Scrap my caravan in Salisbury — what it costs and how to book

That caravan has been on the drive for longer than you care to admit. You've finally decided to do something about it. You rang the council tip. No. You tried a local scrap yard. No. You've been on Google for twenty minutes and you're not much clearer.

This page answers it properly. What it costs to scrap a caravan in Salisbury, who'll collect it, and what paperwork you actually need.

First, why the council tip and local scrap yards say no

This catches a lot of people out. It seems like there should be a simple answer. Take it to the tip, or ring a scrap man. Neither works for a caravan, and the reasons are worth knowing before you waste time on more phone calls.

What the Salisbury recycling centre actually accepts

Salisbury Household Recycling Centre is on Stephenson Road in Churchfields Industrial Estate, run by FCC Environment on behalf of Wiltshire Council. It takes a wide range of household waste: mattresses, electricals, furniture, garden rubbish. You even need to book a time slot online before turning up.

What it will not take is a caravan. The site is set up for domestic household waste. A full-sized caravan, touring or static, is outside what it's designed to process.

Why scrap yards turn caravans away

There are several general scrap yards serving the Salisbury area. S Metal Recycling covers Salisbury, Downton, Amesbury, Wilton and surrounding villages. Guyatts of Salisbury operate out of Old Sarum Business Park. Lamb and Son Recycling handle scrap cars and bulk metal across Wiltshire.

All legitimate businesses. For a caravan, nearly all of them will say no.

The reason is the material mix. A caravan is built from fibreglass panels, a thin aluminium frame, timber fittings, and various plastics. Scrap yards make their money from metal. A caravan has low recoverable metal content relative to its size, which makes it uneconomical to collect and process. Around nine in ten general scrap yards will turn you away.

A specialist caravan removal service has the right equipment and licensed disposal facilities to handle what a caravan is actually made of. The aluminium gets recycled. Any salvageable fittings come out. Fibreglass and other materials go through regulated waste channels under Environment Agency requirements. That's why a specialist is needed, and why fly-tipping is not an option: it's illegal, and original owners can be traced and prosecuted.

So what does it cost to scrap a caravan in Salisbury?

The honest answer: it depends on the caravan. Here are the ranges that apply across Salisbury and Wiltshire.

When you might get cash

A touring caravan from 2000 onwards in good, habitable condition — dry interior, no significant damp, windows intact — has genuine resale or parts value. In those cases, a cash offer is possible.

Condition matters a lot. A well-maintained 2012 tourer with a working cooker and dry interior is a very different proposition to a 2008 model that's been parked outside for five years.

When there's a removal charge

Older caravans, or those with damp, rot, cracked fibreglass, or structural damage, have limited recovery value. In those cases there's a removal charge rather than a payment.

For touring caravans, typical charges run from around £200 to £400 depending on size and condition. Static caravans involve more work — often partial or full on-site dismantling before anything can move — and prices start from around £1,700.

What pushes the price up or down

Access is the biggest variable. A caravan on a flat, accessible driveway in Salisbury is the easiest job we do. A static caravan on soft ground down a narrow lane near Tisbury, or a tourer wedged behind a garage in Downton, takes more time and more kit. Some situations call for HIAB equipment: a crane-equipped lorry that can lift and load without a conventional tow.

Whatever the quote, it's fixed. No adjustments when the crew arrives and sees the caravan in person.

How we collect caravans across Salisbury and Wiltshire

Getting a quote

Contact us at scrapmycaravan.uk. Tell us your postcode, whether it's a touring or static caravan, roughly when it was made, and its condition. Photos help considerably — they let us quote accurately and reduce questions on the day.

What happens on collection day

We arrive with the right vehicle. Most touring caravans get towed. Caravans that haven't moved in years, or are in a tight spot, may need HIAB lifting equipment. If there are access issues — low gates, restricted turning space, soft ground — tell us when you book, not on the day.

The collection itself usually takes under an hour. You don't need to be present the whole time.

Where your caravan goes after we take it

To a licensed disposal facility for processing. Aluminium, copper wiring, and any other recoverable materials get recycled. Fibreglass and other materials go through regulated waste channels in line with Environment Agency requirements. Written confirmation of disposal is available if you need it for DVLA purposes.

Towns and postcodes we cover around Salisbury

We collect across the full SP postcode range and into neighbouring BA postcodes:

• Salisbury (SP1, SP2) — city collections, storage yards, private driveways
• Amesbury and Durrington (SP4)
• Wilton (SP2)
• Tisbury and the Nadder Valley (SP3)
• Downton (SP5)
• Fordingbridge on the Hampshire border (SP6)
• Warminster and Westbury (BA12, BA13)

Not sure whether your postcode is covered? Send it to us and we'll confirm.

The DVLA, your V5C and what paperwork you actually need

Touring caravans and the V5C

If your touring caravan has a V5C — the vehicle registration document — you need to notify the DVLA it's been scrapped. Fill in section 9 and post it to DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1BD. If the caravan goes to a licensed Authorised Treatment Facility, you'll receive a Certificate of Destruction. Keep it.

GOV.UK has clear guidance on scrapping a vehicle. Worth reading if you're unsure what applies to your situation.

Static caravans

Static caravans don't have V5Cs, so the paperwork is simpler. Proof of ownership — a site agreement, purchase receipt, or similar document — is usually sufficient. Lost the paperwork? Let us know when you get in touch and we'll advise from there.

Frequently asked questions

Will a scrap yard take a caravan?

Almost certainly not. General scrap yards in Salisbury deal in cars and bulk metal. Caravans contain too much fibreglass, timber, and low-grade aluminium to be worth collecting for a standard yard. Around nine in ten will turn you away before you've finished describing it.

Who takes old caravans for free?

We collect at no charge when it's a touring caravan from 2000 onwards in genuinely good, habitable condition. For older or damaged caravans, there's a removal charge that reflects the cost of specialist collection and licensed disposal. You'll have a clear price before anything is confirmed.

How much is a scrap caravan worth?

A newer tourer in good condition might earn a cash offer. An older unit with damp or structural damage may cost £200 to £400 to remove (touring) or from £1,700 (static). We assess each caravan individually with no blanket rates.

Does the caravan need to be roadworthy for collection?

No. Caravans with significant damp, structural damage, fire damage, or missing sections are all collectible. The condition affects the quote but doesn't prevent collection.

Do I need to empty the caravan first?

Yes. Remove all personal belongings, food, and gas cylinders before we arrive. Gas cylinders must be empty and removed from the caravan. We cannot transport them as part of the collection.

Can you collect from a storage site or caravan park?

Yes. We collect from private driveways, storage yards, caravan parks, and farm locations across Salisbury and Wiltshire. If there are site access restrictions, let us know when booking so we can plan accordingly.

How long does collection take in Salisbury?

Most touring caravan collections are done in under an hour. Static caravans or those needing HIAB equipment may take longer. We'll give you a realistic estimate when you confirm the booking.

Do I need to notify the DVLA?

If your touring caravan has a V5C, yes — fill in section 9 and send it to DVLA Swansea. Static caravans are not registered motor vehicles, so no DVLA notification is required. Full guidance on GOV.UK.

Get your caravan collected in Salisbury

Contact us at scrapmycaravan.uk with your postcode and what you've got. We'll come back with a clear, fixed quote and arrange collection. We cover Salisbury, Amesbury, Wilton, Tisbury, Downton, Fordingbridge, and all SP and BA postcodes across Wiltshire.