2025 saw the year begin with a drop to scrap car prices. January’s average price was €238 which was a 3% decrease compared to December 2024. Despite the downturn to begin the year, February saw prices recovering, reaching an average of €242, that’s 2% higher than January. March saw the first quarter end with average scrap car prices maintaining at €242.
With uncertainty in global markets due to tariffs, metal markets are likely to fluctuate more dramatically in the second quarter of the year.
While holding onto a scrap car can occasionally mean a higher pay out if you wait for a peak in pricing, the market can also hit a period of decline at any time. Unless it’s a vintage or rare model, the value of your car is always likely to decrease with age, so it’s usually advised to sell your car as soon as possible. Various factors influence the prices paid for scrap cars, including, the demand for metal and reusable car parts, as well as the make, model, age, weight, condition, and even your location. Your car could be worth much more than the average scrap value! When the time comes to scrap your car, it’s always worth getting an instant quote with CarTakeBack to find out the current value.
Take a look at the trend over the last 12 months in the chart below…
About the CarTakeBack Scrap Car Price Index
The CarTakeBack Scrap Car Price Index is a rolling monthly index. It’s updated monthly using the prices paid for scrap cars at CarTakeBack recycling centres throughout Ireland. We’ve taken into account that cars come in all shapes and sizes, which has an effect on their scrap value, the prices show what the average car would be worth. This means that the index gives a great indication of the movement in the value of scrap cars from one month to another.
In the first quarter of 2025 the Ford Focus was the most frequently scrapped car with CarTakeBack. A scrap Ford Focus was worth an average of €239. That’s 5% higher than the general average scrap car price.
The scrap value of a Ford Focus has fluctuated in recent months, January saw a 6% decrease, February saw a 2% increase and in March prices rose by 7%. The current average price for a Ford Focus is €255 – as with all scrap values, you could get more cash for your Focus depending on factors such as age, condition and how many kms its travelled.
In the first three months of the year, the most frequently scrapped cars were the Ford Focus, Volkswagen Golf, Volkswagen Passat, Opel Astra and the Ford Mondeo. The largest increase was seen from January to February, when the value of a Volkswagen Golf was boosted by 10%. March saw most makes and models decrease compared to February’s prices, except for the Ford Focus which increased by 7% and the value of a Ford Mondeo which was unchanged.
Tip: you can move this table side to side on mobile devices if required.
| Make & Model | January Average | February Average | March Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Focus | €234 | €238 | €255 |
| Volkswagen Golf | €240 | €264 | €235 |
| Volkswagen Passat | €287 | €289 | €284 |
| Opel Astra | €231 | €241 | €239 |
| Ford Mondeo | €302 | €288 | €288 |
Read previous scrap car price updates >
To see how much your car is worth as scrap, enter your reg and Eircode in our online form. We may ask you some questions about the condition of your car to help us find you the highest value for it. You’ll see the valuation instantly and all CarTakeBack quotes are valid for 7 days, so if scrap metal values decrease, you’ll still get the best price for your car!
