Revealed: The Most Scrapped Cars In Canada

Introduction

If you own an older vehicle in Canada, you may be wondering when it’s time to part with it. For many, this becomes a yearly dilemma. In 2024 alone, more than 1.6 million vehicles were scrapped in Canada. This shows that more Canadians are choosing to recycle their cars rather than letting them sit unused. This blog will inform you of the trend and causes of car scrapping in Canada.

Most Frequently Scrapped Vehicles in Canada

In 2024, some vehicle models were scrapped more often than others. Leading the list was the Ford Focus, followed by the Dodge Caravan, Honda Civic, and Toyota Corolla. Some other frequently scrapped models were Ford Fiesta, Volkswagen Golf, Renault Clio, Vauxhall Zafira, Mini Hatch, Peugeot 207, and Volkswagen Polo. As these cars get older, it costs more to keep them running, and the owners, as a cost-effective measure, turn towards scrapping.

Common Types of Vehicles Often Scrapped

Although certain models vary from year to year, some vehicle types are more common to find at scrap yards:

• • Older Sedans and Small Cars: These cars, typically from the late 1990s and early to mid-2000s, fall out of favor after their years due to age, mileage, and overall wear and tear. Popular models from these years — such as older Honda Civics, Toyota Corollas, Ford Focus models, and Chevrolet Cavaliers — are scrapped regularly.
  • 2000s Midsize SUVs and Minivans: After years of transporting passengers and freight, these minivans and SUVs most often die of mechanical failure or rust, rendering repairs unaffordable. Ford Explorers, Chevrolet Trailblazers, Dodge Caravans, and Honda Odysseys are some of the known brand names.
  • Trucks with Heavy Wearing or Damage: Work pickup trucks or tow trucks often develop severe wear and tear in their engines, transmissions, and frames. Rust or accidents can also cause them to be scrapped. Used Ford F-Series, Chevrolet Silverados, and Dodge Rams go into the scrapyards every year.
  • Cars with Accident or Salvage Titles: These cars have been repaired and returned to the road, but when they are involved in further accidents or develop serious problems, they tend to be junked.
  • Cars That Fail Emissions Tests or Safety Inspections: Older cars that no longer pass ever-tougher environmental or safety regulations might be too expensive to repair to code, causing them to be discarded.

Also Read: 5 Signs It’s Time to Scrap Your Old Car: A Canadian Driver’s Checklist

Reasons for Scrapping Cars

Vehicles come towards the end of their useful life for a complex set of reasons, so scrapping is a process required for environmental and safety reasons. The reasons can be split into broad categories as follows:

• • Wear and Tear: Over years of use, a vehicle’s parts — from the engine and gearbox to the suspension and brakes — undergo extensive wear and tear. At some point, the expense of repairing or replacing these worn components becomes economically unfeasible about the car’s market value.
  • High Costs of Repairs: Cars grow old and need more costly repairs over time. A serious engine or transmission breakdown, for example, may run into thousands of dollars, which can even exceed the current market value of the car. In such cases, scrapping becomes the more economical option.
  • Higher Insurance Costs: Insurers can also charge a premium for older cars because they are more likely to break down and may not have the advanced safety features of new vehicles. The extra expense can make scrapping the vehicle a viable option.
  • Less Fuel Efficiency: Older engines tend to use fuel less efficiently as a result of wear and tear or old technology. The higher price of fuel can make driving an older gas-guzzler economically unfeasible.
  • Emission Regulations: Governments across the globe are putting in place stricter emission regulations to reduce air pollution. Older cars tend not to be compliant with these new regulations, which may incur a fine or limit their usage. Scrapping them removes polluting vehicles from the road.
  • Severe Accident Damage: Vehicles that have been involved in serious accidents may suffer irreparable damage to their structure. While some components might be salvageable, it is often too expensive to restore an extensively damaged vehicle to a safe and roadworthy state, and scrapping the vehicle is the only viable option.
  • Mechanical Failure: Cars are sometimes subject to sudden and irreparable breakdowns of key components, such as engine seizure, complete transmission failure, or severe chassis damage. These breakdowns tend to leave the vehicle immobile, and the repair cost greatly exceeds the value of the car.
  • Natural Calamities: Natural disasters like floods, fire, or earthquakes can result in major destruction to vehicles, making them unusable and unsafe. Insurance providers, in such instances, tend to write off the vehicles as total losses, resulting in their scrapping.

