Quick answer
A non-runner is valued mainly on weight and the scrap metal price, so not running rarely lowers the figure much. Completeness, the catalytic converter, keys and V5C also count. We Buy Scrap Cars Corby gives an instant online price and free collection. Call 07598 314366.
- Price
- Instant online
- Collection
- Free
- Payment
- Bank transfer on collection
- Paperwork
- Certificate of Destruction
On this page
- Does a non-runner have any value?
- How much is my non-runner worth?
- Why not running doesn't cut the price much
- What affects the price of a non-runner
- Moving a car that won't move
- Cars that have sat for years
- Will the price change on the day?
- Paying you and the paperwork
- What to tell George when he calls
- Cars left after a death or illness
- Tax, insurance and SORN
- Related pages
Does a non-runner have any value?
Yes. A car that won't start, has a seized engine or has sat on flat tyres for years still contains the same steel, aluminium and other metals it always did. Because scrap is bought and sold by weight, that metal is where most of the value sits.
Many owners assume a dead car is something they will have to pay to get rid of. That is not the case with us. Collection is free, and we pay you for the car by bank transfer when we take it.
How much is my non-runner worth?
The figure for a non-runner is set in the same way as for any scrap car. We start with the weight of the vehicle and the current price per tonne on the scrap metal market. We then look at what is still fitted and what paperwork you have.
To see a real number for your car, enter the registration and postcode on our instant price page. It takes a couple of minutes and there is no obligation.
Why not running doesn't cut the price much
A car being a non-runner mostly affects how it is moved, not what it is worth as scrap. A seized engine weighs the same as a working one. A flat battery doesn't change the metal content. So the gap between a running scrap car and a non-running one is usually small.
What does reduce value is missing parts. If the engine has been taken out to try a repair, or the catalytic converter has gone, there is less to recycle. That is the difference that shows up in the price, not whether the key turns.
What affects the price of a non-runner
| Factor | Effect on price |
|---|---|
| Weight | Sets most of the value. Bigger, heavier cars are worth more |
| Scrap metal market | Moves up and down, so values change over time |
| Whether it starts | Usually makes little difference to a scrap price |
| Engine and gearbox still fitted | Keeps the value up. Removed parts lower it |
| Catalytic converter | A missing converter has a clear effect on the offer |
| Keys | Help with steering and handling during loading |
| V5C logbook | Keeps paperwork simple. Without it you need ID and proof of ownership |
| Location and access | Part of how the price is worked out. Collection is still free |
Moving a car that won't move
This is where our recovery background helps. Collections are carried out with our own trucks from Rapid Recovery Corby, including tilt-and-slide beavertails with winches, and a van with dollies and skates for low garages and seized wheels. Cars with flat tyres, seized brakes or locked steering can usually be loaded without trouble.
When George calls to book, tell him if the car is in a garage, behind a gate or on soft ground. That helps us bring the right equipment so the collection goes smoothly.
Cars that have sat for years
We see plenty of cars that have been parked up for a long time: a project that never got finished, a second car that was meant to be sold, or a relative's car left after they stopped driving. Long storage often means flat tyres, seized brakes, a dead battery and sometimes a bit of moss on the roof.
None of that stops us. As long as the car is still complete, its value is mainly in its weight. If you are not sure whether the car is worth fixing, our scrap or repair guide can help you decide.
Will the price change on the day?
The online price stands as long as the car matches what we agreed when George called. If something is different when we arrive, for example the catalytic converter has been cut off since that call, we explain why before we load. You can say no at that point and nothing is taken.
Being upfront when George calls is the best way to keep things simple. Tell him what is missing and he will talk it through before collection.
Paying you and the paperwork
We pay instantly by bank transfer when we collect. We don't pay cash, because the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 makes it illegal to pay cash for scrap cars.
Have photo ID and proof of address ready, as we must check the seller's name and address. Hand over the V5C if you have it and keep the small yellow slip. The car goes to a licensed Authorised Treatment Facility, which issues a Certificate of Destruction and tells the DVLA.
What to tell George when he calls
Once you accept your price, George calls to book the collection. The more he knows, the smoother the day goes. Useful details include:
- Whether the engine, gearbox and catalytic converter are still fitted.
- Whether you have keys and the V5C logbook.
- Whether the tyres are flat or the brakes seized.
- Where the car is: driveway, roadside, garage, yard or car park.
- Anything that makes access tricky, such as a narrow gateway or a low garage roof.
None of this commits you to anything. It simply makes sure the price matches the car we come to collect.
Cars left after a death or illness
Sometimes the non-runner on the drive belonged to a relative who has stopped driving or passed away. We understand that can be a hard job to face. The process is the same, and whoever is selling the car will need photo ID and proof of address, along with the V5C or other proof that they can sell it.
Tax, insurance and SORN
If the car has been off the road with no tax, it should be on a SORN. Once the DVLA is told the car has been scrapped, a SORN is no longer needed, and any full months of vehicle tax left are refunded automatically. Remember to cancel the insurance yourself.
Related pages
- Our non-runner collection service explains how we handle cars that won't start.
- How much is my scrap car worth? gives the general picture.
- How much is my damaged car worth? covers accident and flood damage.
- How scrap car prices work explains the weight and market side in detail.
When you are ready, get your instant price and book a free collection.
Last updated 14 October 2026 by We Buy Scrap Cars Corby.
Non-Runners 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 · Damaged Cars and Write-Offs · 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 non-runner worth?
Mostly whatever its weight is worth at the current scrap metal price, adjusted for completeness, the catalytic converter, keys and V5C. Enter your reg and postcode for an instant price.
Is a non-runner worth less than a car that runs?
Usually only a little, if at all. Scrap cars are priced on weight, and a car that won't start weighs the same as one that does.
Do I have to pay to have a dead car removed?
No. Collection is free, and we pay you by bank transfer when we take the car.
Can you collect a car with flat tyres or seized brakes?
Yes. We use our own recovery trucks with winches, dollies and skates, so cars with flat tyres, seized brakes or locked steering can usually be loaded.
What lowers the price of a non-runner?
Missing parts, especially the engine, gearbox or catalytic converter, plus a lower scrap metal market. Not running on its own rarely matters much.
Do I need keys for a non-runner?
Keys help with steering and handling during loading. If you don't have them, tell George when he calls so the price and equipment are right.