Selling an unwanted car to a metal recycler in Melbourne takes four steps: you describe the car and get a quote, you book a pickup, the car is checked against the description when the truck arrives, and you are paid the same day by bank transfer or cheque once the paperwork is signed. Knowing what happens at each step, and what a fair quote looks like, is most of what you need.
This guide is written by the operations team at Johny Metal Recycling. We have bought scrap metal and unwanted vehicles in Melbourne since 2021 from our yard in Braeside, and the steps below are the ones we follow on every car we collect.
Which cars a metal recycler will take
Condition matters far less than most owners expect. A recycler buys the car for its metal and, sometimes, its reusable parts, so a car that would never sell privately can still be worth collecting. That includes:
- Old and high kilometre cars that are not worth repairing
- Cars that do not start, or have a failed engine or gearbox
- Accident damaged cars and insurance write offs
- Cars with lapsed registration and no roadworthy certificate
- Flood or fire damaged cars
- Utes, vans and four wheel drives
If your car is damaged, written off or unregistered, our guide to selling a written off, unregistered or non running car covers the extra rules that apply.
The process, step by step
Step 1: Describe the car and get a quote
Call us on 0449 894 456 or use the quote form, and have these details ready:
- Make, model and year
- Whether it starts and drives
- Any major damage, and whether parts such as the engine, gearbox, wheels or catalytic converter are missing
- Where the car is parked, and whether a truck can reach it
The quote is based on what you tell us, so be accurate. Our team once collected a car described over the phone as “basically running”. When the driver arrived, the engine was locked solid, and the revised offer came in about 35% lower than the original quote. Nobody enjoys that conversation, and it is avoidable. A clear description, or a couple of photos, gets you a quote that holds.
Step 2: Accept the offer and book a pickup
Once you accept, we book a time to collect the car. Towing for vehicles is free, so the price we agree is what you receive, with no towing charge taken off at the kerb. Our crew arrives with the lifting gear and vehicles needed to load a car that does not run.
Step 3: The car is checked when the truck arrives
The driver checks that the car matches the description and confirms the vehicle identification number. If something major was left out, the offer may change, and you are free to say no. If the car is as described, the agreed price stands.
Step 4: Paperwork, payment and removal
You sign the transfer paperwork, payment is sent the same day by bank transfer or cheque, and the car is loaded and taken away. The whole visit is usually short.
What you need on the day
Have these ready before the driver arrives:
- Photo ID. Registered second hand dealers in Victoria must record who they buy from, so expect to show it.
- Proof that you own the car. Registration papers help. If you have lost them, tell us when you call so we can explain what will work instead.
- Keys, if you still have them. A car without keys can usually still be collected, but say so when you book.
- Any finance cleared. If money is still owed on the car, it must be paid out first. Buyers can check the Personal Property Securities Register for money owing.
Before you hand over the keys:
- Remove your belongings. Check the glovebox, door pockets, boot, spare wheel well and under the seats.
- Remove anything you want to keep, such as a dash camera or a child seat.
- Take the number plates off.
- Cancel the registration with VicRoads. VicRoads asks owners to remove the plates and cancel the registration before disposing of a vehicle, and you may get a refund for any unused period, less processing and TAC fees. Their page on how to dispose of a vehicle explains the current rules.
- Cancel or adjust your insurance once the car has gone.
How to judge whether an offer is fair
There is no single book price for a scrap car. Each buyer works out an offer from the car’s weight, the metal it contains, any parts worth recovering, and what it costs them to collect it. Our guide to how much your scrap car is worth in Melbourne explains each of those in detail. In short, a fair offer has these features:
- It is based on the real car. The quote matches the description you gave, and the reason for any change on the day is explained.
- It is the amount you receive. No towing, administration or “environmental” fee is taken off later.
- It reflects current metal prices. Scrap metal prices move with the market, which is why a quote is confirmed by phone on the day rather than fixed weeks ahead.
Compare quotes like for like
Getting two or three quotes is sensible, but only if you compare the same thing. Ask each buyer:
- Is towing included, or taken off the price?
- How will I be paid, and when?
- Is this price firm if the car is as I described it?
- Who handles the transfer paperwork?
An “up to” figure in an advert is the most that buyer pays for the best vehicle it sees, not a guide to what your car is worth. A written quote for your actual car is more useful than any advertised maximum.
Wrecker, parts yard or metal recycler: which should you use?
Melbourne has several kinds of vehicle buyer, and they want different things.
| Buyer | What they are buying | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| Parts wrecker | Parts it can resell, often for particular makes | Late model cars with valuable parts in good order |
| Self serve yard | Cars for customers to strip their own parts from | Owners who drop the car off themselves |
| Metal recycler | The metal, plus any recoverable parts | Old, damaged, unregistered or non running cars |
| Private buyer | A car to drive | Cars that are registered and roadworthy |
If your car is old, damaged or no longer worth repairing, a metal recycler is usually the simplest route. The value sits in the metal, so condition matters less, and the car is processed for recycling rather than left in a paddock.
Red flags to watch for
Most buyers are straightforward, but a few habits should make you cautious:
- A quote that drops sharply on arrival without a clear reason. A change is fair when the car differs from its description. A change that is simply a lower number is not.
- Fees that appear at pickup. Towing, paperwork or disposal charges should be stated before you agree.
- No interest in your ID or the car’s identification number. A registered dealer has to check both.
- No written quote or receipt. Keep a record of the price, the date and who collected the car.
Selling more than one vehicle
Businesses clearing fleet vehicles, workshops with unclaimed cars and property managers dealing with abandoned vehicles can arrange several pickups together. Tell us how many vehicles there are and where they are, and keep a record of each one’s identification number, the date it was collected and the payment received.
What happens to the car after it is collected
Once your car reaches a recycler, fluids and hazardous parts such as the battery are removed first, reusable parts may be recovered, and the remaining body is processed so the steel and other metals can be separated and melted down again. Our guide to what happens to your car after collection walks through each stage.
Frequently asked questions
How will I be paid?
By bank transfer or cheque, on the same day the car is collected.
Does my car need to be registered or have a roadworthy?
No. A roadworthy certificate is needed when a registered car changes hands or when an unregistered car is registered again. A car sold for recycling is not going back on the road, so you do not need one.
Does the car need to run?
No. Our crew brings the equipment to load a car that does not start or cannot be driven. Tell us when you book so the right truck is sent.
Is towing really free?
Yes. Towing for vehicles is free, and the price we quote is the price you receive, with no hidden fees.
Why might the offer change when the truck arrives?
The quote is based on your description. If the car is missing major parts, or has damage that was not mentioned, the driver will explain the difference before anything is signed, and you can decline.
Can I sell a car without the registration papers?
Often, yes, but you still need to show that the car is yours. Tell us when you call and we will explain what proof will work in your situation.
Get a quote for your car
If you have a car you no longer want, call Johny Metal Recycling on 0449 894 456 or visit our cash for cars Melbourne page to request a quote. You will get an honest price based on the car you actually have, free towing, and same day payment by bank transfer or cheque. If you already know the car is scrap, our scrap car removal service explains how collection works.
About this guide. Written by the operations team at Johny Metal Recycling, a Melbourne metal recycler trading since 2021 from 1/9 Braeside Drive, Braeside VIC 3195 (ABN 48 654 008 572). Updated October 2026.
Sources: Consumer Affairs Victoria, Scrap metal laws. VicRoads, How to dispose of a vehicle.