- Top 10 list of scrapped models dominated by best sellers from the 2000s era
- Scrap Car Comparison revealed the average age of binned motors to be 17 years
The most scrapped vehicle in 2024 was the Ford Focus, new findings reveal.
Scrap Car Comparison data shows that the Focus made up 6.3 per cent of all the vehicles scrapped last year, up two percentage points from 2023 as a greater share of the blue-oval-branded family hatchbacks were crushed.
While the Focus was the car sent to the motoring graveyard most in 2024, the Vauxhall Astra and Vauxhall Corsa were both frequently discarded, coming in second and third place respectively.
Many of the models that ended up on the scrap heap most frequently last year sold in high numbers from 2000 to 2010.
And with the average age of cars scrapped by Scrap Car Comparison in 2024 sitting at 17 years, many of them may have now become unviable to keep on the roads due to high repair costs.
Here’s a countdown of the 10 most scrapped cars of 2024:
10. Volkswagen Polo
In final place is the VW Polo, which made up 1.7% of all cars scrapped
Last but not least, the VW Polo was the tenth most scrapped car.
Of all the models scrapped, the Polo made up 1.7 per cent of cars.
The German car giant – which is the best-selling car brand in the UK – is the third most scrapped car maker of all with 7.2 per cent of the total share sent to scrapyards in 2024, the figures show.
9. Peugeot 207
Taking the second from last spot is the Peugeot 207, replacing the BMW 3 Series from last year’s rankings
The Peugeot 207 was the ninth most scrapped car between January and December of last year, with 2 per cent of the year’s total scrappage.
Since last year, the Volkswagen Polo and Peugeot 207 have replaced the Ford Transit and BMW 3 Series in the most scrapped model placings by share.
8. Mini Hatch (Cooper/One)
The Mini Hatch, a beloved automotive hero of Britain, was the eighth most scrapped car of 2024
In 2024, 2.2 per cent of all cars scrapped were the BMW-made Mini Hatches.
Having been reintroduced to the market by the German automotive giant in 2001, this is the eras of cars that were most commonly rendered unsuitable for the road and sold off for their scrap metal last year.
The comparison site says the Mini Hatch was the eight most scrapped car.
7. Vauxhall Zafira
Vauxhall Zafira is the third model from Vauxhall to appear in the top 10, taking seventh place
The seventh most scrapped car was the Vauxhall Zafira MPV.
Zafira ‘B’ models (like the one pictured) suffered a high volume of fires in recent years. The DVSA discovered the root cause of them catching alight was an improperly repaired thermal fuse in the heating and ventilation system, potentially affecting some 234,938 vehicles.
Despite many being engulfed over the years, a 2.3 per cent share of scrappages puts the Vauxhall people carrier in the list of 10 most commonly crushed motors of 2024.
6. Renault Clio
The Renault Clio was the sixth most scrapped car last year, but Renault as a brand was the fifth most scrapped – up one place on last year
The Renault Clio was the sixth most scrapped car of last year.
The French supermini accounted for 2.5 per cent of scrappages, the same amount as the car in fifth spot.
Overall, Renault made up 5.9 per cent of all cars scrapped, coming in fifth in the car-maker rankings.
Renault has seen a steady increase up the manufacturer charts for scrappages, rising from sixth to fifth in the last 12 months. This is a trend Scrap Car Comparison says could continue in the coming years.
5.Volkswagen Golf
The Golf was the fifth most scrapped car. That’s no surprise given its immense popularity
Rounding out the top five most scrapped cars of 2024 is the Volkswagen Golf.
The evergreen family hatchback contributed 2.5 per cent to all the cars being dumped on the scrap heap last year.
In its fifth spot the Golf completes a topflight that remains very consistent throughout recent years.
Like the Ford Focus, the Golf, and the rest of the top five, all variants of this automotive stalwart sold in high numbers from 2000 to 2010.
4. Ford Fiesta
The second entrance by Ford in the top five – this time the Fiesta. The hatchback was the fourth most scrapped car in 2024
The first entry in the top five from Ford is the Fiesta.
Some 4.4 per cent of all scrapped cars were Fiestas, which contributes to Ford being the second most scrapped car brand of last year.
With Ford ending production of this much-loved model – which remains Britain’s most common car on the roads – back in June 2023, the volume of used models will begin to dwindle.
This could see the percentage of Fiesta scrapped decline slightly in future years.
3.Vauxhall Corsa
Combine the Vauxhall Corsa’s 4.8% scrappage rate with the Astra and its clear why Vauxhall was the most scrapped car brand of 2024
Coming in just ahead of its biggest rival, the Vauxhall Corsa supermini was the third most scrapped car last year.
Of all car models scrapped, the Corsa made up 4.8 per cent of the total ending up on the heap.
In total, 17.8 per cent of all cars scrapped between January and December were Vauxhalls, the comparison website claimed.
As a result, the affordable British brand pipped Ford to the post of most scrapped car maker.
2.Vauxhall Astra
With 5.6% of all cars scrapped last year were Vauxhall Astras, making it the second car most frequently sent to the scrap heap
For the second consecutive year the Vauxhall Astra is the second most scrapped car in Britain.
The Astra made up 5.6 per cent of all cars scrapped, according to Scrap Car Comparison’s own data.
The marque, which is now owned by Stellantis, is the most scrapped car make of all for 2024.
1. Ford Focus
For the eight consecutive year in a row the Ford Focus is the most scrapped car of the year according to Scrap Car Comparison’s own scrappage data
Scrap Car Comparison’s processing of car makes and models between January and December 2024 found the Ford Focus was the most scrapped car of the year.
Taking up 6.3 per cent of all cars binned in 2024, it was the most scrapped car for the eighth year in a row.
There might be a good reason for this though: having debuted in 1998, the Focus topped the best-seller chart for much of the 2000s, and hundreds of thousands of Focuses will now be coming to the end of their life 20 years later.