With prices for spare parts and car repair services constantly rising, many owners of old or damaged vehicles in Kazakhstan are faced with a dilemma: try to restore the car or recycle it. The market for “car graveyards” – as specialized sites for dismantling and recycling are popularly called – is experiencing a real boom today. These are not just dumps of rusty metal, but full-fledged industrial complexes, where every screw finds its buyer, and the body turns into a marketable commodity.
The process of scrapping or dismantling a car in the Republic of Kazakhstan has its own legal and technical nuances, ignoring which can lead to problems with the tax service or fines from the police. In this article we will look in detail at how they function. scrap metal collection points, what is required to legally return a vehicle and where the main recycling centers are located in major cities across the country. Understanding these processes will help you not only free up garage space, but also benefit financially.
First of all, it is necessary to clearly understand the difference between a regular ferrous metal collection point and a specialized recycling center. If the first one accepts your car solely by weight, ignoring the presence of valuable components, then the second one will conduct a competent demerculization, preserving expensive units for later sale. That is why choosing a site is the first and most important step, on which the final amount you receive in your hands depends.
Legal aspects and deregistration
The most common mistake owners make is trying to sell a car for metal or dismantling it without first removing it from state registration. According to the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan, a vehicle is considered the property of the owner as long as it is listed in the database of the traffic police. Even if the car is physically disassembled into spare parts, legally it continues to exist, and this entails the need to pay transport tax and liability for possible offenses if the plates are reused.
To legally return the car, you must contact a specialized recycling center, which has an agreement with the authorized bodies. After receiving the vehicle, you will be given a disposal certificate. This document is the basis for deregistering the car at the Public Service Center or through egov.kz electronic services. Without this act, the process is considered incomplete, and you remain the owner of a “dead soul” on wheels.
⚠️ Attention: Never hand over vehicle documents (PTS, registration certificate) and license plates to unauthorized persons or dubious metal collectors without an official acceptance certificate. This can lead to your car being restored in a makeshift manner and sold, and all fines and taxes will come to your name.
It is also important to consider environmental regulations. Official recycling points are required to comply with regulations for handling waste containing hazardous substances such as battery acids, oils and refrigerants. By handing over your car to a “gray” collection point, you indirectly contribute to environmental pollution, since such sites often simply burn plastic elements and drain technical fluids into the ground.
Economics of the process: how much do they accept cars?
The financial side of the issue is what worries the owners most. The cost of an old car in a “graveyard” is formed from several components. First of all, this is the weight of black scrap, which makes up the bulk of the body. However, in contrast to simply handing over rusty pipes, the availability of non-ferrous metals is also taken into account here, as well as the liquidity of the remaining components.
The price per ton of scrap metal in Kazakhstan is floating and depends on world steel quotations, the dollar exchange rate and the internal logistics of processing plants. On average, a regular passenger car weighs about 1–1.2 tons. However, if the car still has an engine, gearbox, catalytic converter or alternator, they may be assessed separately or a factor added to the total weight.
Let's look at an approximate pricing structure using the example of a popular middle-class sedan:
| Car component | Weight (approx.) | Evaluation | Liquidity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Body metal | 800-900 kg | Base price per ton | High |
| Engine (assembled) | 120-150 kg | +20-30% to the price of scrap | Average |
| Catalytic converter | 1-3 kg | Special high marks | Very high |
| Aluminum wheels | 40-60 kg | Non-ferrous metal price | High |
It is worth noting that the presence catalyst can significantly increase the cost of delivery. It contains precious metals - platinum, palladium and rhodium. Even in a non-working state, this unit represents significant value for processors. Therefore, before agreeing to a “per weight” price, ask whether the catalyst is taken into account in the calculations.
Before returning the car, remove the battery yourself. It is often accepted separately at a higher price as non-ferrous scrap (lead batteries) and will not be counted in the total body weight when weighed on a ferrous metal scale.
Recycling geography: where are the main sites located?
The car recycling infrastructure in Kazakhstan is unevenly developed and concentrated around large industrial centers. The logistics of delivering a car to a recycling site can cost more than the revenue from the recycling itself if the collection point is located hundreds of kilometers away. Therefore, finding the nearest specialized center is a priority task.
The largest number of collection points are concentrated in Almaty and the Almaty region. The largest sites are located in industrial zones at the exit from the city, for example, towards the Almaty-Tashkent highway or in the area of the Boraldai village. There are both large scrap processing plants and private collection points, which then sort and send the metal for smelting.
In the capital, the situation is similar: the main facilities are located in the industrial zone along the Almaty-Astana highway (M-36), especially in the area of the village of Karaotkel and the industrial zone along the Zhanaarka highway. In Shymkent, as the third metropolis of the country, there are also several large factories specializing in ferrous metal, which willingly accept cars for recycling.
For residents of the western region (Atyrau, Aktau), sites that work with local oil and gas companies are relevant, where environmental requirements are higher and processing technologies are more modern. In the northern regions (Kostanay, Petropavlovsk), logistics are tied to the supply of metal to Russia, so prices may fluctuate depending on customs duties and demand from Russian metallurgical plants.
⚠️ Attention: When looking for a collection point in small cities (for example, Taraz, Pavlodar, Semipalatinsk), beware of scammers offering “removal for next to nothing.” Official points always have a weighing station, a cash register and issue a full package of documents. The absence of a weight scale is a sign that the weight of your car will be determined “by eye”.
☑️ Checking the collection point
Technical condition: what affects the acceptance of a car
Many people mistakenly believe that the “car cemetery” will accept anything in any condition. However, there are technical limitations dictated by safety and technological processing. Collection points are not landfills for household waste, and the presence of foreign objects in the vehicle may result in refusal of acceptance or reduction in price.
