Yes, you can. A hybrid or electric car that has been crashed, flooded or has a worn-out battery can be sold to a car wrecker in Canberra, the same way a petrol car can. The difference is the high-voltage battery. It changes what the car is worth, how it has to be towed and where the parts end up.
We’re getting this question a lot more than we used to, so here is the plain answer from the team at Beyond Car Removal Canberra.
Why this is suddenly a Canberra question
Canberra has gone electric faster than anywhere else in the country. ACT Government figures put 17,127 electric vehicles on the Territory’s register at 1 July 2026, compared with roughly 400 in 2020. That works out to about one in every 20 light vehicles.
New sales are moving even faster. In June 2026, plug-in cars made up 55.5 per cent of new passenger sales in the ACT, the first time they outsold petrol and diesel.
Add the thousands of older Prius and Camry hybrids that have done years of taxi and rideshare work around town, and you get the picture. More of these cars are reaching the stage where a repair quote is bigger than the car’s value.
When does it make sense to sell to a wrecker?
Usually in one of four situations:
- The battery is failing. A replacement pack on an older hybrid can cost more than the car is worth.
- It’s been in an accident. Even moderate damage near the battery can lead an insurer to write the car off.
- It’s been through water. Flood damage and high-voltage electrics do not mix, and most private buyers will walk away.
- It simply won’t sell. An out-of-warranty EV with an unknown battery history is a hard sell on the private market.
If you’re in one of those spots, a wrecker gives you a price for the car as it sits. No roadworthy, no repairs, no tyre-kickers.
What is a hybrid or EV worth as scrap?
There’s no flat rate, and anyone who quotes one without asking questions is guessing. The price comes down to a handful of things.
The battery’s condition. On a healthy car, the battery pack is the most valuable single part. If it still holds a good charge, the car is worth noticeably more. If it’s dead or damaged, the value shifts to everything else.
Parts demand. Electric motors, inverters, chargers, screens, panels, lights and interiors all have buyers, especially for common models.
Hybrid extras. A hybrid still has an engine, gearbox and catalytic converter. Hybrid converters are well known for holding their value.
Metal weight. Whatever can’t be reused is sold as steel, aluminium and copper. EVs carry a lot of copper.
How easy it is to collect. A car that rolls and steers is simpler to load than one with locked wheels in a basement car park.
At Beyond Car Removal we pay up to $19,999 depending on make, model, age and condition. The quote is free and you’re not obliged to take it.
What happens to the battery?
This is the part people worry about, and fair enough.
A good battery gets a second life. It can go into another car, or its modules can be reused for energy storage. A battery that’s past saving goes to a specialist recycler, where the lithium, nickel, cobalt and copper are recovered.
Australia is still building this industry. The number of lithium-ion batteries reaching end of life is forecast to climb from about 16,000 in 2024 to more than 46,000 by 2030. The NRMA notes that most EVs here are still fairly new, so not many packs have worn out from age alone.
Hybrids are further along. Toyota Australia runs a hybrid battery recycling program that it says keeps 98 per cent of battery materials out of landfill.
One rule matters more than the rest: don’t touch the battery yourself. The NRMA’s advice is that owners should never try to remove or dispose of a high-voltage pack on their own. Leave the orange cables alone and let trained people deal with it.
How selling your hybrid or EV to us works
The process is the same one we use for every vehicle.
- Tell us about the car. Call 0431 893 553 or fill in the quote form. We need the make, model, year and condition.
- Be upfront about the battery. Tell us if the car has been in a crash or flood, or if it’s showing battery warnings. It affects how we tow it.
- Get your quote. We give you a price based on what you’ve told us. No haggling.
- Book the pickup. We offer same-day collection across Canberra, and towing is free.
- Show ID and proof of ownership. We need both to complete the sale properly.
- Get paid. You’re paid on the spot when the car is towed away.
Before the tow truck arrives
Electric cars hold more of your life than older cars do. Ten minutes of preparation saves headaches later.
- Sign out of the car’s app and remove it from your account.
- Do a factory reset to wipe saved addresses, phone contacts and garage codes.
- Cancel any paid subscriptions linked to the car.
- Take out your e-tag, dashcam and personal items.
- Leave the charging cable with the car if you don’t need it. It adds a little value.
- Check with Access Canberra about your registration and number plates.
Frequently asked questions
Do wreckers buy electric cars with a dead battery?
Yes. The offer will be lower than for a car with a healthy pack, but the motor, electronics, panels and metal still have value.
Is a crashed EV dangerous to keep in my garage?
A damaged battery can be a fire risk. If the car has taken a hit underneath or been in water, park it outside and away from the house, and arrange removal sooner rather than later.
Can I remove the battery and sell it separately?
Please don’t. High-voltage packs can cause serious injury, and a car without its battery is worth far less to a buyer.
Is my old hybrid worth more than a petrol car the same age?
Often it’s close. A tired hybrid battery pulls the price down, while the catalytic converter and popular parts can push it back up.
Do you take hybrids and EVs that are unregistered?
We buy vehicles in any condition, registered or not. You’ll still need ID and proof that you own it.
How fast can you collect it?
Same day in most cases, anywhere in Canberra.
Ready to move it on?
If your hybrid or electric car has reached the end of the road, we’ll give you a fair price and take care of the rest. Call Beyond Car Removal Canberra on 0431 893 553, or visit us at 36/12 Pioneer St, Amaroo ACT 2914.
