What Actually Happens to Your Car at South Auckland Wreckers?

The Full Journey of Your Car

Ever wondered what happens to your car after the tow truck drives away? Here's the complete behind-the-scenes process.

Stage 1 — Yard Arrival and Inspection

Within hours of pickup, your vehicle arrives at our yard. A mechanic inspects to determine: working/saleable parts; components needing rebuild; what goes to metal recycling; any hazardous materials needing safe disposal.

Stage 2 — Fluid Drainage

All fluids drained safely:

• Engine oil → recycled to NZ standards
• Coolant → disposed of by licensed contractor
• Brake fluid, power steering → recycled
• Fuel → reused or properly disposed of
• AC refrigerant → recovered by licensed gas tech

The most important environmental step. Improper drainage is the worst risk of informal disposal.

Stage 3 — Parts Removal

Anything reusable is removed and catalogued: engines, transmissions, body panels, wheels, ECUs, alternators, starters, sensors, interior trim, glass. Parts get sold to mechanics, shops, and individual buyers across NZ.

Stage 4 — Metal Recycling

The bare shell goes to metal recycling. South Auckland has major recycling facilities nearby. Steel and aluminium separated, baled, sent to NZ smelters or exported.

Where Your Money Came From

• Parts revenue — 50–70% of value
• Scrap metal — 20–40%
• Component cores (rebuildable) — 5–15%

The wrecker takes a fair margin for labour, transport, compliance, yard costs. The rest is yours.

Environmental Impact

Average 1-tonne vehicle recycled: 700+ kg metal back in supply chain; ~5L motor oil safely disposed of; up to 30 reusable parts back on NZ roads; refrigerant captured. You're doing genuine environmental good.

Get Your Quote

Call 0800 705 243 for an instant cash quote.