First of all, the car must be freed from garbage, construction debris and personal belongings. The presence of a large number of non-metallic inclusions (concrete, earth, plastic in excess of the norm) will lead to the receiver applying a clogging factor. This means that a certain percentage (usually 5-10%) will be taken away from the total weight of the machine as illiquid waste.
Special attention is paid to gas equipment. If the car has GBO (gas cylinder equipment), the cylinders must be dismantled or completely emptied of gas and cut off. Scrap metal acceptors categorically refuse to accept cars with full gas cylinders due to the high risk of explosion when pressing or cutting the body.
There are also configuration requirements. The machine must be equipped with the main components: engine, gearbox, wheels. If you have previously removed everything valuable and left the bare frame, the price per ton can be reduced, since the metal in this form requires additional processing. On the other hand, some points accept “damaged” cars, but require that they be running or have intact wheels in order to drive onto the weighing platform.
What to do if the car is not running?
If the car does not start or its tires are broken, check in advance whether the collection point provides tow truck services. Often the cost of calling out special equipment is deducted from the total amount received for the metal. It may be cheaper to call a tow truck yourself before weighing.
Recycling process: step-by-step instructions
The procedure for scrapping a car in Kazakhstan has become more transparent in recent years, but it still requires paperwork and time. To avoid queues and bureaucratic delays, it is recommended to act consistently, following the established algorithm.
The first step is to collect the necessary documents. You will need the original and a copy of the owner's identification card, the registration certificate for the car (if it is preserved), as well as license plates. If the owner cannot be present in person, a notarized power of attorney for the representative will be required.
Next comes the stage of delivering the car to the site. If the car is running, you drive to the weighing station yourself. If not, use a tow truck. After weighing, an inspection is carried out by a specialist who assesses the category of scrap and the presence of non-ferrous metals. At this stage, a scrap purchase and sale agreement is signed.
- Arrival at the reception point and registration in the visit log.
- Weighing the car (calibration).
- Technical inspection and assessment of the condition of components.
- Removal of license plates (as required by the point).
- Signing the acceptance certificate and receiving money.
- Obtaining a certificate/recycling certificate for the traffic police.
The final stage is receiving funds and a package of documents. It is important to check the correct spelling of the data in the act, since any mistake in one letter of the surname or body number can lead to a refusal to deregister the car at the Public Service Center. Keep all receipts and copies until you are sure that the car has been removed from your tax balance.
The key point in the process is obtaining a disposal certificate. Without this paper, the car legally remains yours, with all the ensuing consequences in the form of taxes and fines.
Alternatives: Disassembly vs Remelting
Owners of old cars are often faced with a choice: to hand over the entire car for melting down or sell it to a car dismantling shop. These two paths differ radically in terms of economic efficiency and complexity of implementation. “Graveyards” in this context are divided into two types: those that immediately send the body to the press, and those that deal demerculization - careful disassembly for spare parts.
Selling to a car wrecker (shrot) is profitable if the car is relatively new (up to 10-15 years old) and its body parts, engine or electronics are in good condition. In this case, the cost of spare parts sold separately can be several times higher than the cost of a ton of scrap. However, this process requires time, storage space and market knowledge.
Scrapping (remelting) is the choice for old, completely rotten or damaged cars, the restoration of which is not economically feasible. Here you get money quickly, but the amount will be minimal, calculated solely by the weight of the metal. This is a way to quickly get rid of a problem, not to make money.
The table below compares the two approaches:
| Criterion | Selling for scrap metal | Sale for dismantling |
|---|---|---|
| Speed of receiving money | 1 day | From 1 week to several months |
| Profitability | Low (price per weight) | High (price per node) |
| Cost of effort | Minimum | High (search for buyers, withdrawal) |
| Car requirements | Any condition | Availability of spare parts |
⚠️ Attention: When selling a car for parts, make sure that you have legally transferred the title to it. Simply selling parts without deregistration does not relieve you of liability. The best option is to draw up a purchase and sale agreement for disposal with a dismantling company.
If you plan to sell the car for parts yourself, start with the catalytic converter and precious metals in the electronics. They can be sold separately before the body is delivered, which will significantly increase overall revenue.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to return a car if I am not the owner according to the documents?
Only the owner indicated in the registration certificate or a person who has a notarized power of attorney with the right to dispose of property can officially hand over a car for recycling. Reception points strictly monitor this so as not to accept stolen vehicles.
How long does the deregistration procedure take after delivery?
The delivery process itself takes several hours. However, the data in the traffic police database is not updated instantly. This usually takes from 3 to 10 working days after the recycling point transmits the data to the authorized body. It is recommended to check the status of the car on egov.kz after two weeks.
Are cars with foreign license plates accepted?
Yes, they do, but the procedure is more complicated. You will need to prove that the car is not reported stolen in the country of registration, and possibly provide translations of documents. Some points may refuse to accept foreign cars due to difficulties with reporting to customs authorities.
What happens if you just leave your car in the yard?
The abandoned car will be towed to the impound lot by the police. The cost of towing and storage will be the responsibility of the owner. If the owner does not show up within 3-6 months, the car will be declared ownerless and sold at auction or scrapped, but debts and fines may remain with the previous owner.
Is there a state recycling program in Kazakhstan?
Recycling programs, which offer a discount on a new car when handing over an old one, are periodically launched and suspended in Kazakhstan. At the moment, it is worth checking the relevance of the program in the showrooms of official dealers, as conditions vary depending on the year and budget.