These were the most scrapped cars in 2024

Cars in the crusher

Choosing to scrap a car can be a big decision, one that is often driven by the prospect of ruinous – or economically unjustifiable – repair costs. However, some cars meet the crusher more frequently than others.

Car recycling portal Scrap Car Comparison has analysed data from the last 12 months, producing a list of the car makes and models that were most often scrapped.

Join us for a look at the cars that went to the great scrapheap in the sky during 2024.

Manufacturers: 10th. Audi

We begin by looking at the car marques most commonly scrapped during 2024, starting with Audi in 10th position.

Based on Scrap Car Comparison’s data analysis, Audi vehicles accounted for 2.92 percent of all cars crushed during the past year.

As a premium brand, repair costs for Audis may be higher, potentially pushing the German manufacturer onto the bottom of this list.

9th. Honda

Honda has developed a strong reputation for build quality and dependability, so it may surprise you to see the Japanese brand in ninth position. In fact, Honda re-entered the top 10 for the first time since 2021.

It is worth noting that the average age for a scrapped car is 17 years, though, with a typical mileage in excess of 123,000 miles.

As such, even the most dependable cars may be ready for cubing after almost two decades on the road. Honda accounted for 3.0 percent of the vehicles scrapped in the UK in 2024.

8th. BMW

Remaining in the top 10 of Scrap Car Comparison’s data after first entering in 2022, BMW was the highest-placed premium brand for 2024.

BMW has moved down the list, though, having taken fifth place in 2023. As with Audi, increasing complexity and potentially expensive parts could explain why so many BMWs headed for the scrap yard.

BMWs represented 3.3 percent of all cars scrapped in 2024, a fall of two percent versus the previous year.

7th. Nissan

When you consider the sheer volume of Nissan Qashqai and Juke models found on the UK’s roads, seeing the Japanese marque in seventh place is no surprise.

The original Nissan Qashqai also falls exactly into Scrap Car Comparison’s average age profile, having been first launched in 2006.

Edging ahead of BMW, Nissans accounted for 3.45 percent of all the cars scrapped in 2024.

6th. Citroen

The next three positions on the list are all occupied by French brands, so feel free to add your own cliches about the dependability of Gallic vehicles.

Citroen occupies sixth place, accounting for 4.49 percent of all the models crushed.

We imagine few people will mourn a reduction in the number of Citroen Xsara Picassos on UK roads. The lifespan of the Picasso fits neatly with the average age for a scrapped car.

5th. Renault

Renault has jumped up one position from sixth place in 2023. It now occupies the half-way point on our list.

In 2024, 5.88 percent of all cars headed to the crusher were made by Renault.

According to Scrap Car Comparison’s analysis, Renault is also one of the brands with the lowest scrap value, with owners receiving a payout of 91 percent of the average price.

4th. Peugeot

Winning (or should that be losing) the battle of the French marques in 2024 was Peugeot.

Typically found towards the lower end of reliability surveys, especially when older models are taken into account, Peugeot’s presence here should not raise many eyebrows.

In total, Peugeot models made up 6.79 percent of all the cars crushed during 2024.

3rd. Volkswagen

If only everything in life was as dependable as a Volkswagen. Or so said the famous advert from the 1980s. Sadly, it seems that life no longer imitates art, with VW in third place for 2024.

In reality, the sheer volume of Volkswagen models sold in the UK will ensure that the company is always placed towards the top of this list. In fact, Volkswagen has consistently claimed one of the podium places over the last three years.

The Volkswagen Touareg and Sharan are among the models with the highest scrap value, which may also explain why 7.23 percent of cars crushed in 2024 wore a VW badge.

2nd. Ford

Last year’s ‘winner’ has dropped to second place for 2024. The Blue Oval had occupied the top spot since 2021, making this a notable change in Scrap Car Comparison’s data.

Despite a fall from first place, though, the volume of Ford models being scrapped has actually increased.

Whereas Fords accounted for 15.3 percent of all cars hitting the scrap yard in 2023, this jumped to 16.82 percent in 2024. But that’s still only enough for the silver medal position…

1st. Vauxhall

Emerging victorious atop the list of the most scrapped manufacturers for 2024 is Vauxhall.

The runner-up to Ford for the past three years, 2024 was the time for the Griffin to finally capture the top spot, representing 17.26 percent of all cars scrapped.

Whether Vauxhall is likely to be celebrating this achievement is another matter, of course…

The most-scrapped models of car in 2024

Along with analysing the volumes of scrapped cars by manufacturer, Scrap Car Comparison’s data also dives into the number of individual models that met their demise.

So, without further ado, these are the top 10 cars scrapped during 2024.

