Scrapping Agricultural Vehicles: What You Need to Know

26th Aug, 2025

Every farm has a machine that’s past its best. Sometimes it’s a tractor parked behind the shed, slowly gathering rust. Other times it’s a combine harvester that costs more in repairs than it’s worth. These machines served their purpose, but once they stop earning their keep, it’s time to make a decision.

Scrapping agricultural vehicles isn’t just about clearing space; it’s about handling paperwork properly, recycling materials responsibly, and making sure nothing goes to waste. Done right, it can even return some value while keeping farms compliant with environmental standards.

Here’s how the process works, why it matters, and how to get it done with as little hassle as possible.

Why Agricultural Vehicles Eventually Get Scrapped

Farm machinery is built to last, but nothing lasts forever. Even the toughest tractor reaches a point where maintenance takes more time and money than it’s worth.

Common reasons machines are scrapped:

• Endless repairs – constant breakdowns make them uneconomical.

• Parts no longer available – spares for older models eventually dry up.

• Environmental rules – emissions standards leave older engines behind.

• Yard space – dead machinery blocks sheds or fields where productive work could happen.

Many farmers know the feeling of nursing along a 25-year-old tractor, only for it to fail during harvest. When a machine becomes more of a liability than an asset, scrapping is usually the best way forward.

Legal Requirements Farmers Need to Know

Scrapping isn’t as simple as hauling machinery away and forgetting about it. There are strict rules in place, and following them protects owners from future problems.

• DVLA notification – the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency must be told the vehicle has been scrapped.

• Authorised Treatment Facility (ATF) – only government-approved centres can legally recycle vehicles.

• Certificate of Destruction (CoD) – this document confirms the vehicle has been scrapped permanently and ensures no tax, fines, or liabilities remain.

• Proof of ownership – usually the V5C logbook.

Why it matters: Without a CoD, the vehicle still exists in your name. If it were ever resold or misused, responsibility could come back to you. Scrap Car Network ensures every agricultural vehicle is processed through licensed ATFs, with the correct certificate issued.

How the Scrapping Process Works

Once the legal side is sorted, the practical steps are straightforward:

1. Connecting with a licensed ATF – Scrap Car Network links directly with facilities experienced in handling tractors, combines, and heavy-duty farm machinery.

2. Arranging collection – moving a non-working harvester isn’t simple. Nationwide pickup means it doesn’t matter whether the machine’s in a shed, yard, or field.

3. Preparing the vehicle – clear out tools, personal items, or detachable extras like GPS kits or implements you plan to keep.

4. Dismantling and recycling – once collected, fluids are drained, usable parts salvaged, and metals separated for recycling.

5. Receiving the CoD – the certificate confirms the vehicle is legally destroyed and deregistered.

It’s designed to make the process as painless as possible, even for machinery that hasn’t moved in years.

What Happens After Collection

Scrapping isn’t about waste, it’s about reuse and recycling.

At an ATF, machinery is broken down carefully:

• Parts with value – engines, tyres, hydraulics, and electrics are salvaged.

• Metals – steel, aluminium, and copper are melted down for reuse.

• Fluids – oil, coolant, diesel, and antifreeze are drained and treated safely.

• Remaining materials – fibreglass, plastics, and other components are processed for industrial reuse.

The goal is to keep as much as possible out of the landfill. Even a machine that looks worthless on the outside still holds valuable material once dismantled.

Why Recycling Matters to Farming

Responsible scrapping has direct benefits for farms and the wider industry:

• Prevents soil contamination – leaking fuel or oil damages land.

• Stops clutter – dead machines don’t sit rusting in fields or yards.

• Reduces demand for raw mining – recycled metals feed back into new equipment.

• Supports greener farming – recycling reduces carbon emissions across the sector.

Think of it this way: the steel from an old tractor could reappear years later as part of new farming machinery. Recycling closes the loop.

The Machinery Most Often Scrapped

Some machines reach their end sooner than others:

• Tractors – often last 20–30 years, but when spares vanish, scrapping becomes the only option.

• Combines – extremely costly to repair, so once they fail, they’re rarely economical to save.

• Balers and sprayers – smaller equipment that wears out alongside main machinery.

• Farm trailers – simple structures, easy to recycle once no longer roadworthy or safe.

Every type of farm machinery eventually reaches a point where it costs more to keep than it’s worth. Scrapping ensures it doesn’t sit idle for years.

Getting the Best Value from Scrapping

Even worn-out machines can return value if prepared properly.

• Keep records – maintenance logs can help improve part valuations.

• Give it a clean – a machine caked in mud makes assessment harder.

• Remove extras – detachable items like GPS kits, tyres, or implements may fetch value on their own.

• Time disposal – while Scrap Car Network secures fair quotes year-round, scrap metal values can fluctuate.

The goal isn’t squeezing every penny; it’s making sure the process is efficient, fair, and straightforward.

Scrap or Sell?

Not every machine should be scrapped straight away. Some may still hold resale value:

• Sell if the vehicle runs, can be refurbished, or has collector appeal.

• Scrap if repairs are uneconomical, parts are missing, or it no longer meets emissions standards.

Scrap Car Network can advise on the best route, helping owners decide whether resale or recycling is the smarter move.

Regional Scrapping Support

Farmers aren’t limited by location. Scrap Car Network offers agricultural scrapping services across the UK, including:

• London

• Preston

• North London

• South West London

• Newcastle upon Tyne

• Scotland

For farms running vans, UTVs, or converted off-road vehicles, there’s also a dedicated scrap my van service.

Why Choose Scrap Car Network?

There are plenty of reasons farmers and businesses turn to Scrap Car Network:

• Experienced in handling agricultural machinery of all sizes.

• Full DVLA notifications and paperwork handled.

• Only licensed ATFs are used for guaranteed compliance.

• Free, nationwide collection service.

It’s about more than just moving machinery. It’s knowing the paperwork is done, the recycling is legal, and the process is handled without stress.

Conclusion

Old tractors, combines, and trailers don’t need to sit rusting away at the edge of fields. Scrapping clears space, ensures compliance, and gives valuable materials a second life.

Scrap Car Network makes the process simple, from arranging collection to handling DVLA paperwork and providing a Certificate of Destruction. It’s a reliable way to turn redundant machinery into something useful again, all while keeping farms sustainable.

Start today by getting in touch for a free, no-obligation quote.