How to sell scrap metal in London

1. Finding a licensed scrap yard

Every scrap metal dealer operating in England and Wales must be registered with their local council under the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013. This covers both site-based yards and mobile collectors. A licensed yard will display its licence and, if asked, should be able to show it to you.

In London, most boroughs list registered scrap metal dealers on their council website — search "[your borough] scrap metal dealer licence register" to check a yard before you travel. Selling to an unlicensed operator isn't just risky for you (no recourse if you're short-changed) — it's also an offence for the dealer.

2. ID and payment rules in the UK

Since the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013, cash payments for scrap metal are banned in the UK. Yards must pay by cheque, bank transfer, or another traceable method, and they're required to record your name, address, and photo ID before paying out.

3. Sorting your metal for the best price

Grade is often worth more than weight. The same kilogram of copper can be worth two to three times more depending on how clean and sorted it is:

• Strip insulation from copper wire where practical — bare bright wire pays far more per kg than insulated cable.
• Separate metals into their own piles — copper, brass, aluminium, steel — rather than one mixed load. Yards pay a "mixed" rate for anything they have to sort themselves.
• Remove obvious contamination — plastic fittings, rubber seals, screws — where it's quick to do so.
• Keep radiators, motors, and cable separate from general scrap — these often have their own grade and price.

See our per-metal pages for a full grade breakdown: copper grades, aluminium grades, and brass grades.

4. When to sell for the best price

Non-ferrous metals (copper, aluminium, brass, lead) track the London Metal Exchange and can move meaningfully within a single week. If you're not in a hurry and the price looks unusually low against our daily price board, it can be worth waiting a few days. Ferrous metals (steel, iron) move much more slowly, so timing matters less for those.

5. Red flags to avoid

• A yard offering cash with no ID check (illegal, and usually means a lower price too)
• Weights that seem inconsistent with what you loaded — ask to see the scale reading yourself
• Verbal quotes over the phone that change significantly once you arrive with the metal
• No visible licence or unwillingness to confirm registration

6. Quick checklist before you go

1. Check today's London price board for your metal
2. Sort your load by metal type, and strip/clean where practical
3. Bring photo ID
4. Confirm the yard is licensed with your borough
5. Use the scrap calculator to estimate your total before you leave

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Scrap metal licensing rules can change — check your local council's current requirements before selling.