Car scrappage schemes for 2023
You could get up to £2,000 off the price of a brand new car by trading in your old car.
Scrappage schemes are proving so popular at the moment that manufacturers keep extending their offers. That means there’s still time to save as much as £2,000 on a brand new car by swapping in your old motor with a manufacturer-backed scrappage scheme.
The savings available with a scrappage scheme can be tempting, but they don't always represent the best deal, not least because they are only available with brand new cars. It's worth considering some key points:
- Other new car offers (such as finance incentives) are not always available in combination with scrappage schemes
- You may pay less by part-exchanging your current car - especially if it's worth more than £2,000
- Buying a nearly-new car could yield bigger savings than you get with a scrappage deal
Scrappage schemes offer a way for owners of older and less efficient cars to escape future diesel charges, as you'll be trading in a vehicle that would be subject to emission zone charges in London, Birmingham and potentially other cities, for a car that complies with all of those requirements.
The discounts can be used to reduce the overall price of a brand new car that you pay for in cash, or as a deposit on a finance agreement for a brand new car. Read on for our guide to the best-value schemes or click on any manufacturer's name below to jump to the details of each scrappage scheme and the best deals.
Is my car eligible for a scrappage scheme?
Every manufacturer has different scrappage scheme rules, but most car scrappage schemes require you to own a car that's many years old, belonging to a less efficient emissions category such as Euro 4. You'll need to have owned your car for a certain amount of time to take advantage of most scrappage schemes, so don't think that you can buy a cheap used car just to take advantage of any schemes.
You can read more about each manufacturer's scrappage scheme below. It’s worth moving quickly: many schemes have already expired and it's likely that these won't last long. If your car's not eligible, or you're likely to miss the deadlines, then you can always part-exchange it for a new or used car at any time.
What are the best scrappage scheme deals?
There are big differences in the savings offered by scrappage schemes: some are poor value for certain buyers but a great deal for others. For example, most schemes simply offer a fixed discount towards a new car. If your current vehicle is worth more than the scrappage savings, then you will be better off part-exchanging it. Compare quotes, with discounted prices of new cars and a valuation calculator for your existing vehicle.
We've highlighted some of the best deals below, or you can jump to the details of each manufacturer's scheme. If you need a cheaper option, then search for deals on used and nearly-new cars.
Many manufacturers have stopped offering scrappage schemes. The most recent carmakers to axe their incentives include Hyundai (previously offering up to £5,000 off a choice of 10 cars towards the end of 2021), Mazda (offering up to £4,000 off any of the company's cars) and Toyota (also offering up to £4,000 off its entire range).
Kia Scrappage Scheme 2022
Discount available £1,500-£2,000
Cars accepted for trade-in Any car registered on or before 30 September 2015 that you have owned for at least three months
Registration deadline Purchased between 1 July 2022 and 30 September 2022
Available models
- Kia Picanto (save £1,500)
- Kia Rio (save £1,500)
- Kia Stonic (save £2,000)
Kia has shortened the list of models it offers in its scrappage scheme, limiting your choice to three of its smallest models. Toward the end of 2021, the scheme also included the Niro and Sportage. The Picanto, Rio and Stonic were also available with larger savings (between £2,000 and £2,500).
Renault New for Old Scheme 2022
Discount available Up to £2,000
Cars accepted for trade-in Cars that you have owned for at least 90 days, or that have a direct relationship to you (parent, spouse, etc)
Registration deadline Order between 1 July 2022 and 3 October 2022, register by 31 December 2022
Available models
- Renault Clio (save £250-£500)
- Renault Clio E-Tech Hybrid (save £0-£1,250)
- Renault Zoe (save £750-£1,250)
- Renault Captur (save £750-£1,250)
- Renault Captur E-Tech Hybrid (save £750-£1,000)
- Renault Captur E-Tech PHEV (save £2,000)
- Renault Kadjar (save £1,000-£1,250)
- Renault Arkana MHEV (save £1,400-£1,900)
- Renault Arkana E-Tech Hybrid (save £1,400-£1,900)
Renault offers one of the larger catalogues of new cars under its scrappage scheme, including offers on the new Arkana, the electric Zoe and several new mild hybrid, hybrid and plug-in hybrid options including the Clio and Captur E-Tech models. Earlier this year, Renault's scrappage scheme offered greater savings, for example up to £2,000 on the Clio.
It's worth considering what other deals Renault might offer, as you may well be able to bag better savings by opting for finance deals instead, so keep an eye out for alternative offers.