What is the Difference Between Car Wrecking & Car Scrapping?

When your old or damaged vehicle reaches the end of its life, you’re often left with two main options car wrecking or car scrapping. While these terms are sometimes used interchangeably, they actually refer to different processes. At Auto Wreckers Perth, we believe that understanding the difference can help you make a more informed and profitable decision.

In this blog, we’ll break down what car wrecking and car scrapping really mean, their benefits, and which option might be best for your vehicle.

What is Car Wrecking?

Car wrecking is the process of dismantling a vehicle to salvage and resell usable parts. Car Wreckers are usually specialized businesses like Auto Wreckers Perth that purchase old, unwanted, or damaged vehicles, assess their condition, and carefully remove parts that are still in good working order.

Commonly salvaged parts include:

• Engines and transmissions

• Radiators

• Alternators and starter motors

• Bumpers, mirrors, and doors

• Tires and wheels

• Car batteries

These parts are then sold to other vehicle owners or mechanics looking for cost-effective replacement components. Once all valuable parts are removed, the remaining metal is recycled.

What is Car Scrapping?

Car scrapping refers to the process of completely dismantling and crushing a vehicle that has no usable or valuable components left. This usually happens when a car is too damaged, too old, or too worn out to yield any working parts.

In this process:

1. Fluids (like oil, fuel, and coolant) are safely drained and disposed of.

2. The vehicle is de-polluted and stripped of any hazardous materials.

3. The car is crushed or shredded, and the metal is sent to recycling plants.

In most cases, the only value you get from scrapping a car comes from the weight of the metal.