Hills Salvage Buying Guide
Hills Motors (Hills Salvage) is one of the UK's leading vehicle recyclers. Based in Skelmersdale, they are a primary destination for insurance write-offs.
Unlike Copart, Hills is heavily focused on the "Green Parts" initiative, supplying recycled OEM parts back to the repair industry. However, they also sell thousands of repairable salvage cars to the public via auction.
Why choose Hills over Copart?
Direct Insurance Stock
Hills has exclusive contracts with major insurers. This means you are often bidding on "fresh" salvage that hasn't been passed around other traders.
The Platform
Hills often utilizes the SalvageMarket platform for their auctions. You may need to register there to bid on Hills stock.
Buyer Fees & Costs
While specific rates fluctuate, you must budget for the standard salvage auction stack:
- Indemnity Fee (Buyer Premium): Typically tiered based on the vehicle value (approx 10-20%).
- Online Bidding Fee: A fixed fee for using the online auction system (approx £15-£40).
- Loading Fee: If the vehicle is a non-runner, a forklift fee may apply.
- VAT (20%): Applied to all fees. Check if the vehicle itself is Margin (no VAT) or Qualifying (+20% VAT).
Before you bid
License Requirements
Cat B (Breakers): You CANNOT buy these as a member of the public. You must have a valid Waste Management License and be a registered ATF.
Cat S & N: Generally open to the public, but you may need to verify your ID and address first.
Don't Buy Blind
Salvage descriptions are brief. A "Cat N" car might have hidden finance owed or mileage discrepancies. Always run a full history check.