A typical scrap car is mostly steel and iron, usually around two thirds of its total weight, with somewhere between 100 and 200kg of aluminium, roughly 20 to 25kg of copper and just a few grams of platinum group metals tucked inside the catalytic converter. Those few grams of platinum, palladium and rhodium are worth far more per gram than anything else on the car, which is why the catalytic converter matters so much to your scrap value.

If you have ever wondered why a scrap car is worth anything at all, the answer is in the metal. Here is what is inside an average family car and why each part counts.

What is a scrap car actually made of?

An average modern car weighs somewhere between 1,000kg and 1,500kg. Steel and iron make up the largest share, followed by aluminium, plastics, rubber, glass and fluids. Smaller amounts of copper and lead are spread through the wiring and battery. Then there is the catalytic converter, which holds a tiny amount of some of the most valuable metals on earth.

How much steel is in a scrap car?

Steel is the backbone of every car. The body shell, doors, chassis rails, roof, subframes and many suspension parts are steel, while the engine block, brake discs and some exhaust parts may be cast iron. Together, steel and iron usually make up around 60 to 70 per cent of a car's weight.

Steel is not the most valuable metal per tonne, but there is a lot of it. That is why almost all scrap car prices are based mainly on the weight of the car and the price being paid per tonne for scrap metal. A heavier car or van has more steel, so it generally fetches more. You can read more about this on our UK scrap metal prices page.

How much aluminium is in a car?

Aluminium use has grown steadily because carmakers want lighter cars that use less fuel. A modern family car often contains somewhere between 100 and 200kg of it, mainly in the wheels, cylinder head, engine block on many petrol engines, gearbox casing, radiator and sometimes the bonnet or boot lid. Some premium cars use aluminium for most of the body.

Aluminium is worth more per kilo than steel and can be recycled again and again without losing quality, so recyclers are keen to recover it.

How much copper is in a car?

A conventional petrol or diesel car typically contains around 20 to 25kg of copper. Most of it sits in the wiring loom, which can run to well over a kilometre of cable in a modern car, plus the starter motor, alternator and electric motors for windows, seats and wipers. Older cars may also have copper and brass radiators.

Electric and hybrid cars contain a great deal more copper because of their motors and high voltage cabling, often several times the amount in a petrol car.

What precious metals are in a catalytic converter?

The catalytic converter is a metal can in the exhaust containing a honeycomb ceramic or metal core. That core is coated with a thin layer of platinum, palladium and rhodium, known as platinum group metals. These metals trigger the chemical reactions that turn harmful exhaust gases into less harmful ones.

The amount is tiny. A standard converter usually holds somewhere between 2 and 7 grams of platinum group metals in total, though larger engines and some hybrids carry more. Diesel cars tend to use more platinum, while petrol cars lean on palladium and rhodium. Because these metals are so rare, those few grams can be worth more than a large chunk of the car's steel.

Why does an original catalytic converter matter for your quote?

Not all converters are equal. Original manufacturer converters are generally made with the full amount of precious metal coating. Cheaper aftermarket replacements often contain much less.

That is why every Motorwise quote assumes the car is complete and intact, with 4 wheels and tyres and an original manufacturer supplied catalytic converter. As our scrap car FAQs explain, if an aftermarket converter is fitted, the quoted value may be renegotiated before the sale is agreed. If the converter is missing altogether, expect the price to change.

What happens to the metals after your car is scrapped?

At an Authorised Treatment Facility, the car is first depolluted. Fluids and the battery are removed, along with reusable parts. The catalytic converter is taken off and sent to specialist refiners who recover the precious metals. The rest of the car is shredded, and magnets and other separation systems sort steel from aluminium, copper and non-metal waste. Recovered metal goes back to mills and smelters to be made into new products.

So what is your car worth?

Your scrap value comes down to weight, metal content, the condition of the car and whether key parts like the catalytic converter are present and original. Metal markets move daily, so the figure changes too. The easiest way to find out is to check current scrap car prices and get an instant scrap car quote with free collection.

Frequently asked questions

How much platinum is in a catalytic converter?

A typical catalytic converter contains only a few grams of platinum group metals in total, shared between platinum, palladium and rhodium. The exact amount depends on the engine size, fuel type and manufacturer.

Does my scrap car need its catalytic converter?

Motorwise quotes assume the car has an original manufacturer supplied catalytic converter. If an aftermarket converter is fitted, the quote may be renegotiated before the sale is agreed.

Is steel the most valuable part of a scrap car?

Steel is the largest part of a car by weight, and almost all scrap car prices are based on weight and the price per tonne for scrap metal. Per gram, though, the precious metals in the catalytic converter are worth far more.