It's a question we get asked regularly: my excavator is old, high-hours, and not running properly — is it worth selling, or should I just scrap it?
The answer, in the vast majority of cases, is that selling almost always pays more than scrapping. Often significantly more. And the gap between scrap value and direct sale value is one of the most consistently underestimated numbers in the plant machinery world.
This guide explains why, sets out the real numbers, and helps you work out what your machine is actually worth before you make a decision you can't reverse.
What Scrap Metal Value Actually Means for Plant Machinery
When a plant machine is scrapped, it's broken down for its metal content — primarily steel, with smaller amounts of copper (in wiring and radiators), aluminium (in engine components and some structures), and cast iron (in engine blocks and counterweights).
Scrap metal prices fluctuate, but as a rough benchmark for 2026:
- Steel scrap (heavy melting): approximately £140–£200 per tonne
- Copper scrap: approximately £4,500–£5,500 per tonne
- Aluminium scrap: approximately £900–£1,200 per tonne
Now consider the weight of a typical excavator. A 20-tonne machine like a CAT 320 or Komatsu PC210 weighs around 20,000 kg — but a significant proportion of that is hydraulic oil, rubber tracks, tyres, glass, and non-ferrous materials that aren't included in the scrap metal calculation. The metal yield is typically 60–70% of the total machine weight.
Working through the numbers for a 20-tonne excavator:
- Metal yield: approximately 12,000–14,000 kg of steel equivalent
- At £160 per tonne: approximately £1,920–£2,240 gross
- Less transport and processing costs: subtract £400–£800 depending on location
- Net scrap value: approximately £1,200–£1,800
For a machine that may be old and non-running, but still has salvageable components and a recognisable brand name, that figure should give you pause before you pick up the phone to a scrap dealer.
What the Same Machine Is Worth as a Sold Asset
Now let's compare that scrap value to what the same machine could realistically achieve as a sale — even in poor condition.
High-Hours but Running Machine
A 2012 CAT 320D with 12,000 hours that still runs but is tired, has worn undercarriage, and hasn't had a full service in two years is not a straightforward sale — but it's far from worthless.
In the current UK market, buyers for this type of machine include:
- Groundwork contractors who need a site clearance machine and aren't precious about hours or cosmetics
- Hire companies buying low to refurbish and re-hire at budget rates
- Export buyers — particularly for Africa and Eastern Europe — who specifically seek high-hours machines because they're priced to allow for component replacement
- Parts dealers who strip the machine for components (engine, hydraulic pump, rams, electronics) — all of which have value individually far above their scrap metal equivalent
A 2012 CAT 320D at 12,000 hours in running condition is realistically worth £8,000–£18,000 in the current market depending on condition, specification, and buyer type. Against a scrap value of £1,200–£1,800, the difference is stark.
Non-Running Machine
Even a machine that won't start or has a major mechanical failure has more value than scrap in most cases. Consider what a non-running 20-tonne excavator contains:
- Hydraulic pump — a replacement pump for a CAT 320D costs £3,000–£6,000 new; a working used pump from a scrapped machine is worth £800–£2,500
- Final drives — each final drive on a 20-tonne excavator is worth £1,000–£3,000 as a used part
- Hydraulic rams — boom, dipper, and bucket rams; each worth £300–£1,200 used
- Counterweight — cast iron; higher value per tonne than standard steel scrap
- Cab assembly — complete cabs with working electrics and HVAC are worth £1,500–£4,000 to parts dealers
- Engine — even a seized engine has core value to engine rebuilders; a running engine is worth considerably more
A non-running 2012 CAT 320D, stripped for parts by a specialist dealer, can yield £6,000–£12,000 in component value — versus £1,200–£1,800 as bulk scrap.
And we're not even talking about the sale of that machine as a whole unit to an overseas buyer who will ship it, rebuild it, and put it back to work. That market exists and is active.
Scrap Value vs Sale Value: A Direct Comparison
| Machine | Scrap Value | Sale Value (poor condition) | Sale Value (working, high hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20t excavator (CAT, Komatsu, Hitachi) | £1,200–£2,000 | £6,000–£15,000 | £12,000–£30,000 |
| Mini excavator (3–5t) | £300–£600 | £2,500–£6,000 | £5,000–£15,000 |
| JCB 3CX backhoe | £800–£1,400 | £4,000–£10,000 | £10,000–£22,000 |
| Telehandler (7m) | £600–£1,000 | £3,000–£8,000 | £8,000–£20,000 |
| Site dumper (6t) | £300–£600 | £2,000–£5,000 | £4,000–£10,000 |
| Large excavator (30t+) | £2,500–£4,000 | £10,000–£25,000 | £25,000–£60,000+ |
Values are approximate. Actual prices depend on make, model, specific condition, hours, and current market.
In every case, the sale value — even for machines in poor condition — substantially exceeds scrap value. The ratio is typically 4:1 to 10:1 in favour of selling.
When Scrapping Might Make Sense
To be balanced: there are situations where scrapping is genuinely the right answer.
- The machine has been in a serious fire. Heat damage destroys rubber, seals, wiring, and electronics in a way that makes parts salvage marginal and machine value close to zero. A fire-damaged machine may genuinely only have its steel content to offer.
- The machine has been underwater for an extended period. Prolonged immersion in water — particularly salt water — causes corrosion and seal damage that makes the machine unsalvageable as a working unit. The metal content may be the best return available.
- The machine is genuinely unknown make/model with no parts network. Very old machines from obscure manufacturers may have no parts market, no export buyer interest, and no domestic buyer pool. In this case, scrap is sometimes the only realistic route.
- The cost of transport to a buyer exceeds the machine's value. In remote locations, transport costs can eat into the premium over scrap value. If your machine is in a very remote area, the logistics cost needs to be factored in. At Plant Machinery Trading, we offer free collection across the UK, which eliminates this issue in most cases.
Outside these specific situations, the case for scrapping over selling is weak.
The Right Order of Operations
If you're unsure whether to scrap or sell, the right order of operations is simple:
- Get a direct sale valuation first. It costs nothing and takes less than 24 hours. Find out what the machine is actually worth on the open market before you commit to scrapping.
- Compare the net figures. Scrap value minus transport and processing costs vs sale value with free collection. The difference is usually decisive.
- Then decide. If the sale value is meaningfully higher than scrap — which it almost always is — sell. If for whatever reason the gap is negligible and you need the machine gone today, scrap. But start with the valuation.
Get a Free Valuation Before You Decide
We buy plant machinery in all conditions — including non-running, high-hours, damaged, and end-of-life machines. We'll tell you honestly what the machine is worth in the current market. If the number works for you, we collect for free and pay the same day. If you decide to scrap anyway, you've lost nothing.
Phone: 0161 432 1477 · Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm
Email: info@plantmachinerytrading.co.uk
Address: 279 Didsbury Road, Stockport, SK4 3JH