Iconic models are the kings of junk. Poles have scrapped a record number of cars

For the first time in seven years, Poles will scrap more than half a million cars in 2025 – reports “Interia”. The items that ended up on the scrap heap were mainly the most popular cars from Polish second-hand dealers – Volkswagen Golfs and Opel Astras. Old icons, the most popular cars in showrooms and models no longer produced are increasingly disappearing from Polish roads.

In 2025, due to dismantling, over 585.5 thousand cars disappeared from the database of the Central Register of Vehicles and Drivers. cars – by almost 30 percent more than a year earlier. The number of cars deregistered for this reason was the highest since 2018.

Cars deregistered in 2025 were on average nearly 22.5 years old. Their average mileage – at least the official one – was 263,400 km. So it was only less than 95 thousand. km higher than the average mileage of used cars offered in Polish dealerships in 2025.

According to “Interia”, the oldest cars sent to Polish scrapyards are usually cars equipped with LPG installations. In 2025, they were on average 23.5 years old and 285.1 thousand. km of range. For comparison, petrol cars are scrapped on average after less than 15 years and diesel cars after 16 years. In 2025, 60 electric cars were also sent to the scrapyard, which were on average 2.5 years old.

The most frequently scrapped cars in Poland – Golf is the king not only in second-hand shops

The most frequently deregistered car in 2025 was the Volkswagen Golf, which was also named the most popular car in Polish second-hand car dealerships last year. In 2025, Poles scrapped 17,371 Golfs. As in second-hand shops, the second most popular car in Polish car dealerships was Opel Astra (14,894 units).

A review of further items on the list of the most frequently scrapped cars in 2025 allows you to travel back in time to the first decade of the 20th century. The podium was completed by the once iconic Volkswagen Passat. The most popular cars in showrooms at the beginning of the 20th century – Skoda Fabia, Fiat Punto and Fiat Seicento – were also often scrapped. The list also includes cars that are no longer produced, including: Renault Scenic or Ford Mondeo.

Although it is difficult to prove a correlation between the number of scrapped cars and purchased electric cars, the NaszEauto program, which provided 10,000 PLN, could provide some motivation to scrap cars. PLN for scrapping an old combustion car when purchasing an electric car. The latter were the most registered in history – over 43.3 thousand.

MKZ

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