10th. Volkswagen Polo

Last year saw the Ford Transit and BMW 3 Series drop outside of Scrap Car Comparison’s top 10 list, leaving space for new entries to claim their places.

In 10th position for 2024 is the perennial supermini favourite: the Volkswagen Polo. Set to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2025, the Polo has been one of the UK’s best-selling cars for decades.

As such, it accounted for 1.7 percent of all the cars scrapped across the UK in 2024.

9th. Peugeot 207

Another new entry for 2024 is the Peugeot 207. Being another one of the UK’s preferred superminis when new, the 207 was on sale from 2006 until it was replaced by the 208 in 2012.

Peugeot sold more than 2.5 million examples of the 207 around the world during its production life. At one point, there were 283,000 of them on UK roads alone.

This, combined with Peugeot’s less than exemplary record for reliability, perhaps explains why the 207 represents 2.0 percent of all cars crushed in 2024.

8th. Mini Hatch

It seems hard to believe that the first-generation hatchback from the reborn Mini range was launched more than 23 years ago. Incredibly, it also means people have been making jibes about new Minis being way bigger than the original for more than two decades.

Hugely popular when new, those early examples of the Mini One and Cooper are now getting elderly, and thus perfect candidates for scrappage.

A total of 2.2 percent of all the cars scrapped last year were Mini hatchbacks, a modest 0.1 percent increase compared to 2023.

7th. Vauxhall Zafira

Much like the Citroen Xsara Picasso, is anyone likely to lose sleep about a decline in numbers of wild Vauxhall Zafiras?

We can’t imagine so, especially if it helps us forget Vauxhall’s cringeworthy adverts for the original Zafira.

Almost 460,000 Zafiras were registered in the UK at the MPV’s peak, and it has consistently placed within the top 10 on Scrap Car Comparison’s list. Last year, 2.3 percent of all cars scrapped were Vauxhall’s practical people carrier.

6th. Renault Clio

There is an obvious theme to this top 10 list, with the best-selling cars being well-represented in the volume of models being scrapped. Basic logic dictates that the more cars you sell, the more are likely to be crushed in the future.

The Renault Clio is another supermini that has a strong following with UK buyers, being popular across five generations. A favourite of students and young drivers, the Clio has long been an affordable choice.

Being cheap also means that major repairs can render it economically unfeasible to fix, however. As a result, the Clio made up 2.5 percent of all the cars crushed in 2024.

5th. Volkswagen Golf

Sold across eight generations since 1974, the Volkswagen Golf is a genuine motoring icon. From hot hatchbacks to dependable diesels, the Golf has proven to be the car almost anyone can aspire to own.

Such a lengthy lifespan does, of course, see many Golfs heading to the crusher each year. In fact, the legendary Volkswagen has occupied the fifth spot on Scrap Car Comparison’s list since 2021.

Last year, 2.5 percent of all cars scrapped were Volkswagen Golfs, representing a slight fall from 3.1 percent in 2023.

4th. Ford Fiesta

It is 18 months since Ford killed off the Fiesta, which still stands as the UK’s best-selling car of all time.

More than 4.8 million examples were bought during its lifespan, ensuring it will remain a common sight for years to come. Such popularity ensures that the Fiesta will be a regular sight in scrap yards, too.

Holding on to fourth place for the fifth year in succession, the Fiesta accounted for 4.4 percent of all cars crushed during the past 12 months.

3rd. Vauxhall Corsa

Rivals on the dealership forecourt when new, it seems only fitting that the Ford Fiesta and Vauxhall Corsa are duking it out for third place at their end of the working lives.

One of the default choices for supermini buyers since 1993, the Corsa has been found near the top of the sales chart ever since.

Holding third place since 2020, 4.8 percent of all UK cars scrapped in 2024 were Vauxhall Corsas.

2nd. Vauxhall Astra

Despite selling in huge numbers across six generations, the Vauxhall Astra never quite gained the same status among enthusiasts as its closest rivals.

Perhaps its popularity with fleet buyers led to the Astra being a car chosen out of need, rather than want. As such, when it comes to the end of the car’s useful life, sending it to a scrap yard may be an easier decision to make.

Vauxhall claimed the top manufacturer spot, but the Astra only manages second place here. Last year, Vauxhall’s hatchback made up 5.6 percent of all the cars scrapped.

1st. Ford Focus

Undefeated for an incredible eight years in a row, the Ford Focus retains its crown as the UK’s most scrapped car.

Time is running out, though, as Ford has confirmed production of the Focus for the European market will cease by the end of 2025.

For now, the Focus can bask in the (somewhat tarnished) glory of being the UK’s favourite car to scrap.

Almost one in every seventeen cars (6.3 percent) heading to the scrap yard during 2024 happened to be a Focus. Well done to Ford for a crushing victory.