Environmental Benefits of Car Recycling

Car recycling provides an important range of environmental benefits. Through the breakdown and processing of end-of-life vehicles, we can reclaim valuable materials and reduce the burden on our planet. Here is a breakdown of the key environmental benefits:

• • Resource Conservation: Recycling parts like steel and aluminum reduces our dependency on mining raw materials, which is energy-intensive and harmful to natural habitats. Recycling these precious resources allows us to prolong their longevity and ease the load on the world’s finite resources.
  • Energy Savings: It takes much more energy to make new materials from raw materials compared to processing recycled materials. Recycling auto parts, particularly metal, results in huge energy savings in production, which in turn decreases our reliance on fossil fuels and emissions of greenhouse gases.
  • Reduction of pollution: Industrial and mining processes used to produce new materials tend to create air and water pollution. Car recycling circumvents these destructive processes, which result in cleaner air and water. It also ensures safe disposal of hazardous fluids and vehicle components that might contaminate the environment.
  • Landfill Space Savings: End-of-life automobiles occupy a large amount of space in landfills. Recycling reduces the volume of waste sent to landfills, extends landfill lifespan, and helps address environmental issues such as leachate and methane emissions.

Also Read: Car Recycling 101: How Your Old Car Can Help the Environment

How to Scrap Your Car?

Scrapping your car is a practical and responsible way to dispose of it. But where do you even begin? Here is a step-by-step guide to help you navigate the journey of scrapping your car the right way:

1. Collect Your Documents: Get your documents in order before doing anything else. This usually includes:

• • Vehicle Registration Certificate (RC): This is the most important document establishing ownership.
  • Identification Proof: Your driver’s license, passport, or Aadhaar card will be asked for.
  • Address Proof: This may be part of your identification or be a standalone document, such as a utility bill.

2. Find a Genuine Car Scrapyard: This is an important step, so you get the best price and your vehicle is disposed of in the most eco-friendly way. Here’s how to do it:

• • Search Online: Search for scrap car buyers in Canada. Read their reviews and ratings.
  • Request Referrals: Your family, friends, or even your neighborhood technician may have some suggestions.
  • Verify Credentials: Ensure the dealer is licensed and follows standard scrapping procedures. Authorised Vehicle Scrapping Facilities (AVSFs) are usually the best option since they come under government regulations.

3. Get a Quote: Shop around with a few scrap dealers or AVSFs to obtain quotes on your car. Be ready to give information such as:

• • Make and Model of the Car, Year of Production
  • General Condition of the Car
  • Parts Availability

4. Plan Collection or Drop-Off: After selecting a buyer and negotiating a price, arrange for the vehicle to be collected or confirm if you’ll need to drop it off at their branch. Genuine dealers usually provide a free collection.

5. Get Paid: After the vehicle is picked up and the documents are ready, you will be paid the negotiated amount. Agree on the payment method in advance (cash, bank transfer, etc.).

Conclusion

In summary, the statistics on Canada’s most commonly scrapped vehicles emphasize the life cycle of cars. Proper end-of-life vehicle management is essential. For a reliable service in having your unwanted car removed, Greenway Auto Recycling provides a reliable service, guaranteeing environmentally friendly disposal. This makes the process easy for owners who want to responsibly recycle their car.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I scrap a car that doesn’t run?
Yes. Many Canadian scrapyards accept vehicles that are non-functional. Even if your car won’t start or has major mechanical issues, it can still be scrapped. Valuable metals and parts are recycled, ensuring your old vehicle is disposed of responsibly.

2. Are there government incentives for scrapping old vehicles in Canada?
Some provinces offer rebates or incentive programs for scrapping older, high-emission vehicles. These initiatives encourage environmentally friendly disposal and can sometimes provide additional cash when you scrap your car. Check local government programs for availability.

3. Can I scrap a leased or financed vehicle?
You can scrap a leased or financed vehicle, but you must settle any outstanding loans or get approval from the financing company first. Once the financial obligations are cleared, the car can be handed over to a licensed scrapyard for responsible recycling.

4. How long does the car scrapping process take?
The timeline depends on the scrapyard and services offered. Most scrapping processes take 1–3 days, including document verification, vehicle pick-up, and payment. Licensed dealers often provide free collection, making the process convenient for owners.

5. Can I keep parts from my car before scrapping it?
Yes, many car owners remove valuable or sentimental parts before scrapping, such as stereo systems, GPS units, custom rims, or accessories. Just ensure you follow local regulations, and leave the vehicle’s structural components and engine for recycling.