Most people think of a
car wrecker as a place where old cars go to die. That is far from the truth. When a wrecked or end of life vehicle is brought to a Perth WA car wrecker, it goes through a thorough process to recover usable parts, recycle the materials, and extract genuine value from what most owners would consider a total write-off.
And this is what happens, step by step.
What actually happens to a wrecked car at a Perth car wrecker
The short answer: The vehicle is assessed, stripped of usable parts, drained of all fluids, then processed so the metal and other materials can be recycled. Very little of a normal car going through a reputable wrecker ends up in landfill.
What this article covers is the longer answer.
Step 1: Vehicle assessment
When your car arrives, the first thing that happens is an assessment. The wrecker checks the make, model, year and general condition to determine what the vehicle is worth, not as a running car, but as a source of parts and materials.
In Perth’s generally dry climate, cars often survive mechanically quite well even when their bodies have been badly damaged.
A crashed vehicle may have a perfectly serviceable engine, gearbox or alternator. A car with a blown engine can still provide useful panels, trim, wheels and glass. It is an assessment of what you can recover and what you can’t.
This is also when Perth auto wreckers check ownership and compliance. Any reputable operator will talk you through what’s needed, and vehicles must be correctly deregistered and transferred before they can be processed legally.
Step 2: Identifying and removing usable parts
Experienced technicians go through the car once assessed and remove anything that can be resold or reused. The list is longer than people expect.
Common recoverable parts include engines and gearboxes, alternators, starters and batteries, doors, bonnets and boot lids, bumpers and guards, headlights, taillights and indicators, interior trim, seats, dashboards and door cards, wheels, tyres and wheel trims, radiators and cooling fans, suspension components such as control arms and struts, fuel tanks, and brake components.
Japanese vehicles, European cars and popular Australian utes tend to create strong demand for secondhand parts in Perth, simply because so many of them are on the road here. A common model with good parts supply means a better return for both wrecker and car owner.
Step 3: Draining and safely handling fluids
Before any major disassembly starts, all fluids are drained from the vehicle and stored for proper disposal or recycling. This includes engine oil, coolant, brake fluid, power steering fluid, air conditioning refrigerant and whatever fuel is left.
Automotive fluids do real damage to soil and waterways when they’re not handled correctly. Car wreckers in Perth contain all fluids and dispose of them properly. It’s one of the less visible parts of the process, but it’s where responsible recycling really starts.
Step 4: Testing and preparing parts for resale
Just ’cause you take a part off doesn’t mean it’s sellable. Most parts are tested and inspected before they are listed as available
used car parts.
Engine may be run or pressure tested. Test alternator and starter outputs. Glass is checked for cracks. Body panels are judged by their condition. Parts that pass are cleaned, tagged with the vehicle they came from, and shelved. Those not diverted into the recycling stream.
That is what separates a proper operation from a backyard parts seller. If a Perth mechanic or DIY repairer buys a secondhand alternator or door panel from a wrecker and knows it has been checked, that matters. It cuts the chance of fitting something that was already failing.
Step 5: Recycling the steel shell
And after the usable parts are removed and the fluids drained out, there is mostly steel left.” The bare shell and any metal parts that are not saleable are sent to a scrap metal processor.
Steel is one of the most recycled materials on the planet, and car bodies are a big source. The shell is usually crushed, baled or shredded and taken to a steel mill where it is melted down and made into new steel. That steel can be used in construction materials, machinery or new vehicles.
A typical passenger car is about 65 to 70 per cent steel and iron by weight. Much of this is recovered and recycled, and this is where the environmental case for recycling cars really stacks up.
Step 6: Handling plastics, glass, rubber, and other materials
Cars today are made from a range of materials including plastics, rubber, glass, fabrics, foams, electronics and composites. Some of it is recycled and some is not.
Sometimes windscreens and side glass can be reused with no work at all. Tyres can be processed into rubber crumb which can be used for playground surfaces, synthetic turf and road base. Some plastics are recyclable and others are harder to process.
Particular mention should be made of catalytic converters. They contain trace amounts of precious metals, like platinum, palladium and rhodium. These are recovered independently and have real resale value and are not just a byproduct.
Perth car wreckers follow Australian waste management and environmental standards that are in place to regulate the processing of these materials. Good operators will seek to ensure the minimum amount of material is sent to landfill.
How a wrecked car keeps creating value
Once the process is complete the value flows in a few directions.
At the time of car removal,
cash is given to the original owner of the car. If you’re a Perth car owner with a damaged or end-of-life vehicle, you can get paid to have it collected – instead of having to pay to dispose of it yourself.
Used auto parts for Perth mechanics and DIY repairers at great prices. A secondhand headlight, door panel or starter motor from a local wrecker will save you a fortune over new or dealer price. Used parts are sometimes the only realistic solution, especially for older vehicles when new parts are no longer available.
Recovered metals and recycled steel go back into the manufacturing chain. And each year across metro Perth, thousands of kilograms of material per vehicle are diverted from landfill.
What this means if you have a wrecked car in Perth
So if you’ve got a damaged vehicle, an accident write-off or
a car that’s just not worth repairing, then you have a very simple option. Car wrecking is a process that takes care of the logistics so you don’t have to.
The tow, the paperwork and the deregistration process is usually taken care of by Perth wreckers. You give them the keys and they pay you. Next, the vehicle goes through all of the above.
If you are on the other side and looking for used parts, buying from a local Perth wrecker usually means you get access faster than ordering interstate or online, and you can inspect what you are buying before you commit.
Ready to move on from your wrecked car?
A wrecked car in Perth WA is not a dead end as it seems. Parts are still going into other vehicles on the road. Metals are recycled into new products. Fluids are disposed of properly. And the original owner walks away with money rather than a problem.
Your vehicle not drivable?
Contact a Perth car wrecker for a quote. Most will take a quick look at your car and a firm number with no strings attached.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a car wrecker do with a wrecked car?
They examine the car, remove and test any parts that they can use to resell as used parts , safely drain and dispose of all fluids and send the remaining metal shell to a scrap metal recycler. The objective is to recover as much value as possible before anything is discarded.
How much can I get paid to smash a car in Perth WA?
Depends on the make, model, year, condition, etc of the vehicle. Some cars return a few hundred dollars, others return more, especially if they have parts in demand or a lot of usable metal. The only way for sure is to get a direct quote from a Perth car wrecker.
Can you buy individual used parts from a car wrecker in Perth?
Yes. Most Perth auto wreckers sell individual parts from dismantled vehicles, which you can search for by make and model. And with parts often available at a significant discount compared to new or aftermarket equivalents, they’re worth checking out before you buy new.
Can I legally sell an unregistered or wrecked car to a wrecker in Perth?
Yes, as long as you are the owner and can properly transfer the vehicle. The wrecker needs to see proof of ownership, and the car properly transferred and deregistered. A reputable operator will tell you what you have to do.
Is car recycling in Perth really better for the environment?
Yes, in practical terms. Recycling a car takes a lot of steel, aluminium and other materials out of landfill and back into production. Responsible wreckers will also contain the automotive fluids that would cause environmental damage if allowed to leak or are disposed of improperly.
