Scrap my caravan in Salisbury — what it costs and how to book
Caravan collection across Salisbury from £350–£450 for towable tourers · paperwork handled · photo quote back in hours
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What it costs to scrap your caravan
Scrapping a caravan is a service you pay for, and there is no free collection. The one exception is a used caravan in working order that meets the conditions in the last column — those we will buy. These are the real figures, so you know where you stand before you get in touch.
Touring caravan — towable
Wheels on, and sound enough to survive the tow
- Collected whole and towed away
- Needs its wheels and a chassis that will hold together
- Figure confirmed from your photos, not on the day
Touring caravan — not towable
Rotten, holed, no wheels, or unsafe for the road
- Broken up where it stands, or lifted onto a tow bed
- Either way it is the same job — it is being scrapped
- Damp, rot and structural damage are all fine
- Skip not included — you hire your own, 6–8 yards
Static caravan
Dismantled on site and the waste taken away
- Full on-site dismantling, clearance and disposal
- Size, access and condition set the final figure
- We never buy static caravans, whatever the condition
We buy used caravans
The one case where the money comes to you
- Caravans from 1992 onwards only
- It must be in working order
- Minor damp is acceptable
- Minor leaks are acceptable
- £100 – £600 for damp, leaks or minor damage
- Up to £4,000 for high-end caravans, never more
Every figure is confirmed from your photos before anything is booked, so nothing changes on the day. Send clear pictures including the damage — a caravan described as towable that turns out not to be is the single most common reason a quote has to be redone. We are always heavily booked: book within 24 hours of your quote or you may be waiting several weeks for a collection date.
Three easy steps to scrap your caravan
Tell us what you need, we quote, we book you in — no obligation.
Tell us about the job
Submit your details so we know what we're collecting.
We send your quote
We'll confirm a fixed price, usually within the hour.
We book you in
Happy with the quote? We'll arrange collection at a time that suits.
How scrapping a caravan works in Salisbury
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: you pay — we don't buy caravans or pay for them. Here are the ranges that apply across Salisbury and Wiltshire.
Do we pay cash?
No — we don't buy caravans or pay cash for them. Scrapping is a paid removal service, whatever the caravan's age or condition.
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.
What the removal charge covers
Every job carries a removal charge covering collection, dismantling and legal disposal. Damp, rot, cracked fibreglass or structural damage can increase the work involved.
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 £1,800.
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 . 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.
Get your caravan collected in Salisbury
Contact us at 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.
We also collect around Salisbury
Same team and the same pricing across Salisbury and the surrounding area.
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.
Will anyone take an old caravan without charging?
No. Removal is always a priced service — £350–£450 for a towable tourer, £500–£850 when it is not towable, and £1,800–£3,980 for a static. Very occasionally a caravan from 2000 onwards in genuinely good condition with no more than minor damp has some value, but that is rare and not something to count on. You’ll have a clear price before anything is confirmed.
How much is a scrap caravan worth?
There's no payment to you — we don't buy caravans. Touring caravans typically cost £200 to £400 to remove (touring) or from £1,800 (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.
Ready to get started?
Takes about a minute. No-obligation quote.
Get your quote
Send your details and photos — we reply with your fixed quote, usually within 24 hours.