says something different about what can legally happen to the car next:
- Cat A: the whole car must be crushed. Nothing can be salvaged.
- Cat B: the body shell must be crushed, but some parts can be salvaged.
- Cat S: structural damage. The car can be repaired and returned to the road.
- Cat N: non-structural damage. The car can be repaired.
If your insurer paid out and you kept the car (a buy-back), you can still scrap it with us. Tell George the category when he calls so we have the full picture.
Does the category change the price?
For a scrap car, the weight and completeness matter more than the label. A Cat N car with light panel damage and a Cat B car with heavy damage can still be valued in a similar way if both are complete and weigh about the same.
Where the category tends to matter is in what has happened since. Cars that have been partly stripped after a write-off, or that have lost parts in the accident, will be worth less because there is less to recycle.
What affects the price of a damaged car
| Factor | Effect on price |
|---|---|
| Weight | The main driver of value, even for a badly damaged car |
| Scrap metal market | Rises and falls, so the same car is worth more or less at different times |
| Missing engine or gearbox | Lowers the price, as there is less metal to recycle |
| Catalytic converter | Missing or damaged beyond recovery reduces the offer |
| Missing wheels or panels | Reduces weight and value |
| Write-off category | Helps us understand the car. Completeness matters more than the label |
| Keys and V5C | Keep the collection and paperwork simple |
| Location and access | Feeds into the price. Collection is still free |
Flood damaged cars
Cars caught in floods on low roads are a common sight after heavy rain. Water can ruin the electrics, the engine and the interior, which often makes a repair uneconomic. As scrap, though, a flood damaged car still has its metal, so it is valued in much the same way as any other complete car.
If the car has been sitting in water or mud, tell George when he calls. It helps us plan the collection.
Getting a damaged car loaded
Accident damage can leave a car with wheels that won't turn, a bent steering arm or a corner sitting on the ground. Our collections are carried out with our own recovery trucks from Rapid Recovery Corby, with winches, dollies and skates, so most damaged cars can be loaded safely from a driveway, roadside, car park or garage forecourt.
Will the price change on the day?
The price stands as long as the car is complete and as described. If we arrive and something is different, such as a part missing that you hadn't mentioned, we explain why before we load anything. You can say no and keep the car.
Paperwork and payment
We pay instantly by bank transfer when we collect. Paying cash for scrap cars has been illegal since the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013, so any buyer offering it is breaking the law.
Have photo ID and proof of address ready. Hand over the V5C if you have it, and cancel your insurance yourself once the car has gone. The car goes to a licensed Authorised Treatment Facility, which issues a Certificate of Destruction. Our guide to the Certificate of Destruction explains why that document matters.
Clearing out a damaged car
After an accident, belongings are easy to forget. Before collection, check the glovebox, door pockets, boot and under the spare wheel. Take any dashcam, sat nav or parking permit, and cancel toll or parking accounts linked to the registration.
If the car carries a personalised number plate you want to keep, you must transfer or retain it with the DVLA before the car is scrapped. After that it is lost for good.
Scrap or repair after damage?
For a Cat S or Cat N car, repair is legally possible, so it is worth asking whether the repair bill makes sense. If the cost of putting the car right is more than it would be worth afterwards, scrapping is often the sensible choice. Our guide on whether to scrap or repair sets out the questions to ask before you decide.
Related pages
- Our damaged cars and write-offs service explains how we handle accident and flood damage.
- How much is my scrap car worth? covers the general picture.
- How much is my non-runner worth? helps if the damage stops the car running.
- How scrap car prices work goes deeper into weight and the market.
Get your instant price and see what your damaged car is worth today.
Last updated 14 October 2026 by We Buy Scrap Cars Corby.
Damaged Cars and Write-Offs by area
- Corby
- Kettering
- Weldon
- Priors Hall Park
- Great Oakley
- Stanion
- Brigstock
- Gretton
- Cottingham
- Middleton
- Rockingham
- Geddington
- Rothwell
- Desborough
- Deenethorpe
- Wilbarston
- Stoke Albany
- East Carlton
- Rushton
- Great Easton
- Caldecott
- Harringworth
- Bulwick
- Grafton Underwood
- Lowick
- Barton Seagrave
Other price guides: Scrap Car Collection · MOT Failures · Non-Runners · Scrap Van Collection
Helpful guides
- How to scrap a car legally
- Certificate of Destruction explained
- Scrapping a car with no logbook
- Should I scrap or repair my car?
- How scrap car prices work
Questions people ask
How much is my damaged car worth?
It depends mainly on weight and the scrap metal price, then on missing parts, the catalytic converter, keys, V5C and write-off category. Get an instant price online.
Can I scrap a Cat S or Cat N buy-back?
Yes. If your insurer wrote the car off and you kept it, you can still scrap it with us. Tell us the category when you get your price.
Is a Cat B car worth less as scrap?
Not necessarily. For scrap, weight and completeness matter more than the category. Missing parts are what usually lower the value.
Do you buy flood damaged cars?
Yes. A flood damaged car still has its metal, so it is valued much like any other complete car of the same weight.
Can you collect a car whose wheels won't turn after an accident?
Usually, yes. Our recovery trucks carry winches, dollies and skates for damaged cars that can't roll.
Do I need to cancel my insurance when I scrap a damaged car?
Yes. Cancel the insurance yourself once the car has gone. Any full months of vehicle tax left are refunded automatically by the DVLA.