At Take My Scrap Car, one of the important aspects of our car recycling and scrapping process is first going through the vehicles we collect with a fine-tooth comb. In doing so, we regularly come across all manner of weird and wonderful bits and pieces left behind by our customers.

After conducting a little research online and talking to some of our competitors, we found that the phenomenon is even more widespread (and often weird) than we realised. That’s why we decided to compile a brief list of just some of the things routinely left behind in cars that are sent off for recycling.

Not to mention, as a reminder to ensure you properly clear out your vehicle, before arranging collection and disposal!

Watches and Jewellery

It’s remarkable how often a quick search of a scrap vehicle uncovers genuine hidden treasure. Which, we’d like to point out, we always ensure it’s returned to its rightful owner. From random bits of costume jewellery to expensive watches and wedding rings, we’ve seen it all and found it all in the scrap cars we collect.

Wads of Cash 

Perhaps not wads, but coming across sizable sums of cash in hidden corners and crevices is also far from unusual. We recently heard of one car scrapping and recycling specialist in the UK who found a stash of £10,000 in cash in a vehicle they collected for recycling. Unsurprisingly, it wasn’t long before they received a panicked call from the owner, who subsequently popped by to collect it. 

Wallets, Cards and ID

You’d think that of all the stuff you would remove from a scrap vehicle, you’d prioritise things like wallets, credit cards and forms of ID. Not the case for some, as we have found everything from luxury wallets to credit cards to passports kicking about in the cars we collect. Utility bills and other documents that could easily be used for identity theft are also left in countless vehicles sent off for recycling.

All Types of Electronics

iPhones, laptops, tablets, GPS, Bluetooth speakers – a small fortune in portable electronics gets unknowingly left behind in scrap cars on a daily basis. Which we’re surprised to learn in some instances are no longer of any interest to their rightful owners. Whether they deliberately left them behind simply to get rid of them we’re not sure, but they certainly turn up in no short supply.

Prosthetics and Medical Items

Last but not least, how on earth a person would forget to remove their false teeth from their car before scrapping it isn’t something we can explain. Then again, nor is how their false teeth came to be stuffed in the glovebox in the first place! Nevertheless, it seems prosthetics and medical items are routinely found in scrap cars sent away for recycling across the UK. 

Take My Scrap Car…

If looking to get rid of a scrap car quickly, easily and without paying a penny for doing so, contact a member of the team at Take My Scrap Car to make the necessary arrangements.

Just be sure to remove all your property and possessions before we collect it!