Stripped Car Body Value Calculator Singapore

What this calculator estimates

If you're a scrap car dealer, dismantling yard or workshop offloading metal at the end of a stripping job, this estimator gives you a defensible range for what a stripped body plus catalytic converter is worth at current LME and PGM rates. It is not a quote for a private owner trying to scrap a running vehicle — use an LTA-appointed scrap car dealer for that.

The calculator weights four inputs: stripped vehicle weight (ferrous shell only after fluids, glass, tyres and trim are removed), catalytic converter status, lead-acid battery, and a non-ferrous premium for the copper harness and aluminium engine casting content.

How the formula works

Estimated payout = (stripped body weight × HMS rate) + non-ferrous premium + catalytic converter value + battery value

Each input lines up with the per-kg or per-unit rate Molten Steel would apply at the weighbridge. It is the same arithmetic any LME-linked metal yard in Singapore would run; the only thing that moves daily is the per-kg rate itself.

Input 1 — stripped body weight

The single biggest driver. Important: this is the weight after stripping — tyres off, glass out, foam and fabric removed, plastic trim cut. A 1,300kg kerb-weight saloon typically yields a 850–950kg stripped shell. Bring the stripped weight, not the kerb weight.

Vehicle category	Typical kerb weight	Typical stripped weight
Compact / hatchback	1,000 – 1,200 kg	700 – 850 kg
Saloon / sedan	1,200 – 1,500 kg	850 – 1,050 kg
SUV / MPV	1,500 – 2,000 kg	1,100 – 1,500 kg
Van / pickup	1,400 – 1,800 kg	1,000 – 1,350 kg
Motorcycle / scooter	120 – 200 kg	70 – 130 kg

Input 2 — catalytic converter

The swing factor. An OEM cat from a Japanese hybrid or European diesel can be worth more than the entire stripped shell. An aftermarket or hollowed cat adds little. See the catalytic converter scrap page for OEM-by-model benchmarks.

Input 3 — non-ferrous premium

Most stripped car bodies arrive with copper wiring harness still threaded through the chassis, plus aluminium engine castings, alloy rims and small brass fittings. The calculator applies a blended non-ferrous premium as a percentage of body weight; for accuracy on heavy non-ferrous loads (e.g. workshop is selling clean copper harness separately), price those categories on their own pages: copper, aluminium.

Input 4 — lead-acid battery

A standard 12V starter battery is worth S$15–S$30 per unit at current lead scrap rates. Motorcycle 6V/12V batteries are smaller. Battery should be intact (no leaking electrolyte) for kerbside collection.

Worked example — stripped Toyota Altis (1.6L, OEM cat)

1. Stripped body weight ~900 kg × S$0.35/kg HMS rate = S$315
2. Non-ferrous premium (copper harness + alu engine castings still threaded) = ~S$40
3. OEM mid-size catalytic converter = S$200–S$280
4. 12V battery if included = S$25
5. Estimated total: S$580–S$660

Worked example — stripped Honda Jazz (1.3L, cat already swapped)

1. Stripped body weight ~750 kg × S$0.35/kg = S$262
2. Non-ferrous premium = ~S$33
3. Aftermarket cat already fitted = ~S$55
4. 12V battery if included = S$25
5. Estimated total: S$370–S$420

Why this is an estimate, not a quote

• LME and PGM spot rates move daily — the calculator uses a typical recent average
• Actual stripped weight only confirmed at the on-site weighbridge
• Catalytic converter PGM content varies by exact part number, not just OEM/aftermarket
• Mixed loads attract category-by-category grading; pure single-material loads price slightly higher
• Pickup logistics (if any) are negotiated separately from per-kg rate

Frequently asked questions

Why does the catalytic converter dominate the value on a stripped body?

Because PGMs (platinum, palladium, rhodium) trade at thousands of dollars per ounce. A single OEM cat from a mid-size petrol or hybrid can hold 3–7 grams of combined PGMs — often more value than the entire steel shell.

Should I sell the cat separately from the body?

It makes no difference to your payout if you sell to one yard, because we price both lines in one transaction. If you have multiple cats accumulated across jobs, we can quote them as a separate batch on the cat page.

How accurate is the estimate vs the final weighbridge number?

Within S$50–S$100 for typical loads. Big swings usually mean the stripped weight was off (more or less plastic still attached than estimated) or the cat's OEM/aftermarket status was misread.

Does this calculator work for whole running cars?

No. Whole running cars need to go through an LTA-appointed scrap car dealer for deregistration first. This calculator is for the metal value after stripping — what a dealer or workshop would receive when offloading the recovered metal to a yard like Molten Steel.